Pet Insurance Comparison » Pet Insurance

Pet Insurance and Your Elderly Pet

Kelly — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:36:34 +0000

We love our old pets. Some of them have been with us since they were small kittens or puppies, others were adopted later in life and are now living out their golden years with a loving family.

Caring for an Older Pet

Older pets, in terms of training and energy levels, are usually easier to care for on a day-to-day level. However, they also tend to have more health problems as the years add up. Unlike humans, their normal life spans only range between ten to twenty years (even that is a stretch for some species or breeds of cats and dogs), so you have to make every day count. We want our pets’ final years to be comfortable, right?

Image by ceridwen

Older domesticated animals are prone to the same health care issues as elderly humans, including:

cancers
heart disease
liver or kidney problems
bone disease
joint problems
diabetes

The Cost of Pet Health Care

We all love our older pets, as they have been treasured members of our families for the majority of their lives, but with age may come increased pet health issues and with that comes more veterinary costs. For serious diseases requiring surgery, long hospital stays, or expensive medication, it may become financially unfeasible for some families to continue treating their pet. In such cases, one of the few options left is euthanasia.

If the thought of losing your pet because of financial issues rather than terminal illness is unbearable, then you may want to compare pet insurance products for your elderly pet. It works just like human health insurance: a small monthly payment in return for reduced costs in your pet’s vital health care.

Dogs and cats are the primary candidates for pet health insurance, but there is also pet insurance for exotic animals. Even for older animals, insurance is a popular option for people looking to cut back on the costs of pet care.

Pet Insurance Benefits

With pet insurance, you don’t need to worry about whether or not money will play a role in your decisions regarding how to handle severe illness or disease in your pet. This will allow you to keep caring for your pet for as long as they live, without spending too much out-of-pocket (because, as much as we love our pets, it would not be wise to spend all your money on your pet’s health).

There are some other ways to keep costs down other than just comparing pet insurance. Giving your pet the right nutrients for its age group can be important – just as you wouldn’t give a human baby hard, crunchy foods until they develop teeth, you should tailor your pet’s diet to their age and health. Make sure they have lots of water, too. Taking good care of your pet at home may mean fewer visits to the vet, and less money spent on health care.

So, if you’re considering a pet insurance policy for your older pet, the benefits are plentiful. Many people would agree that the monthly cost doesn’t compare to the savings they get in case of an emergency, not to mention the peace of mind of knowing your pet will be in good hands without breaking the bank.

Pet Insurance: To Buy or Not to Buy

Chris Bibey — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:16:54 +0000

There is no denying that more people than ever are buying pet insurance. That being said, this industry still has a lot of opportunity for growth.

Generally speaking, many pet owners are torn on whether or not buying insurance is a good idea. There are definite pros and cons of buying pet insurance. As a pet owner, you should compare pet insurance benefits and downsides, while also considering how it might fit with your personal and financial situation.

Image by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI)

Benefits of Buying Pet Insurance

Much like private health insurance for humans, when you buy insurance for your pet you are protecting yourself against expensive medical bills. A pet insurance policy may cover all or part of the costs of regular visits, immunizations, injury, and illness.
Another benefit of pet insurance is that many plans allow you to choose your own vet. This gives you the ability to continue to see your current vet, making it simple to add a policy without any hassle.
Puppies and kittens (a few weeks old and upward) will almost always be eligible for pet insurance cover. On top of this, many companies charge less when you buy insurance for your pet at an early age. This is a benefit if you have, or intend to have, a young pet who will grow up with you.

Drawbacks of Pet Insurance

There may be exclusions and limitations to your pet insurance cover, such that a particular illness or accident is not covered, or a certain treatment may only be covered a specified number of times per year. Make sure you read the fine print and are fully aware of what is and is not covered.
Paying out of pocket is common. There are not many pet insurance policies that cover 100% of all pet care costs. Most policies have either an excess, or a pre-set annual limit for claims.
Limited treatment coverage networks. Even if your pet insurance policy allows you to select your primary vet, what happens if you need to seek emergency or out-of-town treatment for your pet? Become familiar with how you can access treatment from other vets when necessary, and how it will be paid for.

