If you have a pet, you want to do everything you can to keep them happy and healthy, this is where pet insurance coverage comes in.
In today’s article, we will discuss what your insurance covers as well as what pet insurance companies don’t cover, so you can be aware when you are looking through pet insurance providers and pet insurance policies to make sure you pick the right one for your situation.
If you already have a pet insurance policy but you don’t feel like it covers what you would like it to, then it is time to start looking for others that are better suited to what you need.
So, if you want to read about how pet insurance works and how it can benefit you to help with veterinary fees or specific emergency treatment, then read on.
What is Pet Insurance?
With pet insurance plans, you are able to cover the medical expenses of any vet fees that come up during veterinary treatment for illnesses or injuries that your pet sustains.
If your pet were to die, get lost/stolen, damage property, or harm someone, then your pet insurance company may cover this too.
You will need to look over your policy before putting in a pet insurance claim for these incidents.
It is a Commitment to Keep a Pet Safe
As pet owners, you should always make sure that your animal has their shots and vaccinations in line with regulations to keep them and you safe, but these are often excluded from pet insurance policies, so you will need to pay for these.
What Does Your Pet Insurance Policy Cover?
Your vet fee coverage can range from 1,000 to nearly 20,000 depending on what coverage you go for to protect your pet.
Determining the cost of your pet insurance is a nuanced process, contingent on several factors such as the type of pet you own, its age, and specific health considerations. A reliable pet insurance company will transparently discuss these aspects with you, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the pricing structure. Exploring reputable pet insurance providers, such as embrace Pet Insurance, can allow you to make informed choices based on your pet’s individual requirements and ensure a tailored insurance plan that aligns with their health and well-being.
In addition to the coverage of your vet fees, your insurance cover should also include the following issues –
Third-Party Liability
If you are a dog owner and they do any damage to someone’s property or they injure someone, then your pet insurance cover should include legal costs, your expenses, and the claimant’s expenses.
Police May Get Involved
If your dog attacks someone by malicious means, then that is something that may not be covered by your pet insurance as that will bring in the authorities to determine the reasoning behind this and if the dog needs to be taken away and you should be fined or put in prison.
Death of a Pet
Pet insurance coverage for end-of-life expenses can vary depending on the specific policy and insurance provider. While coverage may differ, here are some common expenses that pet insurance might cover when a pet passes away:
Are There Age Limits?
There is a maximum age for this cover to be used, for example, the age of eight is the norm, however, it can go as low as five years old.
This is another thing that you will need to look into when looking through pet insurance policies.
Overseas Travel Cover
When you are abroad with your pet, if they happen to fall ill or need veterinary treatment from being hurt, then your insurance should cover these expenses.
Will Your Pet Insurance Cover Antibiotics?
This is something that you will need to double-check to see if they will, but if the treatment you require needs antibiotics, then your pet insurance should cover these costs.
Dental Treatment
Part of your pet insurance costs may provide dental cover for your pet if it is needed.
This does depend on why your pet will need dental treatment, for instance, if their teeth have been damaged because of an injury then this will be covered, but if it is related to illness, then it may not be covered.
Get Them Checked Out
You will need to make sure that you take your dog for regular dental checkups once a year or as determined by your policy for this to apply, so read carefully.
Cattery and Kennel Fees
If you are unable to keep them with your family when you are in the hospital then you probably will need to put them in a place where they are cared for by trained professionals.
Your pet insurance plan should cover the cost of a cattery or kennel if they need to go there.
How Long Will You Need to be in Hospital For?
You will need to be in the hospital for around two to four days consecutively for this to apply and you really have no one else that they can go to for care.
What Does Pet Insurance Not Cover?
Most pet insurance policies should cover what you need them to so you are able to keep your pet happy and healthy, however, there are some things that are not covered under your plan and may be excluded for a variety of reasons.
Below are a few things that will not be in your pet insurance plan, so be aware of this before picking out which one you want.
Some things are just not covered, so even if you try and search far and wide to find one that encapsulates all you need, you may not be able to, and will have to pay for your veterinary bill yourself if it comes to it.
Pre-Existing Conditions
If your pet has a pre-existing condition, this is categorised as a medical condition that your pet would have had before you got pet insurance or just after you take it out, then you won’t be covered.
There are two categories that pre-existing conditions fall under so you can determine if your pet has one –
Chronic Illnesses/Conditions
If your pet has heart problems or something like hip dysplasia, which are ongoing problems that you are aware of before you take your policy out, then they may not qualify for coverage.
Historic Conditions
Previously, if your pet has had an illness or injury that they no longer suffer from and they have healed, then this might not be covered as it could potentially come back or cause other issues.
Are There Any Exceptions?
The pre-existing condition that your pet has more than likely won’t be covered, however, if they haven’t had treatment for a while and it looks to be okay, then they may get covered, you will need to check your policy carefully to see if pre-existing conditions can be covered.
Waiting Period
Most pet insurance policies will not cover your pet if they get an illness within the first 10 to 14 days of its coverage.
Could it be Waived?
This can be waived to cover illnesses if you are switching to them from a previous pet insurance policy, so you won’t need to pay the vet bills if they fall ill, you can ask them about this before choosing your policy.
Pregnancy and Giving Birth
It is not guaranteed that pet insurance will cover if your pet gets pregnant, you may have to pay out for any treatment that they need as well as their offspring.
Preventative and Routine Treatment
Spaying/Castrating
If you need to castrate or spay them, then you more than likely will need to pay for this yourself.
Vaccines
Vaccinations plus flea, worm, and tick treatments will need to come out of your pocket too.
Grooming
Grooming is also not something that your insurance will cover.
If you want to make sure that your pet’s claws are clipped and their teeth are being kept healthy and clean, you will need to spend money.
Conclusion
What does pet insurance cover? Quite a lot if you look at it.
However, you will need to read through your policies carefully to make sure that they fit in with what you are looking for and that you are happy with what is being covered.
The best pet insurance is one that you know will take care of your pet in specific circumstances.
If you have more than one pet, then you could look at getting multi-pet insurance to cover them if you need to, but check out a pet insurance quote before diving in, so you are not paying out too much.
