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Pet Insurance

webma8066
Oct 4, 2014
2 min read

Health care for your pet can get costly without pet insurance. Just like everyone else, pets get sick sometimes. One in three pets will need unexpected veterinary care each year. According to 2010 Petplan claims data, dogs under the age of one are actually 2.5 times more likely than their older brethren to have an unexpected visit to the vet. And while every parent wants to provide their pets with the best care possible, sometimes the high costs can force you to ask your vet for less expensive alternatives. Every six seconds, a pet parent is faced with a vet bill for more than $1,000. Everyone want to make the best decision for their pet, regardless of cost. That's where pet insurance can be a huge benefit. By insuring your pet’s health, you can have peace of mind that, should your pet get sick or injured, your costs can be covered. Here are the top five questions to ask before buying pet insurance.

Top five questions to ask before buying pet insurance:

1) Does the policy cover chronic and hereditary conditions? 2) Will my policy offer coverage for the rest of my pet's life? 3) Are there per-condition limits? 4) How well-established is the company? 5) Can you customize your policy?

You also need to know:

Is there a physical exam required to get coverage?
Is there a waiting period?
What percentage of the bill do they pay — after the deductible?
Are payments capped in any way?
Are there co-pays?
Does the plan cover pre-existing conditions?
Can you choose any vet or animal hospital?
Are prescription drugs covered?
Are you covered if you travel with your pet?

Most policies do not cover congenital or hereditary conditions.

There are many pet insurances out there is the world. Make sure when you compare you evaluate what each plan is really giving you. Some carry wellness plans while others don't. Some cover alternative therapies (i.e. acupuncture) and others don't. Make sure you are getting the right plan for you and your pet.

**Some information was provided by Petplan insurance at www.gopetplan.com and NBC News comparison