Final Note

If you decide that pet insurance right now is a good idea for you and your pet, be aware that if you later decide to cancel your policy, some pet insurance plans have a cancellation penalty. In other words, they may charge you a fee to end your policy early. A pet insurance comparison will help you find insurers that do not charge this type of fee.

With many benefits as well as a few drawbacks, pet insurance may or may not be right for you. To decide if buying pet insurance is a good idea, arm yourself with as much information on the topic as possible. If you compare the pros and cons, you will be able to make a decision that you are happy with.

Where to Start With Pet Insurance Comparison

Sophie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:36:27 +0000

As with many types of insurance, there are several specialist companies offering pet insurance to cover your dog, cat, horse and other animals. Therefore, it is important to shop around and do some research. When you shop for other products, you probably sometimes compare prices to get a good deal; you should do exactly the same thing with pet insurance.

Image by The U.S. Army

Why take out pet insurance?

If your pet becomes ill or is injured he or she may require treatment from a vet who charges for their service, any medications provided and other associated expenses. The Hollard Insurance Company conducted some research into how much the above costs came to for various forms of treatment between 1 July 2010 and 30 June 2011. Some of the results are listed below with the first figure being the average claim amount and the second figure being the highest claim amount: -

Ear infection: Average $234, highest $8,780
Multiple fractures: Average $2,564, highest $11,376
Arthritis: Average $379, highest $5,090

As you can see treatment is not cheap. If you don’t have sufficient savings available to pay the bill, what will you do? The prospect of having to decide to have your pet put to sleep is not a nice one. Would you have to borrow money to pay the vet’s bill? All these concerns are vital to your finances and to your pet’s wellbeing.

However, if you have taken out pet insurance, then, subject to the level of cover you have taken out, a large proportion of the bill may be paid by the pet insurance company.

Which type of pet insurance should you take out?

The options that tend to be commonly available are as follows: -

Cover in the event of just an accident.
Cover in the event of an accident or illness.
Cover for an accident, illness or regular check ups.

What are some of the things to look out for when comparing the cover available?

Here are a few things you may want to research:

What is the maximum amount payable per claim each year?
Is cover provided for life to include re-occurring illnesses, or is cover limited to only paying vet bills for a policy period of 12 months for certain conditions?
What percentage of the bill will the pet insurance company pay, and how much will you have to pay?
Are there any excess payments payable? For example, do you have to pay the first $100 of every bill?
Are there any discounts for insuring more than one pet with the same insurer?

How much does pet insurance cost?

This depends on a number of factors such as whether it is a cat, a dog, or other species; the breed that you wish to insure; the age of the pet; and the level of cover you require. It may be wise to maintain your pet insurance cover long-term, as the older your pet gets the more likely it is to suffer an illness and, therefore, the more important this type of cover becomes.

Whilst cost is important, so is choosing the correct type of cover, so take your time and discuss your findings with friends, family or your vet to get an outside opinion.

Steps to Take for Those with Pet Allergies

Brian — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 08:53:17 +0000

Pets can be great additions to the family, but how about if you are allergic to them? There are some steps that you can take, though ideally it would involve getting a pet that doesn’t produce such reactions. Follow along for some guidance in this discussion.

Your Best Bets

If you are allergic to pets, experts recommend you only keep those that don’t have hair or fur, shed dander, or produce body waste that can create allergic problems.

Image by mcfarlandmo

An example of a low-allergen pet would be tropical fish. There are some tricky misconceptions to learn about with pet allergies; for instance, many people believe that shorthaired pets case fewer problems. However, allergens are located on the dander, and not the hair. Don’t simply choose pets with less hair; that won’t necessarily work.

Helpful Tips

What if you live with a pet that makes you allergic? You may have some options. Unfortunately, avoiding the pet is often best. If that isn’t an option for you and your companion animal, you can make sure that you spend some time away from the pet. For instance, you could make sure that the pet does not enter your bedroom; this will at least allow you to have clean air when you are sleeping.

