Pet Insurance - A Life Saver

Keywords:
insurance, money, check up, care, doctor, medical, treatment, budget, coverage, veterinarian, age, cancer, kidney, liver, coverage, protect, life

Pet Insurance - A Life Saver

Pet Insurance - A Life Saver

Recently, many pet owners have been asking us about pet insurance. Although pet insurance has been available in the U.S. since 1981, most pet owners are still unaware that it is even an option to help with your pet's care.

Operating much like other types of insurance, pet insurance helps pet owners budget for unexpected accidents and illnesses.

From broken bones to swallowed toys, poisoning and cancer, pet insurance was started to help end the "economic euthanasia" of pets and give pet owners the ability to keep going forward with medical treatment.

As advances in veterinary medicine have been made, pet insurance helps bridge the gap between an owner's desire to continue care and the ability to pay for it.

Plans vary by provider and your desires for coverage, but all pet insurance companies in the U.S. Operate on a reimbursement basis, which is why it's important to ask about claim turn-around times when enrolling.

When looking into pet health insurance, be sure to also ask the following questions:

  • Are you allowed to visit your own veterinarian or will you be required to visit a network provider? 
  • Is the amount reimbursed to you a percentage of the actual bill or a percentage of what the company chooses to allow for each procedure and visit? 
  • What limitations or exclusions are parts of the policy?  (Hint: all companies have limitations and exclusions - some are just more forthcoming about them.  )
  • Will a condition that's treated this year be considered pre-existing (and therefore not covered) the next? 
  • Up to what age will you insure my pet? 
  • Some companies have relatively low age requirements.  Will your pets have coverage when they are older and problems like cancer, kidney failure and arthritis become more common?

Speaking of common, one common complaint we hear about pet insurance is that it won't cover problems and conditions that already exist. Unlike medical assistance funds, insurance is specifically set up - and priced - for unexpected illnesses and accidents, which is why many companies limit coverage for hereditary conditions and birth defects.

This is why purchasing coverage for your puppy or kitten is so important.  By insuring your pet before an accident or illness happens, you are protecting your pet for life, as long as you choose a company that continuously covers your pet from an early age through end of life.

At least one company also offers a lock-in rate so that the lower rates for puppies and kittens can be kept until the pets are much older.

Doing your homework and reading the policy before you buy are two ways to ensure that you adequately cover your pet for life. Recent research shows that 60% of dogs over the age of 6 will have some form of cancer.

Be prepared for accidents and illnesses large and small by protecting your pets with pet insurance. Both they and you will be glad you did.

  Go back

Daily Pet News


Why Dogs Dig
Dogs dig… That’s what they do, they’re dogs. But it may not be that simple. Turns out, that dogs dig when they are bored or if it is hot outside to expose cool soil. Shade, cool water, and some indoor time will combat the cold, but providing mental stimulation can be difficult. Because all dogs have different needs, it can sometimes require lots of one on one time to satisfy your dog’s needs. You can also create one area of the yard that is designated for your dog. Allow and encourage it to play and dig in just its area.

Clean Up After Your Pet and Keep Your Community Clean
Cleaning up after your dog can help keep our community safe from contamination. Pet waste enters our water system carrying disease. With over 4 billion pounds of waste produced every year by dogs alone, the potential for disease is high. Roundworms are one of the parasites that live inside dog feces.

Proof of Microchip Benefits
An Iowa family was reunited with their dog who was stolen from them 4 years ago. After finding the dog wandering near a lake, an implanted microchip helped to return the dog to its rightful family. Microchips cost just over $100 for an active profile. A pet can then be scanned at any veterinarian or shelter to get the most up to date details about the pet and its family.

Aging Pets and Their Food Intake
As dogs age, their caloric and nutritional needs change drastically. And when you visit your local pet store you will find a variety of senior pet foods. The difficulty comes in choosing the proper one. Unfortunately, there are no guidelines for formulations and as such, there is great variation from brand to brand. Experts recommend consulting with your veterinarian about which food is best for your pet and when is an appropriate time to make the change.

What Happens to Your Pets if You Die?
Veterinary schools are now offering lifelong care or new homes to animals that are left behind when an owner passes away. The programs usually require a donation of approximately $25,000 or more, depending on the animal. The donation is usually paid through the estate or life insurance policy. If an animal then dies before expected, the left over donation is put towards providing education to veterinary students. The programs are ideal for pet owners that do not have family or friends that can or wish to provide for their pets.

Healthy Pets and a Healthy You
Our dogs and cats are very close to us, both emotionally and physically. So it’s important that they stay healthy and free from parasites. Certain animal parasites can infect humans leading to zoonotic diseases. Regular veterinary examinations, preventive vaccines and proper grooming can help to prevent them.

Keeing Dogs Healthy on the Iditarod
On the Iditarod, it is often challenging to keep dogs healthy. Over the 1000 mile journey, the dogs are overseen by 40 veterinarians at 25 checkpoints. The dogs are looked at to ensure there vitals are in normal range and they are not injured. The dogs are treated for any abnormalities.

Seizures and the Moon
Reports by pet owners claiming that seizures were triggered by the full moon, led a Florida doctor to exam the potential connection. In fact, the doctor found that most seizures were actually encountered during the moons last quarter and the lowest number occurred during the full moon. While the moonlight does affect animal behavior, the results of several studies failed to show a correlation between the moon cycles and epilepsy.

Unknown Dog Respiratory Disease
A mysterious illness has left dozens of Colorado dogs with an unknown respiratory illness. Said to be worse than kennel cough, symptoms of the sickness include coughing, wheezing, and gasping for air. The disease has affected more than 100 dogs and can be life threatening. Antibiotics have had some success treating the illness. The less fortunate have been hospitalized and treated in the intensive care unit. If your dog shows any symptoms of respiratory illness, have it examined by your veterinarian.

Lost Pet Stress
Lost pets can be a stress on both owner and companion. Knowing that only 16 % of dogs and 2 % of cats are reclaimed by owners at shelters, does not help confidence of a reunion. Before you are facing this worrisome situation, take some precautions to ensure that your pet cannot escape its home. And just in case your dog is a regular Houdini, always keep it dressed with a collar that bears your current contact information. Microchips allow you to imbed a permanent ID tag and only costs around a hundred bucks. If your pet does escape, post flyers and contact your veterinarian, local shelters, and local pet stores.