Choosing Pet Health Insurance
In a recent DVM 360 online article, Rising Costs Pose New Barriers to Care, writer Stephanie Skernivitz shares a remark from practicing veterinarian, Peter Weinstein. “Pet owners unfortunately have to decide where discretionary income is going. Today's pet owners are even waiting longer to see if pets will get better on their own."
Today, many price-conscious pet-owning consumers –and you may be one of them–are already shopping prices on vaccinations, and necessary surgical procedures such as spays and neuters. They're forced to strictly look at cost when it comes to these services, which can push them into some hard decisions about basic medical care for their pets.
Sound familiar? Then, pet health insurance may be the right answer for you. Pet insurance is similar to human health insurance in that it has:
- Deductibles
- Co-pays
- Maximum payouts
- Premiums
- Waiting periods
- No coverage for pre-existing conditions
What this means for you is simple: when shopping for pet health insurance, you’ve got to do your homework. Here are a few questions you should ask as you compare pet insurance providers and plans, recommended by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and Dr.Frances Wilkerson, DVM and founder of Pet Insurance University. The first three questions are critical, and very personal:
A Brief List of Pet Insurance Providers
If you’ve decided that pet insurance is something which may be of value to you and your family, and you’re ready to start your search for the most appropriate plan for your pet, these links to today’s top ten pet insurance providers will get you on the right track.
A short list of the questions you should ask when visiting specific websites, or speaking with company representatives includes:
No one can predict when a pet may have an accident or develop a chronic condition or life-threatening illness. A pet health insurance plan will help you deal with unexpected veterinary costs, and give you the peace-of-mind which comes from knowing you’ve lived up to your responsibilities by providing the best possible protection for your cherished animal companion.