(Newswire.net — June 9, 2016) — If you are planning to buy insurance for your pet, it’s definitely worth taking the time to do your research and ensure that you choose the right policy from the start. Choosing the wrong policy can cause issues in the future, as you may find it difficult to switch policies later on down the line. Pet insurance not only covers your pet in the event of illness, injury, death or theft, but can also cover yourself legally if your pet causes any damage to a third party. Read on to discover more about what to look for in a pet insurance policy to ensure that you make the best choice.
Start Early
The earlier you get pet insurance, the better. Taking out pet insurance when your pet is young and healthy usually makes it much easier to get insurance and at a good price. If you wait until your pet is getting older or develops health problems to take out insurance, you may find that it’s more difficult to get the cover that you need and you may also be charged more. Since veterinary bills are one of the main reasons why pet owners purchase insurance, choosing a policy which covers regular treatments and getting it as early as possible will save you having to pay for vet bills yourself.
Maximum Vet Fees
When choosing a policy, it’s important to bear in mind that not all pet insurance policies will cover any and all of your pet’s veterinary bills throughout their life. The majority of pet insurance providers will have a maximum vet fee, which they will pay out for. Once the maximum is reached, you will no longer be able to claim insurance for the cost of veterinary treatment for your pet. You should also keep in mind that most pet insurance providers will not provide cover for vet bills to treat pre-existing conditions, non-essential treatments or preventative treatments. Good pet insurance policies will cover your pet for any congenital (from birth) conditions or conditions which are hereditary.
Loss and Theft
Although no pet owner likes to think of the possibility of losing their pet or having them stolen, it’s important to choose a pet insurance policy which covers both loss and theft. If your pet is lost or stolen and is not returned to you within the time frame set out by the insurer, you may be eligible for a lump sum payment. When taking out pet insurance for loss and theft, it’s important to make sure that it covers the price for which you purchased your pet – if not, your insurer may only pay out their ‘market value’, which can decrease over time as pets age and other factors come into play. A good insurance policy will cover the cost of advertisement if your pet is lost or stolen, and many will also cover costs for rewards if your pet is found and returned.
Nobody wants to imagine anything bad happening to their beloved pets, but it’s always best to be prepared!