We all want to protect our furry friends, but just like humans, medical bills can add up pretty quickly. Pet insurance may pay for the reasonable costs of treating covered illnesses or injuries of common pets. Every pet insurance policy is different, so you must read the policy for coverage detail. Typical coverage includes veterinary fees, advertising and reward fees, kennel fees, loss due to theft or straying, and death by illness or injury.
It is common to find coverage for all breeds of cats and dogs. Coverage for horses is also common and is normally called equine insurance. It is more difficult to find coverage for animals such as snakes or monkeys but it may be available.
These are some frequently asked questions we receive, but if you have a question or an issue with pet insurance, contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Veterinary fees are the most common type of coverage found in pet insurance policies. The insurance company may pay the costs for any medically necessary treatment of your pet for a covered illness or injury. Treatment normally includes office visits, prescription medications, physical therapy or rehabilitative services. Keep in mind not all these treatments are covered under every policy and other treatments may be available. Again, it is important to read your policy for the specific coverage contained within it. You may also want to discuss your policy coverage with your veterinarian prior to receiving treatment.
This coverage may pay for the cost of advertising to find your missing pet and the cost of a reward if your pet is found. Coverage is normally limited to a maximum benefit and there are normally exclusions to this coverage.
Kennel coverage refers to the costs of boarding your pet if you are unable to care for them because of an illness. Again, exclusions will apply, so read your policy carefully.
When your pet has gone missing or has been stolen, loss due to theft or straying will pay a certain amount toward the value of the pet. Some companies will pay a limited amount to adopt a new pet.
The company will pay a certain amount toward the value of a pet if it happens to die due to an injury or illness. Also, some companies will pay a limited amount to adopt a new pet.
Some car insurance policies do offer coverage for your pet but only while the pet is riding in that car, and normally only for injury.
No. Normally, homeowners or renters insurance policies will actually have exclusions for animals. What a homeowners policy does cover is liability claims caused by your pet. For example, if your dog bites someone or your cat scratches someone. But again, there is no coverage for your pet if they get sick or become injured under a homeowners policy.
Normally, pets are covered for all illnesses or injuries unless excluded.
Exclusions are in every insurance policy and pet insurance is no exception. Common exclusions include grooming, preventive treatments, routine examinations, experimental procedures and pre-existing conditions. Read your policy for specific exclusions.
A pet insurance policy usually has a deductible and co-pay that you must pay. Each policy may have a different deductible and co-pay amount. For this reason, it is important to read the policy carefully to understand what the company will pay and what you will need to pay.
When you buy a policy you may notice on the front page there is a waiting period of 14 days. This simply means the coverage will not start until 14 days after the effective date of the policy. Every policy has a different waiting period, so read your policy carefully.