Should you seriously consider buying a dog health insurance
policy? Yes, you should. Here's why health insurance for dogs is
a good idea:
Dog health insurance saves you money.
As with just about all other costs, veterinary expenses have
increased rapidly in recent years. Without dog medical insurance
(or more accurately, veterinary insurance), you are responsible
for paying for everything: routine checkups, preventive
procedures, emergency care and disease treatments. That will run
into hundreds of dollars. Why not get some help?
Dog
Health Insurance: Quick Cost Facts
• Health insurance for
your dog, like health insurance for yourself, has annual
premiums and deductibles.
• Pet insurance premiums depend
on the breed of your dog and the type of policy you decide upon.
If you have more than one dog, there is usually a reduced rate
after the first policy. Dog health insurance deductibles can
vary as well. The average annual deductible is about $100.
• You may choose among different coverage plans which are based
on your dog’s age, breed, and pre-existing medical conditions.
Some policies even consider the dog’s lifestyle; for instance,
whether your dog is purely a pet or a watchdog, too.
Health Insurance for Dogs: Quick Coverage Facts
• Dog
insurance healthcare plans can vary greatly. Some canine health
plans are quite comprehensive, covering annual checkups, routine
care, vaccinations and other preventive medications, and
spaying/neutering, as well as illnesses and accidents. Others
only cover unexpected sickness or injuries.
• Dog
insurance coverage for emergencies begins immediately on most
new dog health plans, with a 30-day waiting period for illness
and other claims.
• Your dog’s age can affect your dog's
health insurance coverage. Typically, policies begin veterinary
healthcare coverage when the dog is 6 to 8 weeks old, although
some will start when the dog is younger. Similarly, some dog
health insurance companies only will cover dogs under 8 years
old unless the animal was already insured with them before
turning 8.
• Many dog health insurers will not cover your
pet if she has a preexisting condition or a terminal illness.
Some will insure the dog only if the condition is controlled or
stable, usually for 6 months.
With all these options, it
is important you check out the various dog health insurance
companies, their pet insurance policies and corresponding dog
healthcare plans.
In short, if you care about your dog,
you should care about his health. If you care about your wallet,
you should care about your dog's health insurance coverage, too.
About the Author:
Joel Walsh is a regular contributor to i-love-dogs.com. Read his
other articles, with even more information on getting the best
dog healthcare:
http://i-love-dogs.com [Web publication requirement: use
"dog healthcare" as the anchor text/visible link text for the
URL:
http://i-love-dogs.com]
