Saturday, March 3, 2012

Choosing Pet Health Insurance

Choosing Pet Health Insurance

Many people have pets and the majority of those who have pets think of them as part of the family. Our pets can fill a need that almost no one else can. Just like how we like to protect our lives and vehicles through insurance, pet insurance helps pay the bill when your pet needs to go to the vet, whether in emergency cases or for basic checkups. In the world of pet health insurance there are a literal plethora of choices to go with when getting a policy for your cat, dog or exotic pet.

So when a pet owner gets pet health insurance, also known as vet insurance, what factors play a role on which type policy or which pet insurance company to go with? Below are some things to consider when deciding on which vet insurance plan is right for you, your pocketbook and your pet.

* First of all, you'll want to identify the need for getting your pet insured. These factors could be based on a wide variety of things such as age, breed, type of pet, genetic history, gender, cost of pet and pre-existing conditions. Consider whether or not getting pet insurance for your pet would be ideal.

* Another factor in getting pet health insurance depends on financial need and the cost to insure your pet. Now, generally speaking the more you pay as a monthly deductable, the less you'll have to pay at the vet. However, you have a lot of options on which provider you will want to go with and pet insurance is generally cheap. For some, getting the cheapest pet insurance plan provides more than enough protection while the cheapest pet health insurance won't cover certain things a more expensive plan would. If you have enough disposable income and your pet is not prone to getting health problems, then going with a cheaper plan might be in your best interest. If your pet needs constant care and you have a rather fixed income, then getting a little higher plan may make more sense, and you'll have to pay less when your pet does need medical attention.

* Review all your options when it comes to insuring your pet. Going online and checking out pet insurance reviews can help you learn your options. You'll get the best results if you don't go with the first plan you check out. In other words, review your options carefully. Some plans may cover regular checkups better or some policies may cover pre-existing conditions. Knowing how each and every plan works can aid you considerably when choosing a plan that fits you and your pets needs best.

By carefully reviewing the information you've gathered from the list above, you'll be well on your way to getting the cheapest pet insurance which fits your needs best. Not jumping at the first available policy or simply the cheapest insurance policy will allow you to make a much better informed decision. Consider both your financial needs and the long-term needs of your pet, they're family right? Pet health insurance can provide you with peace of mind knowing that your pet is medically secured and more apt to live a long happy life.

Friday, March 2, 2012

A look at Pet Health Insurance

A look at Pet Health Insurance

Pet owners know how costly veterinary care can be, even routine procedures and visits are expensive. If your pet becomes ill suddenly, or is injured in an accident the resulting bills can make a big dent in your savings.

Although the US lags behind most of Europe in terms of how many domestic pets are covered by pet health insurance, it is beginning to catch up. More and more pet owners are realizing just how important good pet insurance can be!

Think about it for a minute if Fido were to be seriously injured or fall ill tomorrow, would you be able to afford a veterinary bill for $1500, $2000 or $3000 plus? If not, you could find yourself faced with a heartbreaking, life-or-death decision. No pet lover ever want to find themselves in that situation.

If you have pet health insurance you (and your pet) can be spared the agony and heartbreak of being unable to afford critically important veterinary care in a time of crisis. Just as your own medical cover/health plan is there for you when you fall ill, Fido's health insurance will be there for him.

There are many different pet health insurance companies, all offering plans that are similar in the respect that they all require annual premiums, have deductibles and offer a range of different coverage options to suit individual needs.

However, there are also many differences between policies, and before deciding which pet insurance company to go with, it's a very good idea to pay attention to the small print and ask questions. The following list is an example of the kind of things to look for (it's not a comprehensive list though, it's up to you to do your homework!)

Some pet insurance policies have age limits, both minimum and maximum, and they can vary considerably between providers.

There can be different waiting periods' (the time it takes for your coverage to come into effect) from one provider to the next

There are different attitudes and regulations concerning the cover (or lack of) for pre-existing conditions

Some pet health insurance providers may exclude certain breeds (often larger breeds) who are prone to particular hereditary or congenital illnesses or problems

In some cases a policy may cover routine procedures such as vaccinations, annual wellness checks and/or routine preventative care, neutering & spaying etc. Others may charge a wellness rider' or have additional charges for this type of care

You may find you're limited to choosing a veterinarian or veterinary hospital from a list of approved providers', or you may be free to pick whomever you want.

