Insurance

Your pet is extremely important to you, but pet healthcare can be very expensive.
Pet insurance is a vital purchase for any owner, covering the cost of the unexpected.
Don't let finances get in the way of your best friend's well-being – PawsAway recommend PetGuard insurance.

Finding the Right Pet Insurance for You

Several years ago, pet insurance was simply unheard of. However, with the mounting costs of vet bills and pet medication, pet insurance has become very practical. There are many different pet insurance companies and policies out there, though, so it’s a good idea to know what kind you need before you start paying.

First, what is pet insurance? Well, it’s basically health coverage for cats and dogs, primarily, although some pet insurance companies will cover other animals, including rabbits, birds, and rodents. Usually, they lump all of these pets under the label of “exotic” pets and offer one policy regardless of the actual type of animal. This varies from company to company, though, and some do not cover specific types of animals.

Pet insurance is more or less designed to reimburse pet owners – it rarely pays upfront like health insurance does. Instead, pet owners take their pets to the vet and pay all costs, then submit the bill to their pet insurance company. The company then evaluates the bill and sends a check back to the owner for all expenses the policy covers (again, like health insurance, some pet medications and surgeries are not covered, nor is dental work usually covered). Also like health insurance, some pet insurance policies require pet owners to go to a specific vet, while others allow the owner to use the vet of their choice. Some also require the vet to submit a report before paying.

Just like health insurance, you need to know what is covered before you buy pet insurance. Does the policy cover accidents only? What about non-life threatening surgeries and medication? Will it cover standard vet checkups? There are several different types of pet insurance plans available. Some cover only the basics – illness and accidents – while others may be completely comprehensive and pay for spaying/neutering, declawing, and may even cover cremation costs. These comprehensive plans are usually the only ones to cover general exams and vaccinations, and they’re usually much more expensive.

It’s also very important to note what is NOT covered in your pet’s insurance policy. Pre-existing conditions, anything hereditary, and other common issues like parasites, special diet food, and anything that could be prevented by vaccines are usually not included. Likewise, some pet insurance companies will not insure older pets or pets with severe behavioural issues.

When looking at pet insurance, you should know your pet’s age, breed, possible hereditary disorders, and their general health. Be sure you know how the insurance company defines things like hereditary disorders and pre-existing conditions and any special exceptions they have for certain breeds. Many of the same questions concerning your own health insurance should be asked, such as if a condition found after taking out the insurance policy will be classified as pre-existing when you renew the insurance.

As with anything, be sure to shop around and compare the various types of pet insurance policies you can get. Knowing exactly what type of coverage you want and how much you can pay can help narrow down the search. It’s also helpful to know what vets you can use before enrolling in a plan.