Pet Insurance FAQ

Pets could find themselves in new homes for countless reasons and the period of adjustment can be trying for everyone involved. While complicating the situation further is the last thing any new owners would want, there are matters that must be dealt with and preferably as soon as possible.

First of all, the microchip information should be updated whenever applicable. Not only is it a necessary safety measure, but it also functions as a proof of ownership when needed. But after that, finding out whether the pet is insured or not should be the priority. After all, policies are terminated if payments are not made in time and once that happens, enrolling the pet again could risk limited coverage and higher monthly rates. To avoid this, it is best to resolve the issue without delay.

Is transferring the insurance possible?

Most pet insurance companies will allow policyholders to transfer their insurance if an enrolled pet is adopted by a different owner, and the process is often less complicated than it may appear at first glance. Instructions are usually given among the Frequently Asked Questions on the company’s website, so that’s where you should check first. Even if you find no solution, don’t get discouraged, just call customer care to inquire about a possible your options. They will be glad to assist you if you just need some clarification.

How does transferring work?

Each insurance provider will have their own guidelines, and some employ less complicated methods than others. The best-case scenario is when the company requires just a single form to be submitted, which can be downloaded from its website as is the case with Nationwide Pet Insurance. It is a relatively quick and painless process, an all-in-one solution, so to speak. The form contains the declaration of the pet’s ownership, the transfer of the policy, and lists the new billing information. The document requires the signatures of both the old and the new owners to be validated.

At other times, the process can be slightly less simple. Not all companies make such forms readily available, and if they do the document might only be intended for the transfer of the policy. Pet parents will still be required to provide proof of ownership and update the billing information themselves. When proof is necessary, simply download a template found on the internet, unless otherwise specified. This will be accepted so long as it contains all the necessary information, such as the consent of the previous owner, the new owner, and detailed information about the pet.

There is no universal method to filing a claim. The process differs from company to company and while some strive to make it a quick, painless experience for their customers, others are decidedly less focused on the comfort of pet owners. Although the claim submission method is unlikely to be your first priority when searching for the best pet insurance company, it is still something to take into consideration. After all, the more consumer friendly that a provider is, the easier it will be to deal with. Besides, the last thing you want is to have to run around in circles trying to get a claim form just right when you are already worried about your poorly pet.

When do i file a claim?

Do so whenever possible after a visit with the vet. So long as there is a chance that the treatment of your pet will be covered, then it is worth going for. Of course, make sure to review your policy before filing a claim, as it makes no sense to submit one for a case that is obviously not included in the coverage. But you still don’t need to be shy about claiming otherwise. Even if a treatment costs very little, it will still count towards your deductible, which is what you are aiming for.

Forms or no forms?

There are few more satisfying thoughts than the knowledge that you have spared yourself some paperwork. Pet insurance forms are a pain to deal with, so it is an immense relief when you don’t have to go through all that trouble just to request a reimbursement from your insurance company. Sadly, very few providers allow for such an easy lifestyle. Healthy Paws’ claim submission method is the best you can get, since all you need is the mobile app for any insurance-related tasks. Contacting the company, submitting claims, or checking on its status takes no more than a few taps. As for the claim itself, just photograph the veterinary invoice and upload it. That’s it.

Regrettably, forms are the norm and not the exception when making a claim. The sheets are provided by the company either blank or sometimes prefilled and can be downloaded from the website. The documents will have to be printed out and signed in each case, and some companies like Trupanion require part of it to be filled by the vet and not you, so remember to have a copy with you every time you visit. If you forget, the vet can often provide a form, but if you are unlucky it will cost you an extra trip. Once complete, either you or the vet will have to send the claim to the insurance company for evaluation via email, fax, or regular mail. You will need to attach a copy of the invoice as well as any other documents that your provider requires. Be sure to follow company guidelines and include all necessary documents or your claim might get denied.

Pet insurance is in some ways quite similar to a regular health insurance. To avoid spending astronomical amounts of money if trouble finds your pet, then pay a certain amount of monthly premium instead to have those unexpected costs covered. Depending on the situation your pet is in, a medical emergency can cost anywhere between $500-$10,000. There are also conditions that last for a lifetime such as diabetes, heart disease, or epilepsy, and the constant supervision that is needed on top of medication and treatment could result in costs of thousands of dollars on a yearly basis. That would hurt anyone’s wallet. But how does pet insurance actually work? Is it expensive? What does it cover, and how do you choose a provider?

