Why Cheap?
I know I keep circling around the topic of either trying to get a free pet insurance or trying to locate a pet insurance that is cheap. But both ideas seem to be very common when you see the search pattern of people online.
It is always words like “free”, “cheap” and “low cost” that people search for and I have to admit that I am pretty….. Well… sad or disappointed about that fact. Let me explain why I don’t think cheap pet insurance is the way ahead.
Pet Insurance Coverage
It’s like going to the drugstore to buy medicine to save your life from a bad disease and then ask the pharmacist for the cheapest product first, and secondly, what the chances are that it will work for you (supposing that the cheaper drug has a less efficiency rate).
Affordable vs. Cheap
I think what is important is to look for ‘affordable’ yet quality pet insurance more than ‘cheap’. I believe it’s just a matter of prioritizing coverage and making comparisons, and review each one and see at the end of your review which provides the same coverage at less cost than the others.
As a pet lover I am generally against the fact that people try to save a few dollars or pounds when it comes to taking care of their pets but I can’t help the fact that this is what many people do as a matter of economics most times. However, as a website owner, I feel I have to provide people with what they look for while still trying to get my point across.
So here goes…
Getting Cheap Pet Insurance
When searching for pet insurance a good place to start is to narrow down your search as to whether you’re looking for pet insurance for your dog or your cat. Now I know that you might say that you need it for your horse, your exotic bird, your pet rabbit or another type of animal but unfortunately that is out of the scope of this article. Finding insurance coverage for other pets than cats and dogs can really be a challenge.
If you live in the UK, there is a site called MoneySupermarket, which is a price comparison site comparing anything from prices on broadband connections to utility prices. Among those you’ll find both tools for searching for the cheapest dog insurance as well as the cheapest cat insurance.
It lists down several of their partner providers with links to go to each of their websites for you to be able to review what they offer. Companies include pet-insurance.co.uk 08449 809 144, Argos 0800 422 0380, Sainsbury’s 0800 434 6359, and Tesco 0845 078 3878 to name a few.
Most of these pet insurance companies online give you instant quotes by letting you enter information about the breed of your dog or cat as well as the age. Another plus is that you are asked if you prefer to pay on a monthly or an annual basis. Insurance companies normally give you a discount if you pay a year in advance.
In the US there is a similar site called PetInsuranceReview and they too have kept their focus on dog insurance and cat insurance.
On their site, you’re able to inquire for quotes directly by indicating your pet’s breed and age. By registering your email address, with this info, PetInsuranceReview forwards your inquiry to different pet insurers, and you shall start receiving rate quotes from these companies on your email quickly within the next few minutes.
Pet insurers may include ASPCA/Hartville Insurance (800) 807-6724, Pet First Healthcare (866) 937-PETS (7387), PetPlan (866) 467-3875, Pets Best (866) 405-3647, Trupanion Pet Insurance (800) 569-7913, and VPI (888) 899-4VPI.
These personalized quotes are based on your pet’s age and breed. They would all ask you one question about your pet’s medical history. Whether your pet has shown any signs or symptoms of, received treatment for, or been diagnosed with any illness or condition, as this affects your pet’s eligibility. It is up to you therefore, to review each and every quote and compare the coverage. It is an easy way to do your homework. If you have further questions, it is best that you call them up directly.
You will need to go to the same process of finding cheap or low cost cat insurance. You are directed to the cat insurance section on these websites. You’ll find that cat insurance is cheaper than dog insurance in most cases but it will eventually depend on the breed as well as the age of the animal. As usual, older pets are more likely to have illnesses and get injured and will therefore cost you a larger sum of money.
To Wrap Up
As stated earlier I feel that looking solely for cheap pet insurance is the wrong approach and that you should first check to find the level of coverage you need and then start looking for the best price. Not the other way around!
So before you go search for cheap pet insurance PLEASE think twice and go for the level of coverage first and THEN go for the most affordable price. Happy hunting!
Mikael-As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I spoke in one of your earlier posts about Trupanion. I agree that level of coverage is important. Anyone who’s looking at pet insurance should also check provider’s site and try to get a copy of their policy wording, benefit schedule(if applicable), and exclusions. They can help you make an educated decision. I’d be cautious if you go to a site and can’t get their policy wording. Just my 2 cents worth.
That is a great advice. Checking the site of the insurance company will provide some valuable pointers when making up your mind. I do feel that this can not be the only thing you do as comparing policy wording requires a lot of training and most people will not be able to (or even want to) read them and understand every word. Therefore I always suggest that you’ll pick up the phone and call the company… one of the parameters I look for is the time that they’ll leaving you hanging while waiting to get through. The (to me) can be a warning sign.
Very insightful – continue to spread your message. Looking forward to an update. For too long now have I had the need to begin with my own blog. Guess if I put it off any longer I’ll never do it. I’ll make sure to include you in my Blogroll. Many thanks!!
For one, pet owners need to consider their pet insurance options based on their pet’s age. From my experience, when your cat or dog is still young you don’t need to pay high rates for pet insurance since you only need basic coverage in case of an emergency. As you pet ages things become more difficult… Insurance companies start asking for more money, you see exactly why they have so many exclusions in their policy, breed-specific inclusions especially. It’s key to be able to compare all possible choices because on day this is going to save your pet’s life. That’s what you need to think about, it’s not about the cost so much, your pet’s life really will depend on the term of the plan which you choose. Using a pet insurance comparison service seems like the best choice because it saves a ton of time. But once you have several top choices, you NEED to do this: call each company personally to check how they are working. This is the only way you can be sure you are going with the best company.
If you think you can change insurance companies or get a policy after your pet has a problem, then you could be greatly disappointed or upset. Insurance companies all have a pre-existing condition clause, and this will exclude any condition that your pet already has. It is always better to take out lifetime pet insurance, but check exactly what this covers. There will be either maximum payouts per annum or per condition, but at least your pet will always be covered throughout its life up to these maximums.