Reduce your vet bills with pet health insurance

Having a pet is not just a pleasure – it is also a responsibility. No matter whether you have purchased your pet from a professional breeder or adopted from a local center, you need to provide them with food, water, shelter, and proper veterinary care. 

If you don’t have sufficient savings to cover routine check-ups or emergency care, consider pet health insurance. It will protect you against catastrophic expenses that you could not pay out of your pocket.

Actually, there are two types of pet insurance that you can purchase:  
•    Pet health insurance. It will help you pay veterinary bills for your dog or cat.
•    Pet liability insurance. It covers expenses associated with a pet-related injury - for example, if your dog causes a car accident. Pet liability insurance can be included in homeowner's insurance policy or in pet health insurance.

Pet health insurance

No one likes to think about their pet getting sick or injured, but anything can happen. The costs of unplanned treatment can reach thousands of dollars. That’s why more and more people buy health insurance to cover their cats and dogs. 
Pet insurance plans cover both the costs of routine examinations as well as the costs for urgent care. Typical coverage includes:
•    Routine medical examinations 
•    Annual teeth cleaning 
•    Vaccinations
•    Surgeries 
•    X-ray examinations 
•    Spay/neuter
•    Prescription medications 
Pet insurance doesn’t cover conditions that already exist, whether they are known or unknown. But even if your pet is already ill or injured, you can still purchase health insurance to cover any additional accidents or vaccinations. 

Most pet insurance providers offer policies for dogs and cats only. There are some types of dogs which can’t be insured, for example racing dogs and guard dogs.

Choosing pet insurance 

If you are planning to buy pet insurance, make sure that you read the fine print. Typically, the insurer will cover 80-90% of the vet costs minus a deductible (in the area of $50 per visit) depending on the provider and the specific policy. 

The pet owner pays the vet bill, sends the claim to the insurer and receives reimbursement. You can visit any licensed veterinarian worldwide. It means that you can choose the veterinarian you trust and feel most comfortable with.

Insurers may offer two or more levels of coverage. The monthly insurance premiums will vary according to the plan you chose. Typically, they are around $32 per month for a dog and $25 per month for a cat. Keep in mind that the best rates are for young and healthy animals. The older your pet, the more you will pay. 

Though pet insurance is more popular in Europe, the Americans may also buy insurance for their cats and dogs. Visit Aspcapetinsurance.com, Petcareinsurance.com, Petshealthplan.com, Petinsurance.com to compare policies and prices.

As veterinary care becomes more sophisticated and expensive, it makes sense to consider pet health insurance plans. They are a good alternative to accumulating a heavy debt if your cat or dog gets hurt or sick. By covering your pet, you make sure that you will be able to pay for the veterinary care when it is necessary.