Sometimes you might be able to get away with medications to simply reduce the allergy symptoms you suffer, if you aren’t severely affected by pet allergens. You would do well to speak to your doctor or an allergy specialist about some medication options that may help.

Otherwise, you should do a number of things to minimise the allergens in your home:

Bathe your pet frequently
Use an air filter
Replace carpeted flooring with harder alternatives (tile, wood, linoleum, vinyl; they don’t harbor pet allergens)
Replace soft furnishings with low-allergy alternatives if possible
Keep the pet outside, if appropriate
Have someone else clean the litter box, cage, or kennel

When to Call the Doctor

If you don’t like the thought of giving up your pet, perhaps the best thing to do is to see what the doctor thinks of your allergies. This will help you gain an understanding of how severely you are affected. Perhaps if your allergies aren’t that bad, you could find some medication that will allow you to be around the pet without too much trouble. For others who suffer acute allergic reactions, it might be that you’re obliged to consider living without your pet at home; your doctor will be able to help you decide what to do.

Pet Allergies Overview

Make sure you practice the various ways to help eliminate allergens. Using a filter, keeping your home clean, and bathing your pet regularly can go a long way to helping your condition, allowing you to enjoy your time with your pet.

While not having the pet around may be the best choice in severe cases of pet allergy, you should obtain medical advice to see where you stand. There are plenty of ways that you can tackle this unfortunate problem, and hopefully be around your pet without discomfort.

Pet Insurance for Canine Competitors

Kelly — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 01:30:05 +0000

Dog agility, a rapidly developing form of canine sports competition in Australia, is both exciting and dangerous for dog and handler. The sport consists of several obstacles, ranging from jumps, tunnels, tyres, “weave poles” and “contact obstacles” and the goal of the game is to get through the course in a specified order in the fastest time possible with the fewest faults. It requires both precision and speed on the handler’s part, as well as an ability to maintain control of the dog at fast paces.

Competitors

If you have a dog competing in agility or are considering getting involved in this thrilling sport, then you might want to consider taking out pet insurance for your teammate. After all, a high speed run through an obstacle course every couple of weekends or so can create a lot of wear and tear in your dog’s joints.

Not to mention the contact obstacles. These are giant wooden or metal obstacles, one in the shape of an up and over bridge (called the ‘dogwalk’), a teeter totter, and the “A-Frame” which is in the shape of an upside-down V. Many fast dogs slam their front paws rather harshly against these obstacles as they navigate their way over them, and coming down is oftentimes painful on the joints because of the odd angle. Joint injuries are not uncommon amongst the faster class of dogs in agility competitions, and even little dogs take the occasional tumble that could warrant a visit to the vet.

If joint problems may be a periodic problem, it would definitely be wise to protect your dog from further damage and take out a pet insurance policy.

There is also the occasional, yet very rare instance where your dog may break a bone. This usually happens after a fall (little dogs are more at risk here) or if a dog doesn’t properly jump over the solid wall jump and bruises their front legs. There’s also the issue of terrain; if the ground where you are running isn’t safe (ie: has holes in some places or is just uneven in general), then it would be wiser just to withdraw from that competition than attempt to run over the course and risk your dog- or your own- safety.

Pet insurance also comes in handy against illness. Because your dog is around many other dogs in an enclosed area at agility competitions, there is a slight risk of catching an illness from a sick dog. However, owners are becoming more responsible these days, making the likelihood of this occurring very low. Still, to avoid hefty veterinary bills and subsequent medications costs, pet insurance is tremendously useful to have available if the need ever arises.

So, when it comes to dog agility competitions, it’s generally a safe bet to take out pet insurance for your teammate in order to protect the joints and immune system. Agility is one of the most exciting sports out there today, but like anything in life, it also comes with its risks. Pet insurance will help you to minimise those risks.