Pet insurance basics

Enrollment at most pet insurance companies can easily be done online. Some companies will require a detailed medical history before your first claim, however, so be prepared to provide it. You will need it sooner or later anyway.

Pet insurance will never cover any preexisting conditions. If your pet is already in poor health, then it is better to opt for a provider that offers an independent accident plan since full coverage would be a waste of money. It is important to note that with most plans there is usually a waiting period during which claiming on the insurance is not yet possible. Make sure to check for condition-specific waiting periods as well.

After a visit with the vet, double check your coverage before filing a claim. Some companies require a specific form to be completed, while others just need a picture of the invoice before processing it. Once the claim is sent, it is then either denied or approved by company experts. If you disagree with the decision, then you will be able to contest it as long as you follow the company’s guidelines. Also, remember that it’s usually you that pays the vet, not the insurance company. While some do offer direct payment, in most cases you will be required to initially pick up the bill yourself and you will only be reimbursed once your claim has been approved.

When applicable, it’s best to file a claim regardless of the cost, since every little amount will chip away at your deductible, which is the amount of money needed to pay out of your own pocket before the insurance will kick in. The best policies have annual deductibles, meaning this amount is refreshed on a yearly basis rather than a per-treatment basis. Also, plans can usually be personalized, which means that customers can often choose the amount of deductible, the payout rate, and the payout limit that suits them best.

Prices

The cost of an insurance policy depends on many factors and these can differ from company to company. However, there are a few general aspects that most companies fall in line with. For one, the species, breed, and size of the pet is usually a basis for the calculation. Insuring a cat will cost less than a dog, while a mixed breed’s policy will be cheaper than a purebred. In a similar vein, small animals will cost less than large ones. Age can factor into the price, too: an older animal will be more expensive to insure than a younger one since they are at a higher risk of developing an illness.

Insurance rates can further differ based on your location in the U.S. with the costs in some states being significantly lower than in others. Depending on the type of insurance plan you choose – such as a comprehensive package or an accident-only plan – as well as the deductible amount, payout limits, and the reimbursement rate, the actual prices can range from about $7 to $70 or $80 per month.

Keep in mind that these monthly premiums will likely increase as time goes on. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as the pet’s age, the increasing cost of treatments, or even because of the amount of claims a company received the previous year. An unlucky year for the provider will very likely mean an unlucky year for you as well. However, once you have chosen a company, try to stick with them. All of them increase premiums and no matter how unfair it may seem, it is usually necessary. Just make sure to choose a trustworthy provider and do some thorough research before making a decision.

If you are thinking about insuring your pet, then your first concern is likely to be the price. How much will you have to pay? Is it really worth the cost? And how do you get the best value for your money? Insurance premiums can vary a lot and it can be tough to find the solution that suits you best, especially since most plans that providers offer are customizable to some degree.

Once you begin digging around, however, you will find prices that are so cheap that they are hard to believe, like an accident plan that costs well under $10. Yet there are policies on the other end of the spectrum, too, which can reach up to $80 per month. That’s no small difference, so it’s good to know what you can get for your money.

How are prices calculated?

Each insurance company uses different methods, although there are a few universal variables that apply. Your pet’s species and breed are the first factors that affect the price. For example, enrolling a cat will cost less than enrolling a dog, while purebred animals will always be more expensive than any mixed counterpart. Your location will further affect the premium, and there are significant differences between states. A pet’s age is also important as the risk of injury and illness increases as the years pass by. This aspect is quite similar to regular health insurance, and so younger animals will receive better prices.

Most companies offer different insurance plans to choose from and the more limited the coverage, the cheaper the policy will be. The least expensive plans only cover conditions caused by accidents.

But it is not rare to find providers that give discounts either. Most often, you will stumble upon a multiple-pet discount, but there are other chances to get better prices as well. Spaying or neutering your pet, adopting one from a shelter, or referring someone to the same insurer are just a few examples to look out for.

Deductibles, reimbursement rates, and payout limits

The trickier part of the calculation comes after you’ve provided all the information above. First off, you will want to watch out for the type and amount of deductible that is available, which refers to the money that you will have to pay yourself before the insurance kicks in. Some companies work with a per-incident deductible, which is generally not a good choice as the deductible will more or less apply to every visit to the vet.