A pet health care policy may, or may not, cover dental care, eye care and prescriptions always check this.

If you have several pets, ask the pet insurance provider if they offer a discount for multiple pets. Always check to see if the pet insurance provider you're considering, offers any 'extras' such as an informative newsletter, or even discounts on pet supplies/service.

Why Slimmer Pets Make Smaller Vet Bills

Why Slimmer Pets Make Smaller Vet Bills

As if we weren't concerned enough about our own expanding waistlines, now it appears we need to be concerned about our pets' bulging bellies as well. According to Sainsbury's Bank research, the UK is home to literally millions of hefty cats and puffy pups. In fact, there are 2.72 million overweight dogs and 2.87 million overweight cats in the UK.

Despite the fact that our pudgy pets don't need to worry about outgrowing their wardrobes, the pet obesity epidemic does have some far-reaching effects, say veterinarians. For starters, those effects could reach right into your wallet - many pet insurance policies won't cover overweight pets for specific conditions - or at all.

Most pet owners are more concerned about their pets than their wallets, though, and there the news is even less rosy. Overweight animals may suffer from a variety of health conditions, just as their overweight owners do. Those conditions include a number of long-term ones that will require lifelong treatment and changes to diet. They include diabetes and osteoarthritis, heart conditions and liver or pancreatic damage.

A pet treated to chocolate and other rich foods not meant for them can suffer damage to their heart and liver or even death. Obesity can trigger many conditions in your pet. In fact, about 81% of animal physiotherapists say that obesity is the single most significant health danger for dogs. An overweight pet will be less happy, less active and far more likely to require visits to the vet.

And just when you thought you'd heard all the bad news, here's one last bit of it. Your overweight cat or dog can easily run up thousands of pounds in medical bills - which you'll gladly pay, out of love for the cherished pooch or kitten. And you may have no choice but to pay it, because many insurers won't pay for treatment if your pet is overweight.

How to Help Your Pet and Your Wallet

There is a way to avoid all of the problems above - get your pet into shape. Here are some tips for shrinking your furry friend - and your vet bills.

- Bump up the exercise level. Stretch your pet's daily walk a bit, and add in some playtime. A cat or dog pet that does nothing but lay around the house is going to gain weight far more quickly.

- Cut out the human-food snacks. High-fat dinner scraps and treats like chocolate, ice cream and beer are not good for your pet. Their bodies just aren't meant to handle them.

- Cut down on the amount you feed. Many of us tend to overfeed our pets, and while most cats will stop eating when they're full, not all do. Dogs, on the other hand, are notorious for wolfing whatever you put down for them, and rummaging for more - especially if they're bored.

- Invest in a high quality pet food designed especially for obese pets. There are a number of diet pet foods on the market that are nutritionally complete but lower in calories than standard supermarket products.

Finally, make sure that your pets are covered by good pet insurance. Generally, the conditions not covered are those that have a connection to obesity, and those restrictions will fall away once your pet is in better shape. Pet insurance is an excellent value, when you consider how high vet bills can be. Depending on the provider, you may be able to insure your pet's health for as little as 5 a month.

Do shop around for the best policy though, and keep in mind that cheapest isn't always the best deal.

What You Need To Know About Veterinary Insurance

What You Need To Know About Veterinary Insurance

Pets are regarded as family among pet owners. They are given the same care and attention a family member is entitled to. People purchase veterinary insurance for the same reason they purchase their own health insurance to ensure that their pets are taken care of should an unexpected accident or medical problem occur.

Here are some things to consider when considering veterinary insurance for your pet. These will also highlight the benefits of having a veterinary insurance policy and why its necessary.

The Deductable No Perfect Balance

The deductable amount is always up for negotiation when creating an insurance policy. A high deductable will lower your monthly premium but increase your out of pocket expense each time your pet needs treatment. A lower deductable will increase the monthly premium but the doctor visits will be less taxing on the wallet. Hence there is no perfect balance between the two. Pet owners should consider their financial situation when going over different plans.

Pet Policy Whats Covered and Whats Not

It is very important for the pet owner to be fully aware of what procedures are covered and what are not in the veterinary insurance policy. A good place to start is to check the policy for illness, accidents and optional issues.