Pet Insurance: What it covers

Chris Bibey — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:41:15 +0000

When shopping for pet insurance it is essential to ask yourself one very important question: what does the policy cover? If you don’t know the answer to this question you should not purchase a policy. Just like any type of insurance, there are situations that will be covered as well as those that will not. Before we go any further, remember this: what your pet insurance covers is based largely on the company you select as well as the policy that you purchase. Generally speaking, a pet insurance policy covers three areas: routine care, illnesses, and accidents.

Photo: snappED_up

Routine Care

With many policies, this is an optional coverage. Although it may cost more money, it is well worth the added expensive. This coverage may include vaccinations, annual exams, teeth cleaning, and blood testing. Illnesses As unfortunate as it may be, your pet may get sick from time to time. If this happens, it is important to visit the vet immediately. Most common illnesses are covered by a pet insurance policy. Before purchasing, though, get a better idea of whether or not chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, are covered.

Accidents

No matter how careful you are, your pet may be involved in an accident at some point. From broken legs to cuts and everything in between, accidents do happen. There are comprehensive pet insurance policies as well at those that are known as “accident only.” Consider both options, including what they cover, before making a purchase. What are the coverage limits?

Just like your health insurance policy, there are coverage limits that will determine how much the insurance company will pay and what you will owe out of your own pocket. The higher the coverage the more you will pay per month. Can you visit any vet or are you restricted to those in a specific network? When shopping for a pet insurance policy, look for one that meets the following criteria:

You can choose to visit any vet in your area. Do not buy a policy that requires you to use an “in-network” vet. This can greatly limit your options.
Emergency care. Are you covered if you are forced to take your pet to an animal hospital after hours? You never know when your pet is going to get sick or be involved in an accident.
Specialists. Although uncommon, your pet may need treated by a specialist. This could include veterinary oncologists (cancer) and veterinary ophthalmologists (eye care) among others. Without insurance, these visits can cost a lot of money.

Final tip: if you are having a difficult time choosing a pet insurance policy, ask your vet for assistance. He/she can provide you with information on the best providers, including details that may make your decision easier. Buying pet insurance is a great idea. It can help curb the cost of treatment for everything from illnesses to accidents. With the above advice, finding and buying a pet insurance policy should be a fast and efficient process.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Robert — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:16:05 +0000

Photo: Kazo Kuneko

As both pets and savings become a larger part of every household, many pet owners are now investing in pet health insurance. These plans allow owners to protect their animals’ health from illness, injury, and parasites. Pet owners can take advantage of the latest in animal healthcare technology without going into debt to do so. However, it’s important to know what pet insurance covers and what it does not. Like health insurance for people, different plans will vary in what they cover, how much of a deductible you will pay, and how much they cost.

Check-Ups

One of the most expensive aspects of owning a pet is the cost of regular check-ups. As medical knowledge has continued to grow, experts are now recommending regular visits to the veterinarian just as they are recommending that people visit their doctors for a regular checkup. These visits provide essential shots and cleaning that are necessary for all pets and can also help detect early signs of heart worms, cancer, and other serious ailments. Many pet health insurance plans will help cover a certain number of these visits every year for a slightly higher premium. Although it may cost a few extra dollars a month, the savings are well worth the upgrade in the long run.

Treatments

Twenty years ago, many common ailments (including serious trauma and heart worms) were typically considered fatal conditions for pets to develop and all hope for recovery was lost. Thankfully, many of these ailments can now be cured by veterinarians, although the treatment options can be very expensive. Fortunately, most of the ailments are also covered by basic pet health insurance plans. In fact, unexpected visits to the vet should always be covered by a pet health insurance plan. Some plans will require you to pay a deductible, while more expensive premiums may cover the full treatment for certain ailments. You may also want to see if a specific plan covers medication, and you should never consider a plan that does not cover emergency visits.

Premium Plans

More expensive plans will go much further in providing protection for an animal. Many premium plans include kennel care for a certain amount of time if the owner is too sick to care for the animal or on a long trip. Premium plans may also help owners develop a plan for finding a lost pet and even provide a reward for its return. When a visit to the vet is necessary, some plans will compensate owners for the travel expenses associated with the trip. Anesthetics may also be provided by many premium plans to help comfort the pet during treatment. Upon an animal’s death, some plans will pay for the animal’s burial and even provide counseling to the grieving owner for emotional distress.

