Pet Insurance: Why You Need It and What to Look For
Purchasing pet insurance is a great way to make sure your pet has a full recovery after any accident or illness.
We all want to be able to take good care of our pets when they need it most. There is nothing more heart wrenching than euthanizing a pet with a condition that is treatable, but too expensive for the owners to afford. If you don’t have a spare two to four thousand dollars sitting in your bank account in any given month, pet insurance may be the right choice for you! Here are some of the top pet insurance companies (in no particular order) and comparisons of what they have to offer:
1) VPI pet insurance is run by Nationwide. They offer plans for both dogs and cats. They have two plans to choose from, the high end of which has the highest reimbursement payout and a maximum annual benefit of up to 14,000 dollars, as opposed to 9,000 for standard care. They also have a routine care option you can add onto your plan. Importantly, there are some conditions which are not covered by VPI insurance, including hereditary conditions. VPI also offers insurance for birds and exotic pets.
2) The really great thing about PetCare pet insurance is its flexibility. It offers multiple options based on how much coverage you need. For example, they have six different plans for dogs. PetCares MasterCare plan offers 80-90% coverage (you choose!) for all accidents and all illnesses (including hereditary ones.) Depending on which MasterCare Plan you select, you can get up to $6,500 per accident (unlimited for lifetime of pet) and up to $7,000 for illnesses (between 36,000 and 84,000 lifetime), as well as additional benefits for accidental deaths, boarding kennel fees, recovery costs, trip cancelation, euthanasia, and more. They also have plans geared towards seniors. MasterCare plans range from $40.95 to $104.95 per month. Less extensive plans can cost you as little as $15.95 per month! They also have similar plans for cats.
3) The ASPCA also has pet insurance, with 4 levels of coverage and an 80% reimbursement. Also, every plan that is purchased benefits the ASPCA, so you’ll be helping animals in shelters in addition to your own pet. Up to 10% of the purchase price of the plan you select is donated to the ASPCS. Because the ASPCA believe in the importance of spaying and neutering, these procedures are covered under their plans. However, procedures deemed cruel by the ASPCA, like tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing, are not covered. Also, whereas other plans have a per-incident deductible, the ASPCA has a $100 deductible per year.
4) 24 hour pet watch has emergency care for microchipped pets. A lot of animals that have run away from home wind up in veterinary hospitals, with no one to pay for emergency treatment. When your lost pet is brough into a shelter or clinic, they will be scanned for a microchip. When the staff calls 24PetWAtch to locate you, the owner, the representative will immediately tell them your pet is insured for up to $3,000 of lifesaving medical treatment. That way, while representative are trying to locate you, your pet is already receiving the medical car it needs. Imagine how much more relieved you will be to receive a phone call saying your pet has already had emergency surgery and is stable and recovering, than receiving one saying that because no one could reach you, your pet has been suffering, or worse, was euthanized.
This is not a comprehensive list, and you should explore all of your options. When comparing insurance companies be sure to look for the following:
1) Conditions that are not covered. If you have a purebred pet, you will want to have a plan that covers hereditary conditions. Look closely at the fine print, if your plan wont cover cancer, hip dysplasia or seems to rule out all of the most expensive medical problems, you should look at other companies.
2) Deductible. Some plans have a deductible per incident; others have a deductible per year. When you are comparing the cost of a plan, be sure to take this into account.
3) Maximums. How much will your insurance pay per accident or illness. Can your pet have multiple accidents per year and still be covered? Trips to the emergency room can easily rack up bills of $2,500 to $3,000, or more! Be sure your plan has you covered.
4) Discounts. Ask about discounts, often times companies will have discounts for pets that are neutered or spayed, or for families with multiple pets.
5) Payment and Reimbursement. Most companies will have you pay in full and then will reimburse you by mailing you a check. Some companies are beginning to have online claims that your vet can fill out on-site, so all you have to pay is your deductible. For example, 24 Pet Watch has EVE, its “electronic veterinary experience” which facilitates payment. You will still need to make sure your vet uses this program to have access to its benefits.
