So how does pet insurance work? Most of us here at SORTRA have pets, both dogs & cats, in fact, our pets are our life, and yes they are all insured. Isn’t it a must these days?
Pet owners understand like us know how expensive vet fees can be when something happens to your pet.
Just like us, health issues minor or severe can pop up unexpectedly and when you don’t have insurance to cover your costs, it can put a huge strain on your finances. (Typing from first-hand experience here!)
Being prepared with pet insurance will help you feel more at ease in case something does happen to your pet. If you’re curious about getting pet insurance for your furry companion or companions but are unsure where to start, you’re not alone!
Many pet owners don’t know how comprehensive their options are now for pet insurance providers, and most will just eat the costs of care when their pet has an emergency or develops a condition. If you’re curious about how pet insurance actually works, keep reading for some helpful information to get you started shopping for a plan!
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is something that you purchase at a monthly rate to cover the costs of unexpected medical bills when your pet gets sick or has an accident.
It works similarly to our own health insurance. You’ll pay a monthly premium and submit your care costs to your insurance provider for reimbursement.
There aren’t typically copays like there are when we go to the doctor’s office, but having the security of reimbursement for emergency costs will save you both money and headaches in the long run.
So how does pet insurance work? Like any other type of insurance, you have to pay a monthly amount otherwise known as a premium. Let’s start with the basic setup
Pet Insurance Basic Plans
The most basic plans when it comes to pet insurance cover emergencies only. These are things like accidents or environmental occurrences that are completely out of your control.
The most basic plans are also the cheapest, coming out at a mere fraction of the cost of the insurance premiums we pay for ourselves. From there, you can enhance your plan depending on what your needs are.
Pet Insurance Add-Ons
The great news is that most insurance plans are customizable and allow you to add on different features if you find that you need them.
A popular add-on for many customers is preventative care which covers vet visits and other treatments meant to prevent illness and disease.
This is different from your basic plan because your pet doesn’t need to be exhibiting symptoms to have their office visits covered.
Preventative care is one of the best things you can add to your plan, and one of the biggest long-term expenses that pet owners tend to incur! Make sure that you choose a provider that at least has this option, even if you don’t anticipate using it right away.
What Pet Insurance Doesn’t Cover
As with most insurance plans, conditions and health issues that occurred prior to having insurance typically aren’t covered.
That’s what’s known as a pre-existing condition, and there are only rare circumstances where something like that would be covered by insurance.
The best pet insurance providers offer coverage for hereditary diseases, which can pop up unexpectedly without prior knowledge of the condition. This is a case where it’s certainly possible your provider might cover it, but never a guarantee.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Depending on the features you add on, pet insurance can be extremely affordable!
The most basic plans can cost as low as $20 a month, and with that low of a cost initially, it’s easy to consider the possibility of adding more in-depth coverage to your monthly plan.
Pet insurance is a no-brainer for pet owners, especially at such affordable pricing and with so many insurance providers widely available online. Each provider will have different rates and quotes, so check a few out and see what works best for you!
Finding The Right Provider
Finding the right provider all comes down to what you and your pets’ needs are.
You may find that a basic plan is all you need for now, but it’s important to consider that in the future you may want to expand your coverage. Because of this, it’s important to search for insurance providers that offer a wide variety of options so you’re not jumping between different companies and lapsing in coverage when you need it most.
You should always do plenty of research and gain as much information as you can about any providers you’re thinking of going with.
Pet insurance is simply a way to cover your pet’s emergency care costs in the event of an accident or sudden illness. Like most insurance providers, it’s unlikely that they’ll cover pre-existing conditions except in rare cases.
That being said, there are plenty of options to help you save money on pet care such as preventive care options. These allow you to be reimbursed for any care given for the purpose of preventing disease or illness.
With preventative care, your pet doesn’t need to be in an emergency to receive care.
We hope this article helped you understand a little more about pet insurance and good luck with your search!