With an annual deductible, however, you only have to pay once a year and are otherwise completely covered as per the policy specifications. Trupanion is the only company that offers a per-condition/per-lifetime deductible, which means that once you have paid your deductible for a condition, you will never have to do so again. Even if it is reoccurring or a long-lasting condition. Monthly premiums are inversely proportional to the amount of deductible that you opt for.

Reimbursement rates affect premiums just as much. Insurance companies will usually offer you a choice between 70% and 90%, although 100% reimbursement is not unheard of either. This percentage is the part of the bill that the provider will pay after your deductible has been met and the higher the rate, the more expensive your premium will get.

Payout limits are the maximum amount of medical expenses a company is willing to pay. These are often used to make prices more budget-friendly. Some companies, like Healthy Paws, do not place caps on payments at all, but for the most part payout limit options are built into insurance plans. They are usually applied on an annual basis, although providers sometimes limit payouts to per-condition restrictions to avoid financing lifelong treatments.

Quotes

Premium calculations might seem daunting to the untrained eye but, as with most things, it only appears difficult until you try it yourself. You can get free insurance quotes from any of the companies that interest you, and they will make the process easy enough with online forms that ask for all the necessary information to then present you with a personalized plan. In most cases, your quote should show up on the website immediately and an email with the details will often follow not far behind.

Even though insuring adopted pets has its challenges, it does have plenty of rewards. Besides being blessed with the presence of a lovely dog or cat who will offer unconditional love for the rest of his or her life, great companionship and memorable moments spent together, there are even some insurance companies that offer policy discounts or even free insurance for pets who come from certain shelters.

Insuring an adopted pet: The difficulties

When adopting a pet, the biggest problem in terms of insurance is the new family member’s lack of medical history. Pets who were abandoned or found on the streets usually do not have health records, mainly if they weren’t previously chipped or tagged.

This means adopted pets might have already developed preexisting conditions, for which insurance companies do not provide coverage. It also implies that the exact age of the pet is uncertain, issues which can be, though, solved when taking the pet to the vet the first time. The vet will pinpoint if the adopted pet has a preexisting condition and will also give an approximate age for him or her.

Adopted pets sometimes come with free insurance

There are certain shelters that offer free insurance for the pets adopted from them, which comes as an extra-motivation for the future owners. Certainly, it is something to look into, since the adopted four-legged pals often have a history of mistreatment or were previously involved in accidents, or they might be old, in which case most other insurance companies do not provide coverage for illnesses.

That is because most insurance companies have limits on the maximum age a pet can be enrolled.

Another advantage of adopting a pet is the fact that there are a few insurance companies that offer discounts for pets coming from the shelters they are working with. These discounts usually are of around 5%, plus another 5% if you adopt more than two pets.

Is insurance possible for old adopted pets?

While old adopted pets certainly deserve their share of happiness in a warm, loving family, they are more difficult to insure because, as stated above, most insurance companies have limits on the maximum age a pet can be enrolled with them.

The solution to this issue consists in two possibilities: insure them for an accident plan, which most insurance companies offer for older pets, or find a pet insurance company without any age limits. There are a couple of these companies, such as Pet Assure or PetFirst, which clearly state they do not impose any age limits on the pets they enroll.

Owners who insure their pets might be tempted to think of it as the animal equivalent of regular health insurance. While it does serve a similar function, when it comes down to it a pet’s insurance has more in common with that of a car than a human. That said, tax returns that apply to a person’s medical expenses – including insurance – are unique. This is not to say that there is no leeway where pets are concerned, however, just that deductions are only possible in specific cases.

Also keep in mind that pet parents might think of their fuzzy friends as part of the family, but when it comes to tax returns the IRS does not allow owners to claim them as dependents. Only humans qualify for this. As such, expenses related to their upkeep including medical expenses and insurance cannot be written off or claimed back.

When is pet insurance deductible?

Foster pets

Becoming a foster owner of a pet is considered a charitable act, and related expenses such as food or insurance are therefore eligible for deduction. However, be careful to keep track of expenses and to collect bills and receipts of costs as proof. Also make sure to have a written agreement with a shelter or organization.

Business pets

As with cars, special tax rules apply to pets that serve your business. The expenses of a guard dog that you keep outside your office building, for example, can be written off, although you should try to be realistic about what breeds you declare for security purposes. For as cute as pooches like our Yoda may be, they are not exactly ferocious protector material. Breeds that are traditionally used to guard property have a better chance of convincing the IRS of their necessity. Also included in this category are pets used for monetary gain, such as in the case of a monetized YouTube channel packed with videos of your cats. Even a service dog training business or a breeder that insures the animals can benefit from this.

