Pet Insurance - Why Health Insurance For Your Pet Is Necessary

Pet insurance is about the only way you can combat the rising cost of veterinary care. Let's face it, health care for your pet is not much different from your own health care in that the prices keep going up. It's getting to the point now where the only way you can properly take care of your dog is to have pet health insurance. And with some policies starting for just $6 a month, you really can't afford not to at least look into it.

We all know that an illness or injury can happen at any time, so it's best to be prepared. I certainly don't want to over dramatize this, but if you pet should ever get badly hurt as a result of an accident, pet insurance can be a lifesaver. But policies can cover a lot more than just major accidents. That's why you need to pick your policy carefully. Some will cover routine veterinary care (check-ups, shots, etc) and others will protect you (and your pet) in cases where surgery or expensive medications may be needed. Other policies will cover routine procedures like spaying and neutering.

So let's go over some things you should ask before getting a pet insurance policy.

First, find out if your dog insurance policy will cover pre-existing conditions. Many companies will pre-screen your pet. But if your dog gets ill from a condition that already existed, you want to make sure he's covered. If not, it will mean a lot of money out of your pocket.

Second, find out if the company is licensed in your state. Typically, this won't be an issue. But just like your own health insurance, every once in a while there will be a company that will offer dog health insurance but is not legally doing so. If this happens you can forget about getting your claim paid.

Third, ask how long the company has been in the business of pet health insurance. New companies are popping up all the time. Some just down have the coverage and experience that an older, more established company will have.

Fourth, make sure you know what the pet care health insurance policy will not cover. Will it cover routine check-ups? How about heartworm tests, worm tests or dental care? These are things you already take your dog to the vet for. Find out if they are covered and if not, how much additional will it cost to have them added.

Along the same lines, make sure the non-routine things are covered. Not all pet insurance covers things like medications, CAT scans, bone scans and reconstructive surgery. If your pet receives a major injury, he may need some or all of the above. And I know from experience these things are not cheap.

Also, be sure to fully understand your deductible. And just as important, see if there's a cap. Most companies have a maximum they will payout for a specific illness or injury.

Lastly, understand that some pet health insurance plans will not cover a dog once he gets to be old. It would be very bad to find out your 14 year old pet just got sick but his policy expired a few months ago.

I know that's a lot of things to be sure of, but really it's no different than getting your own health insurance policy. And for the price, it will be well worth it in the event of an emergency.

As we mentioned, there are a lot of companies popping up that will provide dog insurance, but we firmly believe in sticking with the ones that have been around a while. Check out several of them, including Petco. They offer free quotes and you might just find they are perfect for your needs.