What It Doesn’t Cover

It’s important to mention that many aspects of a pet’s health are not covered by an insurance plan. As with conventional plans, pet insurance policies do not cover preexisting conditions. For this reason, it is vital to have your pet examined by a vet before purchasing an insurance plan. Additionally, insurance companies are well aware of various diseases that are common to certain breeds of animals (such as the hip displacement found in most Labradors). If your pet is suffering from an ailment caused by a common hereditary disease, treatment is not likely to be covered by your insurance policy.

Four Reasons Why You Should Insure Your Puppy While Still Young

Kelly — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:54:46 +0000

Photo: E. Marquetti

Getting a new puppy is always an exciting event, but there are several costs that new owners should take into account before bringing your new best friend home. After all, it’s much more than just the initial purchase price: it’s the initial vet visits, toys, food, treats, a crate, blankets, bones, and more, making the purchase price of the puppy seem insignificant in comparison to the rest. Medical expenses are particularly costly for young animals, making pet insurance a viable option for many owners. If you’re not sure if pet insurance is for you, then the following guide on why you really ought to insure your puppy while its still young will help you with your decision.

Puppies Are Accident-Prone

Puppies are just like human children: they love rambunctious playtime, they play rough with each other and their owners, and they often don’t know when to take a break or at least slow down. With their active nature, puppies sometimes get hurt and the veterinarian bills begin to add up quickly. If puppies are not careful, they can fracture their bones (which are especially fragile in this growing stage of development), they can shatter teeth (losing teeth is normal, but unnatural breakage can harm your puppy’s gums), and they can eat poisonous things when you’re not looking. Just in case your puppy gets into a bit of trouble, pet insurance can be a great investment within the first year alone.

Affordability

Generally the younger your puppy is, the cheaper the monthly pet insurance premiums will be. As they age, the likelihood of disease, illnesses, and injuries increases. Treatments become more expensive with age-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes, which contributes to the higher insurance costs. However, if you take out a premium while the puppy is still young, you will not only have full protection over the duration of the policy, but the monthly costs will be dramatically cheaper.

Spay/Neuter Covered

With some procedures ranging over the $100 mark, pet insurance coverage that pays for the majority of a desexing procedure can be immensely helpful for your wallet. Many policies cover the entire cost, while others cover a significant portion after just a small deductible. It’s very important to get your puppy spayed (if female) or neutered (if male) within the first year of their lives (if you’re not planning on breeding them) to avoid the health concerns that come with leaving a domestic animal intact, such as increased risk of cancer in the sexual organs and desire to roam.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations. Puppies need a lot of them in those first twelve months, and although there are several low cost vaccine clinics around the country, they still aren’t exactly cheap. Pet insurance can fix that. Some policies opt to cover the entire cost of vaccinations, while others will cover up to a certain amount or a certain number of vaccines in an annual time frame.

Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether or not pet insurance would be a good fit for your finances and your puppy’s health. Over the span of your puppy’s life however, you may just find that this initial investment was more than worth it.

Meeting Your Future Pet: A Good Fit with the Family

Brian — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:26:21 +0000

Are you planning a trip to the pet store or animal shelter? You should be prepared; you don’t want to fall in love with the wrong pet for you and your family. Follow along as we examine the pet in relationship to your family and/or household.

Have Enough Space?

When you shop for a pet, you should certainly take space into consideration. That Golden Retriever might not be best for

Photo: Brandon Weight

your small apartment.

You might want to do research on the particular breed of dog, or otherwise the animal itself with respect to space. Larger dogs will need space and possibly a backyard. Some animals may simply not work out in your home or apartment, purely with regard to space.

Look up the animal/breed to figure things out. Also keep in mind that the animal will grow over time, which can definitely change things – don’t let the tiny size of puppies at the pet store fool you!

Children and Pets

Children love pets. Not all pets love children.

