FAQs About Pet Insurance Plan Benefits

There are many questions that people need answers to when searching for information about pet insurance plan benefits. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions relating to the advantages of getting pet insurance.

What Benefits can an Insurance Policy Provide for my Pet?

You have many options available and different plans are available that cover injuries or accidents, medical illnesses, specialized care and routine care. There are even types of life insurance for pets although these are not the same as for people.

Most people choose a pet insurance plan that will help them cover the expenses related to medical problems first, then possibly add on coverage for any form of injury due to accidents. In addition there is insurance available for special treatments as well as addressing routine pet care such as dental cleaning or vaccinations. Chosen in the right manner, the right plan can potentially save you thousands of dollars.

What Costs Relating to Injury or Illness are Included?

All pet insurance providers will specify the conditions under which they will pay out claims. If your pet was injured in certain manner, the accident may or may not be covered. Also, pet insurers will usually provide an exclusion list, which specifies which types of medical conditions or treatments that they do not provide coverage for.

Regardless of the type of pet you have, it is important that you learn about the conditions that the insurer includes or excludes, and whether or not you are comfortable with accepting these terms.

If My Pet has a Pre-Existing Condition, is this Covered?

A pet having a pre-existing condition means that before the insurance policy was purchased, a health problem already existed. This will almost certainly affect the eligibility of your pet to be insured depending on whether the condition can be addressed or is untreatable.

It is at the discretion of the pet insurance provider to decide how the policy may be limited because of such conditions. If perhaps after a period of time a curable ailment has been resolved, then you may likely petition the company to remove any restrictions on coverage.

What about Life Insurance for my Pet?

Life insurance for pets is different than it is for people in that for a person, it is expected that some form of financial payout is provided on death. This is almost always not the case for pets.

Some pet insurance companies will addresses issues such as euthanasia, cremation, burial, and even bereavement counseling for the pet owner. These are likely to incur additional costs and not be included in a standard pet insurance policy. Even though these may be emotionally difficult thoughts to deal with, it may be an important consideration for you.

Can I Visit any Veterinarian if my Pet gets Sick?

Not all pet insurers will allow you to take your pet to the nearest or any veterinarian in your area. Some insurance providers will dictate only specific centers where you can receive treatment for your pet, perhaps because they belong to an affiliate network.

Unfortunately, if you are in an area where there is no authorized pet care clinic, it may be necessary to travel further than desired. However, there are pet insurance companies that will compensate the costs for having your pet treated, no matter in the world you are. This is one of the important benefits that you should consider and choose if it is available to you.

Are treatments for Pet Cancer Included?

Pets that develop cancer of any type may require similar procedures that are performed on people. This can involve surgical tumor extraction, chemotherapy and even radiation treatments.

These types of procedures are usually considered to be specialized care, and a basic pet insurance policy may not cover such expenses. It may be necessary to upgrade the plan to include the possibility of this occurring.

Are the Costs for Spaying or Neutering Included?

Any costs related to having your pet sterilized and render them unable to reproduce is highly dependent on the policy chosen. It may be included in your chosen plan or be optional and add more cost to the insurance premiums.

This may be unacceptable to a person that provides purebred dog puppies and yet more than reasonable to a cat owner. The decision and costs are always your choice.

Does my Pet Insurance Plan Cover Medical Scans?

This depends on the type of plan you select and there will likely be an inclusion or even an exclusion list with respect to the type of procedures that are covered.

CAT, MRI, or other types of scans may be more than helpful in diagnosing a problem with your pet, but you will have to decide whether the benefits are worth the additional costs you may have to pay.

Are Prescriptions Drugs Covered in an Insurance Plan?

This may likely be an option you wish to consider and likely not included in most basic pet health plans. If it were only a matter of subsidizing a few inexpensive antibiotic drugs to combat an infection then they would likely already included them in a basic insurance plan.

But if your pet develops a serious illness for which the medication is relatively expensive, then some pet insurance companies may reject your claim, unless you opted in for this. As with veterinary medical treatments, there may be a list of medications that are accepted as basic, and others which you may have to pay for.

Does the Insurance Plan Provide for Hospitalization?

If your pet was injured in an accident or suddenly developed medical problems, it may be necessary that they remain under intense care in a properly equipped pet medical facility.

The expenses related to this can increase with each day that your pet continues to be cared for. Most pet insurance companies will provide options related to this but more importantly, by choosing to include this coverage can perhaps save your pet’s life and likely hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

In Case of Emergency, are After-Hours Treatments Covered?

Not all pet insurance providers compensate pet owners for emergency treatment due to accident or sudden illness. Also, those that do may dictate that only certain veterinary emergency clinics be used. This is another aspect of any pet plan that you should consider before signing up.

Is Pet Dental Care Included in the Insurance Plan?

Dental care for pets, vaccinations for various problems, or even grooming may be considered to be aspects of a routine pet maintenance plan. Usually, these are considered optional in most pet insurance policies.

Most people do not opt in for these particular features because they prefer to address this on their own or consider the cost unjustified.

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