Service pets

Expenses of animals helping people with disabilities such as guide dogs for the vision impaired or a horse employed for physical therapy are deductible. Even pets used by people with mental conditions like PTSD are eligible, however this only applies to specially trained pets. While you might think of your kitty as your emotional rock, its expenses can only be written off if it was purposefully trained for the role.

When it comes to value, this is a question not easily answered. Pet insurance, like any other insurance, is a gamble, and in this case owners are gambling with the health of their pets. For animals that have lived their life free of illness and misfortune, an insurance policy could have been – strictly speaking – a waste. You would have paid an ever-increasing monthly premium for years without getting so much as a penny in return. All in all, that would seem like money thrown down the drain, right? But was it really? In short: no.

Pet insurance does more than help pay the veterinarian bills and instead provides something no amount of monetary saving can, especially in the case of a younger pet; insurance gives you a feeling of security. It is an assurance that no matter what, you will not be forced into a heartbreaking decision just because you can’t afford treatment for your furry companion.

Savings account vs pet insurance

When the necessity of pet insurance is called into question, the first and most valid argument against it will always be the risk-free solution that comes from a designated savings account. Sure enough, saving your own money as a safety net for whenever a pet is in need of medical attention is a smart idea. However, does it work as a substitute for insurance? No, not really. That’s not to say that a savings account is unnecessary as it can function well in tandem with insurance, but it is really not really a substitute.

The best insurance policies offer unlimited payouts, no matter the type or duration of the condition that your pet suffers from. Whether it develops something like epilepsy that will require a lifetime of expensive care and medication or if your pet must undergo an expensive, lifesaving surgery, pet insurance will cover it all within the constraints of policy specifications.

Naturally, there are significant differences between insurance providers, so you have to stay on your toes when choosing the one that suits you best. But as long as you have a good policy to fall back upon, it will prove invaluable. You will never have to worry about not being able to afford necessary treatment and if your pet suffers an unfortunate period or develops an illness requiring long-lasting treatments, then a savings account can run dry rather fast. Even a single emergency visit to the vet can cost thousands of dollars after all. And if the pet is young, savings are unlikely to amount to much in the first place, whereas an insurance policy will cover you from the effective date onwards.

Drawbacks of pet insurance

While doubtlessly useful, pet insurance does have its drawbacks and this is where a savings account comes into play. First of all, there is usually a deductible that customers have to pay themselves before the insurance kicks in. This can be anywhere between $50 and $800, and the higher the deductible, the lower the premium will be. Saving up for the deductible would be a better idea than forking out too much on a monthly basis without any guaranteed returns.

Pet insurance also rarely covers pets other than cats and dogs, so if you don’t find a provider that suits your needs among the few that accept the enrollment of exotic pets, a savings account might well be your only option. Pets that are old or already sickly before you insure them will also be unlikely to benefit from a comprehensive plan, since preexisting conditions are never covered by providers. You can, however, opt for an accident plan and pay for the treatment of illnesses out of your own pocket. All in all, the circumstances can vary, but unless you have a specific reason for not having insurance, then the investment is worth the security and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Before purchasing a policy for your pet, the coverage that it provides is the first thing you should consider as it can vary greatly between companies and even between insurance plans offered by a single provider. There are some conditions that most companies cover, while there are others that are only covered by a handful of providers. There are even treatments and procedures for which no company would pay for. If you are thinking of insuring your pet, it would be useful to check out what you will potentially get coverage for and be aware of those issues that no policy will include, no matter how much you pay or which plan you choose.

Common pet insurance coverage

New illnesses

Illnesses developed after the effective date of an insurance policy are usually covered, although it is best to check for particular exclusions, just to be sure. Genetic and congenital diseases could be exceptions, for example, or the waiting periods pertaining to them could be longer than the basic coverage. It is important to note that if a condition has shown symptoms that could be related to it, then it is viewed as a preexisting condition despite the lack of diagnosis. Cured conditions are occasionally included in the coverage, but with strict terms attached.

New accidents

An accident that happens after the effective date of the policy will be covered as long as it was not caused by a preexisting condition. To give an example, treatment of a torn ligament will be covered but only if the pet had not shown signs of a limp before the insurance came into effect.

