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How to Improve Life for Both You and Your Pet

Pet Health Insurance

Recent breakthroughs in scientific research have now provided pet owners with the means to save their beloved family pets from injuries and diseases, which previously would have caused the pet to be euthanized in the not so distant past.

The sad fact is that when the unthinkable happens and a pet life hangs in the balance, many pet owners find that they are unable to afford the often staggering price of the available treatments. These treatment costs can typically range anywhere from $3000 to $10,000 and in some cases even more, leaving the owner with no viable financial option other than to have their pet put down. It is in these instances that pet owners wish they had possessed the foresight to purchase a pet health insurance policy.

Pet health insurance works in a similar fashion to human health insurance and as with human plans, pet health plans are purchased for a variety of reasons. Some owners value the savings that are sometimes offered on their pet’s annual health check at the vets, others value the peace of mind the plan gives them.

Pet owners can pick from a variety of plans such as pet fatality/mortality insurance, major medical insurance and basic medical insurance. The exact policy name or description will vary from company to company. Many pet health care insurance companies provide a variety of additional upgrade options to complement the basic pet health care insurance plan offered, in return for a larger premium payment.

Mortality or fatality pet insurance is similar to human life assurance. The owner pays a premium every month the pet is alive and in the event of its death the owner is paid a predetermined amount of money. While the insurance payout does not take the sting out of losing a beloved family pet, it may help to pay any additional medical bills not covered by treatment insurance. Alternatively, many owners cannot bear to be without a pet and therefore choose to use the money to acquire a replacement pet.

If you do take out a mortality/fatality pet plan, one thing it is important to be aware of is that most insurance companies will require the owner to contact them before the pet is euthanized. They will often ask to speak to the veterinarian in charge of the pet’s case prior to the procedure being carried out.

Basic medical health insurance typically covers veterinarian expenses such as accidents, non-elective surgeries, hospitalization and illnesses. One popular insurance company offers a plan that pays out up to $1000 for ailments ranging from cuts to cancer; most pet owners use this plan for emergencies only.

Pet owners are advised to purchase a pet health care insurance plan as early in their pet’s life as possible. Many insurance companies and veterinarians point out that most freak accidents happen in the early years of a pet’s life. Owners should be aware that most pet health insurance plans do not provide cover for genetic disorders that develop in certain breeds and some of the more expensive surgeries. Most insurance plans will also not touch pre-existing conditions.