Illness Coverage: Most illnesses are covered but coverage of chronic disease like diabetes and cancer vary by plan and from company to company.
Accident Coverage: Cuts and broken legs are common issues and should be covered under most plans. Coverage of surgical procedures such as hernias or swallowed objects is a big plus.
Optional Routine Care Coverage: Routine care ranges from annual exams, vaccinations, teeth cleaning to blood and urine sample tests. Since these are optional services, their coverage varies by plan.

An important thing to note is that pre-existing pet conditions are usually never covered in the insurance policy when it is created. These may include congenital conditions that your pet was born with such as luxation and liver shunt.

Veterinary Insurance Does Your Veterinarian Approve?

Since veterinarians deal with different insurance companies on a daily basis, they are the best source of information when it comes to getting a referral or a recommendation about a particular insurance agency.

The Importance of Lifetime Continuous Coverage

It is important to know whether your veterinary insurance provides Lifetime Continuous Coverage incase your pet is diagnosed with a chronic disease such as cancer or diabetes after the policy has gone into effect. This will prevent the insurance company from disqualifying claims of chronic issues as a preexisting condition once the policy is renewed and will continue to provide treatment for your pet.

Choice of Veterinarian My Way or the Highway

A good insurance policy should allow pet owners to choose a veterinarian of their choice instead of forcing them to pick from within the insurance companys own network. In addition, it should also give the policy holder the option to see specialist veterinarians such as a veterinary ophthalmologist (eye) or oncologists (cancer) should the need for one arises.

Reimbursement Calculation The Most Important Part

This is arguably the most important and misunderstood part regarding pet insurance policy. Typically the claimed amount is calculated either by taking a straightforward percentage of your veterinarians bill or by percentage of a benefit schedule. The second option however, limits the amount the insurance company will be liable to pay. Therefore pet owners should be fully aware of the reimbursement procedure before signing anything.

Pet insurance does not differ much from regular health insurance. Therefore the same parameters that one would consider for their own health insurance should be applied when it comes to the health and well being of their pet.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Pet Insurance For Holiday Health Scares

Pet Insurance For Holiday Health Scares

More and more, pets are included in holiday activities as they are considered part of the family. Unfortunately, there are several things that come with traditional holiday festivities that pose an added danger for pets. While its best to take precautions to avoid these dangers as much as possible, pet health insurance can help offset veterinary costs in the event the pet does become sick or injured.

Here are some of the common holiday-related accidents and illnesses related to pets:

Chocolate poisoning: Most of us know by now that chocolate is toxic to pets. Signs of chocolate poisoning include nervousness, vomiting, seizures, diarrhea, and death. Unsweetened baking chocolate and dark chocolate is the worst, but all chocolate, fudge, and other candy is bad as well.

Garbage Cans: Once the holiday feast is over, table scraps, foil, and other waste that can be dangerous for pets goes into the trash. Crafty dogs and cats may be able to sneak in cupboards or open doors when owners are distracted, so make sure garbage cans are well-secured.

Balloons: Balloons are bright and fun and can immediately put a smile on someones face. But uninflated balloons can cause choking, a blocked airway, or intestinal problems if ingested by pets. Also, if any balloons burst, make sure to quickly pick up all of the pieces.

Alcohol: Many holiday parties include alcoholic beverages, and if there is no room on the coffee table, guests may sit their glass on the floor at their feet, in easy reach of pets. Even small amounts of alcohol may cause vomiting, loss of coordination, and disorientation or death. Keep a special eye on cats when mixed drinks are served that contain milk, cream or ice cream.

Pet insurance covers 90% of the actual cost a vet charges for diagnostic testing, treatments, surgeries, and medications associated with these accidents and illnesses, even if the pet needs to see an emergency vet and specialist, which is often the case during the holidays.

Pet Health Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions

Pet Health Insurance for Pre-Existing Conditions

Holistic and conventional veterinary medicine has made great improvements in the quality of our pet's lives over the past decade. Our pets are living longer and happier lives. Too often we find out that though treatment is available for our pet the cost is simply beyond our means.

