How to Get the Best Pet Insurance According to Vets

The only thing worse than your furry family member who suffers a serious injury or illness is not being able to afford the treatment they need to recover. In such circumstances, animal insurance may be beneficial to cover eligible medical expenses in exchange for payment of a monthly premium.

As spring approaches, warmer weather and increased outdoor activity for pets can increase the risk of injury. Therefore, many pet owners consider getting animal insurance.

If you’re considering pet insurance, remember that the cost of premiums is important, but there are several other considerations to factor into your decision as well.

If you’re looking for pet insurance, get it started a free quote so you know what to expect.

What Vets Say You Should Do to Get the Best Pet Insurance

The process of getting pet insurance is quick and easy. These essential tips from vets can help ensure you get the best policy for your pet.

Get coverage early

“Pet parents should cover their fur babies as early as possible, ideally from a young age with a healthy checkup,” says Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, Veterinary Medical Advisor for Rover. “Many policies have exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so if you’re looking to get coverage in the midst of an active medical condition, the insurance probably won’t cover the current condition.”

“The earlier they are covered, the greater their coverage options,” adds Dr. Paola Cuevas, Veterinary Consultant at Petkeen. But Cuevas warns that if your pet is already diagnosed with an illness, pet insurance may not be your best option because it won’t cover the pre-existing condition.

You can find out more by getting a free quote from Spot Pet Insurance now..

Understand the policy

When you get an insurance quote, price is a major concern, but understand that your monthly premiums may vary depending on a number of factors, such as:

• Deductible: THE deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your pet insurance coverage takes effect. Deductibles range from $100 to $1,000, and generally lower deductibles come with higher monthly premiums.
• Refund percentage: This percentage refers to the expenses covered by the insurance company to reimburse to the policyholder. Reimbursement percentages generally range from 70% to 90%.
• Annual coverage limit: Remember that you can set the annual coverage limit that your pet insurer will pay for covered expenses. Annual coverage limits range from $2,500 to $100,000, with some policies offering unlimited coverage.

Generally, the lower your deductible, coverage amount and reimbursement percentage, the lower your monthly premiums.

Before agreeing, read the terms and conditions to understand any specific circumstances that may affect your coverage and ask questions if necessary.

“Two very important questions to ask are: is your deductible per year or per animal lifetime? And is the deductible per problem or per animal?” advises Dr. Sarah Gorman, DVM, CCRP, practice veterinarian in charge of Small Door Veterinary Newton Center.

Shop and compare fonts

Getting quotes from multiple pet insurance companies is a good strategy for finding the most comprehensive coverage at an affordable price. Pet insurance companies typically provide quotes based on the coverage options listed in the previous section, as well as your pet’s breed, age, and health.

“Go around,” says Greenstein. “It’s quite a competitive landscape these days, and different companies have different prices for different breeds and a range of covers to choose from.”

Dr. Randall Cannon, DVM and resident veterinarian on the goodcounsl app, stresses the importance of making sure a pet insurance company has a good track record when it comes to reimbursing claims. “When shopping for pet insurance, it’s best to rely on word of mouth from real people who have successfully made substantial claims.”

Although the price you receive depends on many factors, including your pet breedHere’s a general idea of ​​what some pet insurance companies quote. The following sample quotes are for a 5 year old, medium weight, healthy mixed dog in Boulder, Colorado. Coverage options include a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement percentage and the maximum coverage option.

The cheapest policy may be the most affordable, but review the policy terms to make sure the coverage meets your needs.

The reverse is also true. “Don’t assume the most expensive insurance is the best,” says Gorman. “That’s not always the case. It’s a growing competitive market; sometimes newer companies have more affordable rates.”

Shop for your pet insurance options by getting a free quote here or using the table below.

What Vets Say You Shouldn’t Do to Get the Best Pet Insurance

When searching for the best pet insurance policy, it’s important to avoid common pitfalls that could lead to poor decisions. Here are some mistakes to avoid:

Don’t underinsure

“Pet owners often mistakenly assume that pet insurance will cover absolutely everything,” says Greenstein. “Always read the fine print of your policy and ask lots of questions.”

most affordable coverage is usually found with accident-only policies that cover broken bones, lacerations and poisonings. For broader coverage, an accident and sickness plan covers many accidental injuries and treatments for conditions ranging from allergies and hereditary diseases to cancer and diabetes.

Being underinsured is often the result of buying the cheapest policy. “Pet owners shouldn’t buy the cheapest policy without analyzing it first,” says Cuevas. “Sometimes it’s worth spending the extra money on additional services such as dental care. Add the wellness plan, which will normally cover vaccinations, deworming and preventative medicine.”

Don’t skip the fine print

What’s the biggest mistake pet owners make when buying veterinary insurance? “Not reading the cover carefully,” says Gorman. “For example, dental disease is the number one disease of our pet population. Dental procedures with surgical extractions are considered wellness care and are not covered by most insurance unless of traumatic injury to the mouth. These procedures can be quite expensive.”

Reading the fine print can help ensure there are no surprises when making a claim. “Most insurance companies spell out the different ways to avoid paying, such as citing pre-existing conditions or genetics,” Cannon explains.

The bottom line

If you read the fine print and are sure that a pet insurance policy can protect you against a large and unexpected vet bill, consider getting your pet covered for the long term. “A lot of pet owners will ask me if they should cancel their policy if they’ve been contributing for years and never made a claim,” says Greenstein. “The answer is a ‘no! resounding. Statistically, the number of health insurance claims will only increase for older animals, so terminating a policy when an animal is older is often a bad idea.”