Health care is as important for your pet as it is for yourself and your children. Pets are members of the family, and deserve the very best health care possible. That care, in the event of a serious or chronic illness or injury, can be very expensive. Pet health insurance can provide the peace of mind that comes with knowing you will be able to better afford life saving treatment for your cat or dog. Cat dog insurance is very affordable, and can save pet owners thousands of dollars on veterinarian expenses.
Cat Dog Insurance Plans and Policies
Most plans cover illness, accidents and injuries for your pets; however, there will be some exclusions. Policies typically will not pay for hereditary or congenital conditions, pre-existing conditions, or elective procedures, although there may be some exceptions, such as spaying or neutering. Many pet insurance companies offer policies that will cover routine wellness expenses, such as annual checkups, dental cleanings and vaccinations. Some will also cover behavioral conditions.
How does Pet Insurance Work?
Pet insurance policies are not, in most cases, an HMO. That means that pet owners are not required to stay within a network, but can choose their own licensed veterinarian. Rather than paying co-pays for office visits and procedures, pet owners are reimbursed by the insurance company according to a schedule of benefits. Some medical expenses may be reimbursed up to 80%, while others may have a specific dollar amount that the insurance company will pay. For example, 80% of office visits, lab and diagnostic procedures, hospitalization, outpatient care, medications and injections may be paid by the insurance company, but pregnancies may have a pre-set limit of $300 to $500.
As with most insurance policies, there are a number of pet insurance plans to choose from. The most basic plans will have lower monthly premiums as well as lower lifetime and incident limits. Premium plans will have a higher deductible but also offer the added protection of higher limits of coverage.