Pet Health Insurance

"The Difference Between
Life And Death For Your Pet?"

Whilst we don't like to think of our pets being injured in a traffic accident, or becoming ill, we should be realistic and accept that there is a possibility of it happening!

Imagine then, having to make the heartbreaking decision to have your pet put to sleep because you were unable to afford the vet fees!

Vet bills can be very expensive - you could end up spending thousands on invoices for surgery, medical procedures and treatments, hospitalisation, x-rays, tests, lab fees, medicines, and follow-up treatment.

You could also be held responsible for any damages to property, or injury, that your dog may cause.

Unfortunately, there's no 'Doggie National Health Insurance', so if your pet needs treatment, costs could easily spiral out of control leaving you unable to afford to pay the vet bills.

Pet health insurance covers the cost of unexpected medical problems should your pet become ill or need medical attention; it will also give you peace of mind.

Pet care insurance will also give you the reassurance that, should anything happen to your pet, you will have funds available to give him the treatment and medicines, or specialised care, that he may need; care which you may otherwise have been unable to afford.

It's highly likely that your breeder insured your puppy for up to six weeks after the date you brought him home, so you should have plenty of time to make insurance arrangements for your puppy, but don't let it slip. If you're in any doubt about the timing - check with your breeder.

Pet Health Insurance - Policy Coverage

Pet health insurance policies are usually offered with varying degrees of cover and are costed accordingly and many insurance companies will allow you to tailor the cover to suit your specific needs.

The higher level of cover offered, the more expensive the policy is likely to be.

A cheaper policy may not offer you the cover you need, so don't be tempted by a cheaper price.

Pet health insurance policies differ between insurers, so it's advisable to ensure you understand what's covered and what's not covered before choosing a policy.

Listed below are some questions to ask pet health insurance providers to help you understand exactly what cover is available, and to help determine your specific needs.

• Restriction on visits Are you restricted to the number of visits you can make to the vets?
• Payout capped Should you need to make a claim, is there a cap on annual or monthly payouts?
• Cap on cover Is there a cap on cover for certain categories of illness, such as arthritis or diabetes?
• Emergencies Only Does the policy cover emergency treatment only?
• Varying levels of cover Do the insurers offer different levels of health cover and, if so, what are they?
• Tailor to suit Can the pet health insurance policy be tailored to suit your specific needs?
• Theft or loss Is theft, or the loss of your pet covered? What is the benefit? Do they assist with the cost and distribution of leaflets in the case of a lost pet?
• Preventative health Do the insurers offer preventative health plans where, included in the cost of the insurance, your pet has regular check ups with the veterinary nurse who offers general advice about the health and wellbeing of your pet?
• Surgery What type of surgery will the insurance cover? Are there any restrictions on certain types of surgery?
• Hospital stays Will it cover hospital stays for your pet?
• Routine visits Are routine visits to the vet, and subsequent treatment, covered?
• Prescriptions Does the policy cover prescriptions?
• Choice of vets Does the policy restrict your choice of vets, or are you limited only to vets approved by them?
• Your own vet Is your own vet covered?
• Vet referral Pet health insurance companies may also cover certain costs incurred in circumstances where your pet is injured, or shows the first clinical signs of an illness, and your usual vet recommends another vet treats your dog, for example, additional travel costs.
• Holiday cancellation or return home Are you compensated if you're forced to cancel your holiday, or return home, because your pet is ill and needs to be hospitalised? If so, we recommend you check the conditions.
• Quarantine costs Are quarantine and other costs incurred in obtaining a new health certificate for your dog, should his microchip fail?
• Quarantine kennel costs Are quarantine kennelling costs paid should your dog have to be put into quarantine due to illness whilst abroad?
• Loss of health certificate Is loss of health certificate covered? If it is accidently destroyed will the insurance comany contribute towards the cost of replacement?
• Missed departure Are you covered if you miss your scheduled departure, owing, for example, to your pet needing emergency treatment whilst abroad; losing your pet whilst abroad; or needing repeat tick and worm treatment because the pet certificate was lost or destroyed?
• Owner hospitalised Does your policy cover the cost of kennel fees if you are hospitalised and cannot care for your pet?
• Lifetime Insurance Does the insurance company offer 'lifetime insurance' (see explanation below) for your pet?
• Accidental damage If your dog accidently damages personal property belonging to someone other than you or your family, are you covered?
• Excesses Are there any excesses? Some insurers expect you to pay, for example, the first 20% of costs, depending upon the level of policy taken.
• Death benefit Is there a death benefit, whether caused by illness or injury, and if so, what is it?

Pet Health Insurance Cover - General Points To Note

• Pet health insurance is usually more expensive for a pedigree than it is for a cross breed.
• If your pet has any existing health conditions, it's unlikely that it will be covered.
• The older your dog is, the higher your pet health insurance premium is likely to be.
• You may be offered a discount for more than one pet.
• There may be additional surcharges to the policy. Check if there are any, and make sure you understand them.

Lifetime Pet Health Insurance

Lifetime pet health insurance is usually quite expensive, but, if you can afford it, it's the best pet insurance you can buy.

There may be limits on the amount of treatment costs which can be reclaimed each year, but it will protect your dog for life.

You must, however, take care to renew your policy on time, as any break in cover will cause your policy to lapse. If this happens, your insurance company may be unwilling to renew, particularly if they have a maximum age policy, or your dog is reaching his older years.

We strongly recommend you consider pet health insurance - but do your research carefully. Always compare pet insurance plans to ensure you're fully aware of what's on offer and what you're getting for your money.

Before you sign on the dotted line - make sure clearly understand any restrictions and limitations - don't forget to read the small print!

Go ahead, give yourself peace of mind and give your pet the loving protection he deserves!

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