Hard economic times require thoughtful decisions. So if you are trying to save yourself some money and you are considering buying pet health insurance, these are some things to consider.
First, you need to understand how pet insurance works so do your research.
Pet insurance is usually an indemnity type of insurance. This means that you take your pet to the vet, you pay the vet then you fill out claim forms and get reimbursed for part of the bill. Pet insurance plans normally have a deductible which unlike health insurance plans for humans, applies per incident.
Most plans will not cover pre-existing conditions and in some instances, will exclude certain breeds or illnesses.
What else will the plans cover? This is where the research gets difficult. Each company has different conditions of coverage. While most will cover accidents and illnesses, the "fine print" varies tremendously so you need to really investigate before you sign up.
Some plans will even cover routine veterinary care, such check ups, vaccinations, spaying or neutering.
Another thing to consider is the age of your pet. The younger your pet, the lower the premiums and since most likely they won't have a pre-existing condition, your plan will take care of him or her for life.
How much can you afford to spend each month: $10, $20, $30, $40?
The higher the premiums the more coverage you have. You can also choose to pay annually and several companies will give you a discount if you pay your premiums annually.
If you are doing research on the Internet, try to find un-biased reviews. Type "pet insurance reviews" or "pet insurance comparison" and see what comes up.
Read independent reports first, then go to the several companies and go through their plans.
Author: Alice Flowers
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