Wellness benefits

Preventative care, which includes dental care, deworming, vaccinations, and the like as well as miscellaneous care such as grooming, microchip implantation, or tick removal are usually all grouped together and offered as part of a comprehensive wellness plan. Not all insurance companies provide this option, and when they do the plan functions more like a savings account than an insurance policy. However, if you enroll your pet anyway, a wellness add-on could be beneficial.

Spaying/neutering

While this is usually offered only as part of a wellness plan, spaying or neutering deserves a category of its own. The procedure is only needed once, so it could be a good investment to opt for the most extensive coverage or pay for a wellness benefits package that includes this option if your pet is still young. Once the procedure has been completed and the year-long insurance cycle has passed, you can always downgrade to a different plan or cancel the wellness benefits if you wish.

Exclusions

Preexisting conditions

There isn’t a single provider that will cover a condition that has either been diagnosed or already shown symptoms before submitting your claim, and this is the reason that companies require your pet’s medical history. The best you can ask for is a specific timeframe. Sometimes conditions are considered to be cured and will once again be included in the coverage if they have shown no symptoms for 12-18 months preceding the claim.

Waiting periods

All insurance companies have waiting periods. More often than not, you will have to wait about 15 days after enrolling your pet for the policy to come into effect. During this time if any illnesses are discovered or accidents occur, then they will be considered preexisting conditions even though the contract with the provider has already been signed and the premium paid.

Breeding and related conditions

As with preexisting conditions, breeding and any related injuries or illnesses are never covered by insurance. What’s more, some companies even offer a discount if you enroll a pet that has been spayed or neutered.

Cosmetic procedures

Cosmetic procedures are unnecessary and can often be dangerous, and as such are therefore never covered by insurance. The risk is the owner’s responsibility.

Conditions due to neglect or mistreatment

Injuries caused deliberately and conditions that develop due to neglect are never covered. Most pet insurance companies are founded and run by active supporters of animal welfare, and neither condone cruelty nor will they help owners that don’t take proper care of their pets.

Dog insurance works pretty much the same as human health insurance. It basically helps the pet owner to cover the veterinary care costs if the dog becomes ill or injured. There are also certain optional insurance plans that may cover wellness care, such as different testing, vaccinations, and spaying or neutering.

What does dog insurance cover?

Generally, pet insurance in the U.S. may cover:

• Unexpected injuries: physical injuries caused accidentally, like broken bones, wounds, etc.
• Unexpected illnesses: an appropriate dog insurance plan should include coverage for genetic, congenital, and chronic conditions including cancer.
• Wellness care: these plans are mostly optional and can include microchipping, annual vaccinations, non-routine dental procedures, and spaying or neutering.

When choosing a dog insurance plan, make sure the coverage also includes hospitalization, medication, and emergency boarding expenses in case you are not able to take care of your four-legged friend. There are certain aspects that are not covered by most insurance providers, though, primarily consisting of:

• Preexisting conditions: these are conditions that have shown symptoms before enrolling or before the waiting period has passed. It is recommended to choose a provider that does not consider cancer as being a preexisting condition.
• Grooming.
• Behavioral issues.
• Pregnancy.
• Food and diet products and related services.

Types of dog insurance

When it comes to picking dog insurance, it can be a little confusing figuring out one package from another. Generally speaking, however, insurance providers fit their options into one of the following types:

• Injury insurance: covering only unexpected injuries as a result of an accident.
• Injury and illness insurance: covers injuries as well as a wide range of non-preexisting illnesses.
• Wellness plans: these are optional plans that include coverage for routine and preventive care treatments.
• Time-limited: these policies are valid for a limited period of time.
• Maximum benefit policies: the limit here is on the amount that a plan pays for a certain condition.
• Lifetime insurance: by covering dogs for their entire lifetime, this recommended option protects your pet so long as the annual payment is made.

How does dog insurance work?

It all starts with researching and choosing the most appropriate provider and plan for you and your most faithful friend. Enrolling is a simple procedure since all that is needed is to fill in the enrollment page from the provider’s website.

Then, when time comes for the dog to see a vet, the pet parent is usually the one who initially pays for the veterinary treatment, plus the deductible. After this, a claim form is required, which is filled in and sent to the insurance firm. If the claim is approved, then the provider will send you its part of the reimbursement.

