Insurance for Your Pet in Sickness and in Health
If you’re a pet owner, you‘ve probably heard a lot about health insurance for pets and may have already purchased it.
If you want to insure your pet’s health, it’s important to know that not all pet health insurance policies provide the same coverage in the same manner.
What pet health insurance covers
Most pet health insurance policies cover costs for treating illnesses and accidental injuries. They may also cover costs for wellness procedures, including vaccinations, screenings, spaying/neutering and other treatments. However, some policies may cover accidents and illness only.
While there are many common features in pet health policies, there are distinctions you should ask about, including:
- The scope of covered services: Are there any restrictions on coverage for certain services, such as surgeries, hospitalizations or prescriptions? Is there coverage for palliative care for terminal illnesses and end-of-life procedures?
- Preexisting conditions: Are there any restrictions for hereditary, congenital or incurable conditions? How would a newly arising condition impact the renewal of your policy?
- The method of coverage: Is there a waiting period for coverage to start? Is there a network of preferred or mandatory veterinary providers? What are the deductible and copayment requirements? Are payments made directly by the insurer or on a reimbursement basis?
Coverage considerations
There are a few things you should consider when purchasing a pet health insurance policy:
- The species of your pet: Dogs and cats are the most popular species insured, but other species of animals can be insured, too. The species of your pet will affect your coverage.
- The breed of your pet: Certain breeds of animals are more prone to costly illnesses than others. Make sure you know these risks when determining the level of coverage you need.
- Cost of treatment: Talk to your vet about how much it may cost to treat the common ailments of your pet's breed. This will help you when figuring out the limits of your policy.
- Waiting period: Many policies have mandatory medical exclusion periods from the start of the policy. This is called a “waiting period” and could be anywhere from 10-30 days.
If your pet is severely injured
If your pet is injured or dies in an accident in your home — for instance, in a house fire — your homeowners insurance will not cover your loss. Although homeowners and renters policies cover damage to household contents, animals are explicitly excluded from that coverage.
What about when your pet is in your car? Some auto insurers now offer an option to purchase “pet injury” coverage that covers the cost of treating your pet if it’s injured while riding in your vehicle. This coverage is subject to its own limit and does not apply to injuries to someone else’s pet struck by your car. That would be covered under your basic auto liability coverage if you are at fault.
So, is there any insurance for the loss of your pet?
Owners of horses, livestock and special breeds can buy insurance to cover the monetary cost of an animal if it dies or is incapacitated in an accident. They can also purchase “animal mortality insurance,” which is like life insurance in that it pays the policyholder if an animal dies of natural causes.
Pet health insurance is a small price to pay for peace of mind. And if something happens to your beloved animal, you want to give them the best treatment they can get.
You can find peace of mind for your furry friend’s health by getting a quote today. You can quote and bind your own customized coverage in under 10 minutes! You may be eligible for discounts if you have multiple pets, have served in the military or if you are a Safeco policyholder.
This content is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing professional, financial, medical or legal advice. You should contact your licensed professional to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.
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