Pet Insurance companies such as VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance, Inc) and the ASPCA offer reasonably priced policies for dogs, cats, birds and other pets. VPI has coverage options that allow a pet owner to be able to pay for care and preventative care they ordinarily may not have provided for their pets.
Pet owners can choose from an assortment of coverage options, such as the following:
1. Routine care coverage: This option covers the pets basic routine care such as yearly examinations and shots. This option is usually the cheapest, however pet owners need to make sure the cost of the premiums does not exceed what they normally would pay for their pet’s routine care.
2. Basic coverage for specialized care and procedures: Basic care covers examinations and procedures that fall outside of routine care, so it does not cover yearly examinations and shots.
It does cover a portion of the costs associated with diagnostic testing, specialists and operations and other procedures. This is extremely helpful in paying for those unexpected vet visits.
3. Premium coverage for specialized care and procedures: This covers the same procedures and care as the basic coverage, but pays a higher percentage of the vet bills. The premiums are of course higher to compensate for the higher percentage of reimbursement.
4. All-inclusive coverage: The all-inclusive polices normally cover routine care and specific specialized care and treatment. Naturally this is the most expensive option.
Unlike traditional health insurance though, the majority of pet health insurance companies do not pay for your pets care up front. You need to pay the bill yourself and submit receipts and insurance claim forms to the insurance company.
But in extreme cases of life and death many vets will allow the pet owner to pay a portion of the bill allowing the pet owner to arrange for the settlement check with the insurance company to be sent directly to the vet.
There is also typically a two-week waiting period before the coverage becomes effective, so pet owners need to find out the waiting period before they purchase the insurance.
There is no question that pet health insurance is needed. While it does have some disadvantages, it offers many benefits for both the pet and the pet parent. However, owners should not jump into getting this insurance without doing research.
Researching the various pet health insurance options will not only ensure that you get the best care for your pet, it can also help you save some money to attend to your pets other needs.
Article by Nancy Cope of Pampered Dog Gifts – the place to shop for dog gifts and unique dog toys.
