Pet health care insurance is similar to that of human health insurance. The company will pay for, or reimburse you, for veterinary services that are covered under policy.
What does pet insurance cover?
There are many pet insurance companies and many different pet insurance policies. Each policy is different and each policy covers a multitude of services. Some services that are covered under most policies include: Spay surgery, neuter surgery, annual vaccinations, annual heartworm test, annual heartworm preventative, annual flea preventative, annual dental cleanings, accidents, illnesses, cancer, x-rays, surgeries, and much more.
How does pet insurance work?
Each company is different, if you decide to enroll read the fine print so you know who to pay. Many companies reimburse you for veterinary services, so you would pay the veterinarian, mail your receipts to the insurance company, they would in turn pay you for services that are covered under your plan. There are some companies that have veterinarians that work in their network, under those plans you would pay a co-pay up front and the insurance company would pay for the covered services. These plans work a lot like human health insurance. The down side is you have to find a veterinarian that is in the “net work”.
How do you sign up?
Most companies are on the web where you can get a free quote and enroll. On line enrollment is both quick and easy. Also, many veterinarians will have company brochures available that include enrollment forms.
Is pet insurance for me?
Do you feel lucky? Health care is not cheap and if your pet needs an emergency surgery it would be nice to think that you don't have to pay for everything on your own. My advice is to enroll when your pet is still young before pre-existing conditions develop. Keep in mind, the very young animals are famous for getting hurt and needing emergency care. Pet insurance is not as expensive as human insurance and might come in handy. Of course, if you are lucky, you may never need it.
Additional information and stuff to consider when enrolling.
Find out about pre-existing conditions, what constitutes a pre-existing condition and if they are covered (probably not). Ask about deductibles and rather or not prescriptions are covered. Also find out if there are multi-pet discounts and monthly or annual payments.
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