Keeping your pet healthy is one of the important responsibilities involved in pet ownership. Having the right pet insurance can help you care for your pet better and prolong its life.
Choosing the right insurance plan can be tedious and confusing at times. Doing so may require many hours of reading pet insurance reviews and looking up insurance providers. The search may take longer than you expect, but finding an insurance plan that meets you and your pet’s needs will be worth the effort.
Below are some helpful tips on getting the best insurance for your pet.
1. Study the Provider’s Track Record
Pet insurance is a significant purchase. That is why it’s important to read up on the reputation and track record of pet insurance providers. Searching for the right provider involves finding out how long the company has been handling pet insurance policies and how well it treats pets. Most pet parents give significant importance to the ethical way the provider handles customer concerns.
Reading pet insurance reviews can help you decide which provider can help you meet your pet healthcare goals.
2. Enroll Pets While They Are Still Young
Getting insurance on your pets while they’re young can help you save on your pet health insurance by the time you need it. A young pet is less likely to have health issues not covered by the pet insurance plan. It will not take long at all to get approval if your pet is in top shape.
Finding the right provider while your pet is at least eight weeks old is a good practice. Doing this will make the approval of claims faster. Each insurer has an age limit, and older pets tend to become more expensive to insure. Most providers will not cover a pet at least nine years old if the issue is health. An accident cover can apply to any age.
Good pet insurance reviews can help you find the right provider capable of covering a wide range of health issues, whether your pet is young or old.
3. Read the Policy’s Fine Print
It’s always best to thoroughly read a pet insurance policy before you sign the dotted line. This allows you to know every aspect of the policy you are getting. Some pet insurance providers can insert some inclusions into the policy you choose. It is ideal to find a sample policy to see if the coverage gaps are in the fine print.
You can always call the insurer to clarify anything you don’t quite understand in the policy’s language or terms. Browsing through pet insurance reviews can give you an idea about which provider has policies that are easier to understand.
4. Consider the Extent of the Coverage
Like with other types of insurance, pet insurance is usually available with different types of coverage. There are those that cover surgeries, emergency care, checkups, and preventative care. The cost of your premium will depend on how much coverage you want for your pet.
For instance, your dog may be prone to congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia. Make sure you choose an insurance provider that can provide coverage for these conditions.
5. Look at the Factors that Affect Premium Cost
Choosing the right pet insurance policy involves studying the different factors affecting the potential costs of your premium. Below are some of these factors:
- Benefit rate – Your policy may cover 60% to 85% percent of the vet bill. This will depend on the level of coverage you choose.
- Co-payments – You may need to pay a co-payment or excess payment when you make a claim. Considering this when you choose a policy is also important. A high co-pay means lower premium payments.
- Level of coverage – You can add extras to your coverage if you want a comprehensive insurance plan for your pet. Emergency boarding and dental care are examples of these extra coverage options.
- Benefit caps – There is always a limit on the pet insurance claims you can make every year. Checking this will give you the annual limit that your insurer can pay.
6. Ask Your Vet for Recommendations
Aside from reading pet insurance reviews, asking your vet for recommendations is typically a good idea when you’re looking for the best pet insurance. Your vet is a credible source of information when it comes to the type of insurance you need. There are plans your vet may prefer. Your vet will also most likely know the most optimal policy for your pet’s specific health needs.
7. Make Sure You Understand Insurance-Related Payments
Watching out for the amount you will pay per claim is an important consideration. An excess payment is what you should pay each time you place a claim. Higher excess payments often have cheaper premium payments. Lower or even no excess payments have very high premium payments.
In some cases, you will also have to make some out-of-pocket payments for the treatment costs that pet insurance won’t cover.
Factors for Comparing Pet Insurance Policy Quotes
Comparing pet insurance quotes from different providers can also help you choose the right provider for your pet’s needs. All you need to do is to enter information on yourself and your pet. Several factors influence the premium you will pay and the care your pet will get. Here are some of them:
- Breed – Some breeds have higher healthcare costs than other ones. Large dog breeds like Labrador retrievers and German shepherds, for instance, tend to be more difficult to insure.
- Residence – Insurance premium prices may also depend on where you are in the country. The cost of living may be high or low in your area. This will influence the premiums you will pay each month.
- Species – Cat insurance policies often have lower monthly premiums than dog insurance policies.
Do Your Research to Find the Best Pet Insurance
It is not easy being a pet parent, especially when your pet needs veterinary attention. Getting a reputable pet insurance provider can give you all the help you need. It will also give you peace of mind, knowing that your pet can get medical treatments when needed.
Doing research such as reading up on insurance providers and reading pet insurance reviews can give you a strong basis for choosing your pet insurance provider. It may take some time to go through all the information you collect, but the effort will be worth it.
Other articles you would like:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.