Pet Health Insurance
You have insurance for your health, your car, your home… but what about your pets health? Similar to human health insurance, pet insurance helps alleviate some of the costs of keeping your pet healthy. If you don’t currently have pet insurance, you’re not alone. According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), approximately 70% of U.S. households own pets, only 1% of those pets are insured.
Considering the price of veterinary care, it’s worth looking into. Petfinder estimates the annual cost of caring for a dog is $400-$2500 and $400-$2000 for cats and unplanned emergency vet visits can cost up to several hundred to several thousand dollars.
Some plans only cover wellness visits, while others only include sick / injured care and some cover both. Which should you get? Honestly, it is for you to decide based on your budget and the level of risk you can live with for your pet. What we do recommend is that you sign up as soon as possible. Any potential evidence of “Pre-existing Conditions” begin to show-up quickly in medical records and insurance companies won’t cover them. We are not responsible or liable for what an insurance will or will not cover. On that same note, we must legally document anu findings in the medical record and cannot omit something at your request due to the waiting period etc.
It is important to understand that pet insurance is different than human health care insurance. In the case of pet health insurance, you are required to pay in full at the time of services rendered or goods purchased. You then submit an insurance claim to your pet insurance provider. We are happy to help if you have questions!
The websites PetInsuranceReview.com and North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) are helpful sites to check-out during your insurance decision making process.
Here are some of the most common pet insurance companies:
What is a Pre-Existing Condition?
A pre-existing condition is any injury, illness, or irregularity noticed by you or your veterinarian before the end of your waiting period, even if your pet never went to see the veterinarian for it. No pet insurance company covers pre-existing conditions.
Waiting Periods
Most pet health insurance companies also require a waiting period before coverage begins for all newly enrolled pets. This waiting period may be several days to even several months! Another reason to start the process early! Waiting periods generally start on the date your pet's policy becomes effective. Accidents and illnesses that occur or are diagnosed during the waiting period will not be covered. Please review your specific coverage for details of its waiting period requirements as all policies are different.