Information on Pet Insurance
 
Unfortunately our pets can become ill or have an accident, just like us. From allergies to falling down stairs, car accidents to cancer. Either way our pets need the expertise of a veterinarian. At those times the last thing you want to think about is money. But with pet health insurance you'll have the financial support you need to keep your pets healthy or even save their lives.
 
What is pet health insurance?
Pet health insurance helps you pay your veterinary bill, so you'll never have to choose between your pet's well-being and your personal finances.
Pet insurance companies offer slightly different plans, so they stay competitive and give you more options. This is why you need to compare each company's options to make an educated decision.
You pay the veterinarian's bill and then submit a claim to the insurance company and they reimburse you directly.
 
Things to think about before choosing a plan:
  • Do they let you choose your own veterinarian, or make you pick from their list?
  • Do they offer after hours emergency care?
    Illnesses and accidents can happen after your normal veterinarian's hours. So you may want to have a policy that covers emergency care.
  • Does the insurance company let you go to specialists?
    i.e. ophthalmologists for eye care, oncologists for cancer treatment, or for specialty surgeries like ACL repair.
 
Here is some information on a few pet insurance companies to help you decide if pet insurance is something you would like.
But first some conditions you should know.
  • Pre-existing condition: any injury or illness that has manifested, was contracted, or incurred prior to the effective date of your insurance policy.
  • Congenital condition: considered a defect in growth development or a birth defect.
  • Hereditary conditions: genetically transmitted from an animal's parent or the breed that may cause illness or disease.
 
VPI

Veterinary Pet Insurance is the nation's oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance. Since 1982 VPI has been insuring America's pets and today has more then 450,000 pets enrolled.

VPI policy provides reimbursement coverage for your pet's eligible medical treatments, surgeries, lab fees, x-rays, prescriptions and more.

From unexpected illnesses and accidents to routine preventive care for your pets, VPI recommends their comprehensive dog and cat insurance plan: the VPI Superior plus Pet Wellcare Protection rider. For those who prefer lower pet insurance coverage they have the VPI Standard Plan.

They do not cover:
  • Pre-existing conditions
  • Hereditary disorders
  • ACL Repair (during the first 12 months of the policy)

For a full list of everything they do not cover you can go to their website.

With VPI you have the freedom to choose any licensed veterinarian in the U.S.

They will not cancel your policy due to an aged pet.

VPI reimburses up to 90% of your plan's eligible benefit schedule allowance.

For more information or to enroll Call 888-899-4VPI or visit their website at www.petinsurance.com.
 
Pets Best

Pets Best offers you a choice of plans from optional coverage to help pay for routine care to plans that protect your pet from unexpected illnesses, injuries, or accidents.

Each Pets Best plan reimburses a straightforward 80 %( after your deductible).

They have no rules telling you or your veterinarian what procedures are eligible. Your pet needs chemotherapy and radiation for cancer, that is fine. If you want to have acupuncture or holistic therapy, they are covered.

Pets Best provides you with:
  • Complete coverage for accidents, surgeries, lab tests, meds, and illnesses including cancer and diabetes.
  • Freedom to choose your veterinarian.
  • Freedom to decide what treatment you want done.
  • Multi-pet discount.
  • Simple reimbursement.
  • Highest claim limits.

You may also add their “Best Wellness” to your policy which includes routine care needs like, vaccines and annual teeth cleanings.

For more information or to enroll Call 1-877-738-7237 ext.1 or go online to www.petsbest.com.
 
ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has been at the forefront of veterinary care for over 140 years.

The ASPCA has a variety of insurance plans that range from simple accident coverage to ones that cover illness and routine preventive care. They do not include coverage for pre-existing conditions or congenital/hereditary conditions.

Plans start as low as $6.99/month for a cat and $8.99/month for a dog. Plans may include an annual $10.50 issuance fee. This is waived if you pay annually. You can change or cancel your plan at anytime. All plans come with a 30 day money back guarantee. The ASPCA offers a 10% discount for multiple pets. You will be reimbursed for 80% of allowable veterinarian charges after a $100 annual deductable is met.

They allow you to go to any licensed veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada (so if you take a trip and need veterinary assistance, it is covered). Even specialists are covered if needed.

Dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old for enrollment. Dogs must be younger than 13 years old, and cats younger than 15 years old. However your plan will not be cancelled based on the age of your pet.

A portion of all premiums go directly to support the ASPCA's critical work.

To get started with enrollment or if you have any questions you can call them at 1-866-861-9092 or visit them online at www.aspcapetinsurance.com/info.

Click here to view the ASPCA brochure.
 
PetCare

PetCare pet insurance has a flexible range of programs to meet the need of all cats and dogs as well as all budgets. They have unlimited lifetime accident coverage, and lifetime illness coverage up to $72,000 for a dog and $60,000 for a cat. Their premiums and deductibles do not increase as the pet ages. PetCare also guarantees acceptance into a petcare program regardless of age or current health.

Here are some other things that are available:
  • Coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions.
  • Trip cancellation insurance.
  • Boarding kennel fees.
  • Prescription food.
  • Microchip discounts.
  • Expression or removal of anal glands.
  • Holistic or homeopathic care medication.
  • Parasites. i.e. fleas, roundworms, heartworms.

They do not offer coverage for maintenance and preventive care. (i.e. exams, dentals, or vaccines.)

Do you have a cat that is only indoors? Perhaps you have a young pet or maybe he or she is a senior. Is your pet a pure-breed, or just an active athletic animal? Do you live in a rental? No matter what scenario, PetCare pet insurance has plans that cover your animal specifically.

PetCare also offers something called EmergencyCare Pet Insurance, which is something you can add to your policy. EmergencyCare insurance is a service that will help out if your pet ever gets lost and injured.

How it works:

Your pet must be microchipped. Someone finds your pet with a life threatening disease and they take it to a veterinarian. The veterinarian scans your pet for the microchip. The microchip data indicates who the owner is and that the pet has PetCare EmergencyCare. A 24PetWatch representative will authorize the veterinarian to perform lifesaving services up to $3,000 and then will contact you, the owner, and inform you where you pet is.

You pay a single payment of $19.95 which will cover your pet for a year. This will cover up to $3,000 of treatment. EmergencyCare also provides you with up to $250 to spend on finding your lost pet. i.e. printing flyers, offering a reward, etc. But if your pet is found and it doesn't have a life-threatening condition then it would not be covered, i.e. cut paw.

To contact PetCare/EmergencyCare pet insurance call them at 1-888-897-7387, write to P.O. Box 2150 Buffalo, NY 14240-2150, or go online to www.petcareinsurance.com.
 
 
These companies that have been highlighted are not the only pet insurance companies out there. We hope this has given you some useful information about pet insurance and how it could help you. All the information here was obtained from the websites of the highlighted companies. For more information visit their websites or give them a call.