It’s worth noting that a handful of providers are willing and able to pay their share of the bill immediately. While this requires certain participating veterinaries and the right insurance provider, to option for the insurer to pay the vet directly can be a lifesaver for many.

Why should i get dog insurance?

Dog insurance works as a safety net in case your pet develops an unexpected injury or illness that is too expensive to treat. In order to avoid breaking the bank or worse, having to euthanize the pet because of the lack of finances, dog insurance can help with treating some extremely expensive conditions that your furry pal may develop.

Most of the monthly fees of dog insurance are quite reasonable and, if chosen wisely, such a policy can give you the peace of mind you need to relax and enjoy your life together with your pet knowing that if the worst thing happens, you are backed up by a plan that covers any unexpected situation.

The North American Pet Health Insurance Association estimated that, in 2017, the total number of pets insured in the U.S. and Canada increased with 17% when compared to the previous year, ultimately reaching a 2.1 million number at the end of the year. It’s clear, then, that pet insurance is popular, but why do pet owners open such policies for their furry children and should you get your dog insured?

Why is dog insurance worthwhile?

The answer is quite simple: because of the high and rising veterinary treatment costs. Among the most common conditions that can afflict your dog are cancer, diabetes, heartworm, kennel cough, rabies, and much more. Some of these conditions are extremely expensive to treat: cancer can cost around $9,000 to treat, for instance, and that’s only for the easiest to treat type of cancer.

It is obvious that if such treatments that can lead to thousands if not even tens of thousands of dollars, then for most Americans this is just not a possibility. Many confess that they don’t even save up to $1,000 for pet emergencies. To avoid being forced into euthanasia for an unlucky pet simply because of financial issues, then the right insurance policy can make all the difference.

Pet insurance isn’t just a marketing tool of insurance firms, therefore. It is a vital financial vehicle that can make the difference between your dog’s life and death, helping you to offer your most faithful pal the right treatment in case he or she becomes ill. This will undoubtedly happen sooner or later, remember, so it’s better to be prepared.

Is my dog eligible for pet insurance?

Eligibility criteria for dogs in order to be insured differ between pet insurance firms. Firstly, there is the issue of age. While most companies set a limit for the maximum age a dog can be to get insured, there are a few that don’t have such a restriction. Limiting the upper age at which the four-legged companion can be insured makes sense: the older a dog gets, the more likely it is that they will develop several very expensive to treat conditions. To avoid this, it is recommended to enroll your dog as young as possible.

Next, there it’s worth considering the exclusion of preexisting conditions. This means that if your dog has a preexisting condition, they will not be able to be insured for that specific condition with most pet insurance companies. However, as always there are a few exceptions for this.

There are a few providers that make the difference between curable and incurable preexisting conditions. This means that if your dog develops such a condition and is cured of it, after a certain period of time the policy will once again cover against that specific condition as well. There are only a handful of companies that offer this, though, so make sure you carefully read the insurance policy contract before signing it.

And finally there is obviously the issue of where you, the owner, are living. You will need to live inside the U.S. though some pet insurance companies also provide coverage for pet parents who also live in Canada and even Puerto Rico.

The costs of dog insurance policies differ very much depending on different factors, among which the most important ones are his or her breed, age, and your location. Breed is an important detail for providers when determining the price of your dog’s insurance because of the specific conditions that purebred pets are more likely to develop sooner or later in their lives.

Why does the cost of pet insurance differ?

First and foremost, the prices of pet insurance vary greatly based on the owner’s location. This is because the cost of the vet treatments largely depend on the state where you live. Treatments for dogs are often more expensive in large cities or towns because of the higher wages that vets have to pay their staff since it is more expensive to live in these places.

Then there is the issue of your dog’s age. With some providers the monthly premium will not increase as your pet gets older, but this is often the case with the majority of them. The reason for this is because older dogs are more likely to develop more serious, chronic conditions that are extremely costly to treat.

Finally, among the most important factors that influence your dog’s monthly insurance cost is the breed. This makes sense if you think about how a larger dog requires a larger amount of medications, sedation, and care than smaller dogs, or that purebred dogs are prone to genetic conditions and therefore often categorized as “risky” in terms of insurance.

One last note: other aspects that influence the price of pet insurance are gender and whether the pet has been spayed or neutered.

Things can get confusing when choosing dog insurance. With so many offers on the market, picking one provider is a great responsibility since it may mean a lot when coverage is needed for a crucial condition that your furry pal might develop.

