Picking out dog insurance can be complicated. Like all other types of insurance, there are different types and they can range in price. Illness/Incident and wellness insurance packages are the most common types of dog insurance. While different companies call them different things, they are basically broke down into these two categories.
Illness or Incident Insurance
One common type of dog or pet insurance is illness or incident insurance. This type of insurance covers things like if Fido swallows something and needs surgery to get it out of his stomach. They also cover common things like some cancers and other illnesses. However, make sure to read all of the fine print. Some insurance does not cover things that are breed specific. Let’s say that you have a dog that is known to get a specific condition later on in life, it may or may not be covered. With illness or incident insurance, there is often a cap of what the insurance company will pay per incident. If Fluffy develops heartworm and is seen by the vet three times, it counts as one incident, not three. Some insurance companies have higher caps on per incident claims, if you pay a higher premium. If you have a pure breed dog, it may be in your best interest to research what your dog’s breed most likely health problems, not only to check to see if they are covered but also to see what a normal treatment for the condition costs.
Wellness Insurance
Wellness insurance covers illness or incident and also things like medicine, and normal vet visits. Wellness insurance is more expensive. Wellness insurance will not cover known conditions. Therefore, if Fluffy has a skin condition that requires daily medication, the insurance will most likely not cover it. Wellness plans also vary greatly by company and by different packages that each company has. If deciding to get a wellness insurance package, there is no clear-cut way to pick out which package to get. You may be able to get an all-inclusive type package, but it will not come cheap.