What is the best Pet Insurance to get for our dog?

January 29th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
flagsnowwolf asked:


Mainly between VPI pet insurance and Pet Care but if you know of something better please tell us.

Bette

Typically, what does pet insurance cover and how much is it?

January 23rd, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
Hand Sanitizer. asked:


I’m thinking about getting my little kitty some pet insurance. So what exactly does it cover? & How much is the price normally? Thanks

Celia

I want to start selling pet insurance. How do I find a company I can apply for a contract with?

January 23rd, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
Daisy63 asked:


Im a licensed insurance agent and want to expand my lines of business. Being the animal lover that I am, I want to provide health insurance to pet owners.

Chadwick

What is the best pet insurance to have?

January 21st, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
sherrybenbad asked:


I have VPI pet insurance at this time but I am looking for something that is less expensive/better. I have an English Bulldog but I’m not sure if that really matters.

Clyde

Why Do I Need Pet Insurance

January 20th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
Nigel asked:


People normally take out pet insurance to cover the bills for serious vet treatment as this can become extremely expensive. In fact so expensive in some cases that the animal has to be put down as the owners cannot afford the treatments. Pet insurance is there to ensure this doesn’t happen as the insurance company will pay the medical expenses, which leaves you time and energy to help your pet back to good health.

What Is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is an insurance policy that provides cover for your household pets and is usually used for dogs and cats. Most pet insurance will pay for the vet costs if your pet has an accident or is taken ill. Pet insurance can also provide third party cover for any damage your pet cause to other people’s property and cover other expenses such as emergency kenneling costs, theft, travel and even death. Pet insurance also provides you with peace of mind, knowing that your pet will always get the best possible medical treatment available.

On average one in every 3 pets require treatment from a vet each year following injury or illness and more than 50% of the visits to the vet are unplanned due to sudden illness or an accident. Treatment for broken legs, hip treatments, spinal injuries and internal complaints can quickly run into thousands of dollars, especially if medication or x-rays are required. There are also the unforeseen associated costs that may be incurred like holiday cancellations and court costs (you are liable if your dog causes an accident). All of these can add up quickly.

Many pet health insurance companies only cover dogs and cats as a rule. However, there are some companies that also provide cover for other animals such as reptiles, horses, exotic birds and rodents.

What Types Of Pet Insurance Policies Are There?

Generally pet insurance companies provide a variety of policies from the basic through to premium plans that provide cover for every aspect of your pet’s medical care. You need to decide what level of care is right for your pet and then pick a plan that closely matches your requirements. As with other insurance policies, the higher the premium, the more cover that is provided.

It is important to look out for the following main points to see if they are covered in the pet insurance policy:

1. Cover for life or fixed term

2. Vet Fees

3. Death from illness

4. Accidental Damage

5. The policy excess

6. Dental treatment?

7. Third Party Liability & legal expenses

8. Death from accident, theft or straying

9. How much of the vet bills are covered. 70 – 100%

10. Emergency treatments, X-rays, lab fees etc

As with humans, some pet insurance companies require your pet to have a medical exam before any cover is provided. This is so the insurer can manage their risk and keep premiums down as they are not supplying cover for animals that are on deaths door and having to payout on an animal that are known to be dying. The insurance companies will often put a cap on the total amount they will pay on a policy either on any one type of illness or in any given year. If your pet has a pre-existing medical condition, you may struggle to find an insurance company that will provide cover.

The best way to save money on your pet insurance is to shop around and compare prices. Check at least three different insurance companies to compare pricing and terms to ensure you get the best deal.



Carolyn

4 Simple Steps To Buy Pet Insurance

January 18th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
Cindy Heller asked:


If you have not already realized, the costs of veterinary care is escalating. By purchasing a pet insurance for our pets is also a wise choice to keep pet care costs within an affordable range. As pets become an important member of our family, purchasing a pet insurance is one of the ways to ensure our pets in getting the best care it possibly deserves.