To make sure that you have the most appropriate insurance for your dog, there are several questions you need to ask yourself before enrolling. Luckily, those questions themselves aren’t too difficult to ask…

What is my dog’s breed?

Before anything else, it is important to discover if your dog’s breed is considered “risky” by pet insurance providers. This may happen because certain breeds are prone to develop a set of conditions sooner or later in life.

This might mean that there will be greater expenses involving their treatment, which will push up the price of the insurance higher than other breeds. If you have a purebred dog, therefore, make sure to choose a provider that covers genetic as well as breed-related conditions.

What is my dog’s medical history?

Your furry companion’s medical history is important in establishing if he or she has any preexisting conditions. That’s because these types of conditions are not covered by any pet insurance firm.

The exception to this rule are a few of them that make the distinction between curable and incurable preexisting conditions. This means that if your dog has a preexisting condition and it is cured of it, the insurance company will still cover that specific condition but only after a certain time frame.

Age: An important factor

Your pet’s age is an important factor because most providers do not offer coverage for pets who are older than 14. That happens because senior dogs are more likely to develop conditions that are extremely expensive to treat. Many times, these treatments will last for the rest of the pet’s lifetime, which involves greater health-related costs.

There are, again, a few exceptions related to the pet’s maximum age, too. A few companies do not put any limits on this, however, and will insure an older dog, though this will be more expensive.

It is therefore recommended to enroll your dog as young as possible, to make sure that in their senior years they will still get coverage, too.

Other Things to Do Before Enrolling

To avoid a situation where your dog is insured only to discover that the treatment they need is not covered by the pet insurance company you signed up with, it is extremely important to do thorough research prior to enrolling.

Also, be sure to read independent pet insurance provider reviews and comparisons such as ours to understand what each company’s advantages and disadvantages are. This way you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

While doing all these, also be sure to get quotes from all companies that you have found appealing and compare them so that you are able to choose the one that best fits you and your dog’s needs.

Cat insurance works pretty much like human medical insurance. Given the high costs that trips to the veterinarian entail, cat insurance protects you financially in the unfortunate case of your feline friend developing a condition.

It covers most of the costs of such medical expenses, so that you can enjoy your lovely cat for as long as possible.

What does cat insurance cover?

Generally, cat insurance covers injuries and illnesses including hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions. It is especially important to look for a provider that specifically covers cancer, as this disease can be extremely costly to treat.

Some pet insurance companies consider cancer to be a preexisting condition, in which case treatment is not covered. Therefore, make sure to find a provider that does, since cancer is a common illness among cats.

Also, it is wise to choose a provider that takes care of examination fees and prescription medication, since many chronic or long-term conditions require continuous treatment.

There are also providers that offer optional wellness and care plans, such as neutering or spaying, vaccinations, alternative care, and so on.

Types of cat insurance

Cat insurance usually falls under one of the following categories:

• Accident only: coverage is only offered for the treatment of accident-caused injuries.
• Accident and illness plans: these cover not only accidents, but also a wide range of illnesses, as long as they are not preexisting.
• Wellness plans: these are optional plans that cover routine treatments and preventive care, such as wellness exams, flea and tick prevention, and vaccinations.
• Time-limited plans: these cover as many treatments as the cat needs for a limited period of time.
• Maximum-benefit plans: similar to the time-limited ones, these policies put a cap on the amount of money a plan covers for a condition.
• Lifetime policies: these are meant to cover any chronic or recurring conditions over the entire course of the cat’s life.

How do I enroll?

Generally, cat insurance enrollment can be done online on the provider’s website. Some companies ask for a detailed medical history prior to the first claim. After you enroll your cat, remember that there is usually a certain waiting period during which coverage is not yet available.

After a vet visit, some providers will ask for a certain form to be filled in, while others just require a simple picture of the vet invoice. While some insurance providers will pay the vet directly, more often than not, you’ll have to cover the cost up front. The pet insurance firm will then reimburse you if your claim is approved.

Why should I get cat insurance?

Cat insurance is important because it helps cat owners cover their pets’ medical expenses, which can be extremely pricey in the case of cats in particular.

Therefore, if chosen wisely, pet insurance can contribute to a longer and happier lifetime for cats to spend with their beloved families. As for the cat parent, you get peace of mind knowing that you’re covered in case anything goes wrong with your furry friend.