Costs for treatments and surgery for dogs can range from about $300.00 for Auricular Hematoma (swollen, fluid-filled ear) to $9,000 for cancer of the liver. Cost for treatments and surgery for cats range from $250.00 for multiple bite wounds to $1,500 for Malignant Skin Mass.

One of the more common illnesses for both older cats and dogs are cataracts. In fact, dog cataract surgery is so common today that animal health insurance companies recognize the problem and cover these treatments. So you can see why having pet health insurance can literally save your pet's life and your savings account.

Holistic vets make use of alternative therapies. Alternative therapies include vitamin supplements, massage, acupressure, natural foods, and herbal remedies as part of the healing process. Before you purchase pet health plans inquire if the company will pay for holistic treatments and supplements. Many of the popular policies today do not cover alternative therapy.

But, you can still find a way to help pay for holistic treatment. There are actually pet HMOs on the market today. A pet HMO will usually give you a 25 percent discount on veterinary services for all pets. The pet HMO differs from the conventional insurance plan in that it has no deductibles or exclusions for pre-existing conditions. You do not pay a higher rate for older sicker pets.

If you are planning to purchase more conventional pet health insurance familiarize yourself with pre-existing conditions limitations. Different companies have different definitions of pre-existing conditions. Some insurance plans define the pre existing condition as something that happened before the policy went into effect. Other companies will include congenital conditions or disorders.

Congenital disorders are somewhat like ticking time bombs. They are present in the animal at birth but do not manifest or appear until later in life. Certain breeds are particularly prone to some conditions. Large dogs often experience hip dysplasia as they get older.

If you know your dog's breed you may want to find out if their congenital conditions are covered. If you have a pet that is a mixed breed you may not be able to figure out what breed is the most dominant and what congenital conditions you need to concern yourself with. In this case you might want to consider the pet HMO option as an alternative to the conventional insurance.

Whatever kind of pet you have and whatever kind of treatment you give your pet - holistic or conventional, consider finding out about pet insurance. Insurance protects you from unexpected expense and in the case of your pet unexpected heart ache. No one wants to have to make the choice between money and their pet's life. Pet insurance is not very expensive and let's you not have to worry about paying for that unexpected surgery your pet many need some day.

Why Uk Dog Insurance Is A Worthwhile Investment

Why Uk Dog Insurance Is A Worthwhile Investment

When you buy UK dog insurance you are setting yourself up to save a lot of money. Your dog is a part of the family and as a family member you want to give him all the care he needs. If he gets injured or ill this could be difficult to afford. You will have to pay out of your pocket for the expensive vet bills to make your dog healthy again. Some families cant afford to pay these vet bills so they will have to put their dog down. This should not be something anyone should have to do. It will be difficult for the entire family to say goodbye to their favorite pet.

UK dog insurance will give you coverage that will pay for most vet bills. Well care and some genetic diseases may not be covered. Other illnesses and injuries will be covered. If your dog gets loose and gets hit by a car you could be held liable for any damage to the car as well as for the vet bills to get your dog well again. When you have your dog insured the costs will all be covered. Even the property damage is covered. You will be able to get lifelong care for your dog if you have lifetime insurance. Cancer strikes dogs commonly. With dog insurance your pet is covered against such things as cancer, arthritis and hip dysplasia. These are illnesses that can last the life of your dog.
Dont let your dog suffer with a disease that you can not afford on your own. Get dog insurance to help you out. The price of dog insurance will be different depending on the breed, age, sex of your dog. Some places in the UK are known for having higher vet costs. That means where you live could affect the cost.

Besides healthcare for you dog you will also get third party liability cover. That means if your dog causes injuries to a person those expenses will be paid by the insurance company. You wont even have to worry about a lawsuit. You will get representation if you need it. UK dog insurance will usually pay for the advertisements and reward you offer for a lost dog. The insurance companies will help to reunite owner and dog. If you get ill and have to go in the hospital many insurance companies will pay to board your dog until you are able to take care of him on your own again.

Shop online for dog insurance and save. There are dozens of companies that sell UK dog insurance. Get several quotes so you are assured of getting the best price on insurance. You will even be able to find websites that will compare the insurance policies for you and email you the top companies with the lowest premiums. It wont take long to find a good insurance company that has affordable insurance.
Your dog will probably live a longer life since you can afford to get him the care he needs. Without it you would have to try to come up with money that you do not have.