When pondering the question of a pet in the home, you should be aware of their comfort level with children. Sometimes you will find that certain breeds and pets are not best for or with children. That is an important distinction; you may find that children don’t interact well with some animals (some reptiles can be hard for children, or the late-night tendencies of some rodents), and some pets just shouldn’t be around children (dog breeds that can become aggressive with children).

As you look and research pets, you can gain an awareness of these types of situations. Be careful to notice certain breeds of dogs and other pets that aren’t best for children; aim for those that are explicitly good with young children. Another consideration is pet insurance to protect your pet in case an unforeseen emergency comes up.

Activity Level

Perhaps you are a single person living in an apartment with a not-too-adventurous lifestyle. These factors can also play into your pet choice.

Take care if you have certain needs in this area. For instance, you may want a more relaxed dog if the previous item applies to you. Or, on the other side of the conversation, you might prefer a dog that can help you with your outdoors work. There is something for everyone.

The exercise needs of an animal can come into play as well, in a similar vein. If you enjoy walking and jogging, you might want a dog that can keep up with you and go for daily walks and jogs. Yes, there are certainly some choices for pets that like to take it easy – or at least those that can exercise on their own (you will thank the hamster ball/wheel).

Overall, it is important to take into consideration these factors for your home and household. The factors of space and children can steer you in one direction, and it is good to have similar tendencies to the pet with activity level. Research different breeds and pets that might fit your needs – from your family to the house and beyond.

Pet Insurance: What Does It Cover?

Sally — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:39:30 +0000

Things can get very expensive if you or a member of your family are involved in an accident or get sick and this is no difference for your pet(s). As with humans, unexpected vet bills can be financially crippling if you’ve not got pet

Photo: Tomi Tapio

insurance in place to soften the blow so you should definitely take the time to compare pet insurance to make sure that your pet is protected just like the rest of the family. As with private health insurance, coverage levels vary between insurers so it’s well worth making sure that you do compare pet insurance policies to get the right level of cover.

What can be covered?

Pet healthcare has come a long way in recent times and your pet can now receive diagnostic and laboratory tests – just like us. Depending on the policy, you can be at least partially covered for things like vet consultations, diagnostic tests (such as x-rays and ultrasounds), laboratory tests, hospitalisation, prescriptions/medicines, surgery, radiology, after-hours emergencies, specialist care and emergency boarding. Some of these benefits are excluded or restricted on some policies so you’ll need to compare pet insurance coverage if you think that you’ll benefit from having a lot of these as part of your coverage.

You may also want to think about including third party liability cover as part of your pet insurance in case your pet causes damage to property or injures someone.

What might not be covered?

Many pet insurance policies won’t insure working animals or dangerous dogs so you may well struggle to get any type of pet insurance if you have this type of animal as a pet.

Pre-existing conditions are often not covered in pet insurance policies.

Other considerations

As with car insurance, your pet insurance premiums may be heavily influenced by your circumstances. Factors such as breed, the age of your pet and even where you live can have an impact on how much you’ll pay and how much coverage you can get. For certain breeds and older pets, you may find that your coverage is restricted and certain conditions may be excluded.

Some of the benefits that may be restricted or excluded in less comprehensive pet insurance policies include:

Preventative and elective treatment such as flea treatments, vaccinations and nail clipping
Illnesses that occur early on after taking out the policy
Congential and hereditary conditions
Pregnancy
Behavioural problems
Food and diets
Dental treatments

These won’t necessarily be restricted or excluded across the board though as some preventative treatments will be included on more extensive coverage options so it’s definitely worth doing a pet insurance comparison if you want to include this on your policy.

There will often be age restrictions which mean that your pet is only covered up to a certain age, although some pet insurance policies will cover your pet for the duration of its lifetime so it can really pay to compare pet insurance with this in mind. Some breeds will have age restrictions though and these may be lower in comparison to other breeds.

Pet insurance is crucial for protecting your furry friend if he or she gets ill or has an accident but as with all types of insurance, it’s important to spend some time doing a pet insurance comparison to assess your options. Coverage levels can vary so be sure to check the restrictions and exclusions to get the best pet insurance policy for your needs.