Here are the 4 simple steps to purchase your pet insurance

1) Pet Insurance Online

Since most pet insurance companies have their own websites, one of the best ways to begin your research in pet insurance is to look for them online. When you do so, you will find a wide variety of insurance options and pricing. Some companies will even give you an additional discount if you purchase their pet insurance online.

However the first thing you should do is to select a number of pet insurance companies and make sure that you only deal with those reputable companies. Therefore check to see if each company is truly legitimate by going through them with The Better Business Bureau website.

Looking for a pet insurance online enables you to look for a policy that suits your needs faster. It is also more accurate because you have access to thousands of different sites. With this much information that can be gotten so easily you will able to make an informed decision in purchasing a proper pet insurance.

2) Pet Insurance Ratings

Since the internet is so easy to access, there will also be just as many scams regarding pet insurance companies. With thousands of pet insurance websites, there is also another method to get the best pet insurance that most suits your needs. That method is by looking at the pet insurance ratings.

By reading the pet insurance ratings you are able to tell which the best pet insurance company is and which insurance company to avoid. If you look at the pet insurance ratings, you can be sure to get what you pay for.

If you are wondering where to look for the pet insurance ratings, you can find most of them done online by independent companies. This is the best done by independent companies because you know that they aren’t biased and therefore they are going to give you great information.

3) Pet Insurance Quote

Pet insurance quotes are available since 1928. Today there are numerous pet insurance quotes for you to decide one that most suitable for you and your pet. Furthermore if you get a pet insurance quote with a complete explanation from several carriers will be a very wise choice to make.

i) You can start by getting a pet insurance quote from your veterinarian. In turn, your veterinarian may offer a discount plan intended specially for his clients, or he may recommend a locally based plan that would be more suitable for you and your pet. This sort of pet insurance may be better for you than one of the bigger plans, depending on both your financial means and the breed of your dog.

ii) You can also choose to shop around and ask for pet insurance quotes from different insurance companies. When you ask for different pet insurance quotes, you will have a solid basis when you compare the services and prices of the insurance companies.

One of the reasons for getting several pet insurance quotes from different companies is that often congenital and hereditary illnesses or pre-existing conditions are not covered by pet insurance. Therefore it is best that you do a thorough research and consult your veterinarian.

iii) After you have found reliable pet insurance companies that may meet you and your pet’s needs, narrow down to at least five of them. The reason being the more pet insurance quotes you have, the more difficult it is for you to make a choice. If you want to simplify things, you can narrow down your choices right from the start.

4) Compare Pet Insurance

Since there so many pet insurance companies, you will be faced with numerous options. Therefore for you to get the best value for your money you need to compare pet insurance options and policies to see which policy is most suited for you.

Before you start your comparison:

i) You must have a general idea about what options you need for your pet. For example, basic plans are the cheapest but they also cover only the basic emergency and illness care.

ii) You also need to look at things such as deductibles, copays, and lifetime limits.

iii) You need to find out how a claim is filed and how the claim is paid. It is also useful to know what items are excluded and what items have payment limits placed on them.

iv) You should find out if you are allowed to visit the vet of your choice or do you have to use a vet recommended by them.

v) Do also find out which ones cover after hours emergencies such as accidents and sudden serious illness and that if the accident or illness is serious and your pet may require a specialist.

When you find the policy that you feel is most suitable for you then all you have to do is fill out their form which gives them your pet’s information. The pet insurance company may also set up to accept payment online.



Edwina

Is Pet Insurance or Rental Insurance Right For You?

January 18th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
Timothy Simmons asked:


If you are considering pet insurance or rental insurance you may have a lot of unanswered questions. Is rental or pet insurance worth the cost? What do they cover? Or is it even necessary? Because pet insurance is not quite as well known as its human health insurance counterpart, you may have a lot of questions. The same may be true for rental insurance, whereas the necessities of home insurance are obvious, rental insurance isn’t. We will take a look at both.

