Article:
Is Veterinary Health Insurance
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Top Dog Health Insurance Picks for ..... |
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Is Dog Health Insurance Right For You?At one time in the U.S., purchasing a dog for the family was more a decision of how the dog would fit in the family. Today, a major consideration to adopt a pet is the cost of the dogs health care. Because dog health insurance or veterinary pet insurance is more readily available than it was ten years ago, a pet owner might want to consider this option. Often the decision to purchase health insurance for a dog is based on where in the country you live. The east and west coasts are almost double what the cost of routine care might be in more rural communities. If you happen to be in this situation, and your dog is generally healthy, then canine health insurance might not be for you. I will give you an example. When I lived in Massachusetts, an annual exam including heart worm medication would cost almost $150. In rural New Mexico, I own two dogs. My cost for both dogs for a routine check up (including shots) was $68. In my situation, I would only consider cheap pet insurance, but cheap pet insurance may not be the most cost effective. Here are some thoughts in considering health insurance for dogs. 1. There are many veterinary insurance companies that have come and gone over the years. So, it is important to investigate how long the company has been in business. One company that came to the top in my research regarding longevity is VPI Pet Insurance (Veterinary Pet Insurance has been in business for over 20 years). Recommended by several veterinarians on the web as a very comprehensive dog insurance. A high recommendation when coming from a veterinarian. The
other company that had positive personal recommendations from consumers
on the web was a company called Pet Care. This company has an interesting
program called QuickCare Pet Insurance Program
2. Dont expect your dog medical insurance to pay for everything. Pet health Insurance is a business just like regular health insurance companies. 50% to 75% seems to be an average for a good company. Premiums you pay for the insurance range from $125 to $500 annually depending on the age of the dog and any pre-existing conditions. Most companies allow you to pick your own vet. You are responsible for submitting paperwork but if it saves you money and keeps your dog healthier by having dog health insurance, then it's worth it. And yes, there is often a discount for multiple pets! 3.
Because canine health insurance is often confusing to compare, try
this: In addition, if there are medications (for example, an annual exam usually comes with the need for expensive heart worm medication), are these covered as well. The next step in your analysis is to get actual costs from a local veterinarian or a local animal hospital for these same two situations. Finally, take the actual costs (including non covered medications, cost of hospital stay, and annual premiums you pay) and deduct what the pet health insurance company said they would pay you specific to your dog's age. Doing this simple exercise using two examples will give you a good idea of which company might be best. It might also tell you that veterinary pet insurance is not right for you and your family. 4. Finally, can you talk to someone on the phone? When on the phone talking to the representative, ask these simple, general questions and have them send you their company literature: a. Is this a discount plan, a comprehensive insurance plan, or an hmo? b. Can I choose my veterinarian or do I choose from your list? c. What are the waiting periods to be covered? d.
What is excluded? (is neutering or spaying including?) e. Will routine wellness care be covered? f. Does it include prescription coverage? g.What are the deductibles for different ages? h. What are the premiums today and what will they cost as your dog ages? i. How long has the company been in business? j.
Does the policy holder pay the vet in full and get reimbursed? I
hope you have found this article helpful in your quest for information
in determining wether dog health insurance is right for you and
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