Pet insurance, as the name implies is health insurance for your pet. With the costs of veterinary care, rising as quickly as human health care, pet insurance makes a lot of sense. Essentially, pet insurance provides protection for your pet against accidents or emergencies, and illnesses. The cost of pet insurance can vary widely depending on the type of plan you choose. Just like health insurance, if you have a higher deductible, and a less comprehensive policy, you can save some money. In all actuality, when compared to human health insurance, pet insurance is rather affordable. For as little as $30 a month you can have a rather decent pet insurance policy.

When it comes to utilizing your pet insurance policy it is quite a bit easier than the health insurance you’re probably used to. You don’t have to choose your pet’s doctor off of an approved list. This allows you to stay with the veterinarian that you are comfortable with. After services are rendered, you pay for treatment, and then the pet insurer reimburses you. What your pet insurance covers is based on how much insurance you have in place. If you have a comprehensive plan that covers everything from routine office visits to medications, you’ll probably pay a bit more. So it’s important to determine how much pet insurance you not only need but how much insurance you can afford.

Pet insurance does have some issues that you should consider before purchasing. Some insurers will provide limited coverage, which means you may be capped out at a particular amount. You may be restricted when it comes to seeing expensive specialists. Some dog breeds may be more expensive than others. If your dog’s breed is more prone to a particular disease or problem, you’ll pay more. If your pet is older, pet insurance will be more costly, for obvious reasons.

When buying pet insurance you will want to choose a quality insurer. Insurance companies are notorious for finding loopholes to get out of claims, when they are needed most. Not only do you want an insurer that will be around for you when you need them, but also you’ll want them to cover what’s needed. Saving a few bucks by going with the cheapest insurer just isn’t worth the headaches.

To touch on rental insurance briefly, we’ll cover a few basics. Rental insurance is much like homeowners insurance, in that it protects you when renting an apartment or a house. Many individuals go without rental insurance, thinking that it’s their landlord’s responsibility. This is not a very good approach. Yes, the buildings structure is insured for your landlords benefit, but not your belongings. Rental insurance protects your belongings from theft, fire and other natural disasters. And much like homeowners insurance, rental insurance also protects in the form of liability protection. This means that if a guest as an accident at your apartment or home, you won’t be held responsible. For this reason, many landlords are now making rental insurance mandatory. This provides them with the liability protection that they are looking for.

Much like pet insurance, rental insurance is very affordable. We have seen rental insurance for as low as $15 a month. Now, this is for a basic policy, but in many cases, it gets the job done. Things like your deductible, whether you own a pet, and how much coverage, will affect your premium. Make sure to take an inventory prior to getting rental insurance, this will help with any ambiguity with the insurer, if you need to make a claim. Also, the importance of understanding or policies features is a must. Have your agent or insurer explain any policy features or drawbacks that you may have questions about. And go with a decent insurance company that you can rely on.



Erika

Do pet’s have to get APPROVED for pet insurance? Or do all insurance companies take them?

January 18th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
bubbies asked:


I was just wondering if I were to apply for pet insurance, if it works like regular human health insurance. I have a 7 yr old english bulldog. I believe his age is beginning to take a toll on him (arthritis, hip dysplasia, etc.). Plus he’s been lonely and I’m also planning to get another bulldog to keep him company (preferably another old one) Is it too late to apply? Is it even worth it?

Caitlin

What is your experiances with pet insurance for rabbits?

January 17th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
Nostril_B asked:


We have 2 young rabbits and were wondering how VPI pet insurance is, co-pay, customer service, total payout, excetera. Anything you can tell us will be appreciated. Also, do you know of any other pet insurance that insures rabbits? Have any comments on them? Thanks!
I can’t belive the stupid answers I am getting, rabbits are wild animals, pet insurance is stupid? This question is for real people that have real pets, that use real pet insurance.

Greta

Which company offers the best pet insurance?

January 17th, 2009 | Posted in Pet Insurance   Comments Off
nrein930 asked:


I am looking to purchase pet insurance for my 3 month old chihuaua, Max. I would like to know what pet insurance companies you recommend.

Isabel