Pet Insurance at a Glance
A Insurance Article Contributed by Cassandra L. Keller
Pet Insurance at a Glance
Health insurance is no longer just for humans. Today adoring pet owners can take their love one step further by purchasing pet insurance for their beloved animals.
Services Covered by Pet Insurance
Depending on the provider, pet insurance covers a wide range of occurrences from an unexpected illness to routine office visits. Diagnostic fees, emergency visits, lab fees, prescriptions, x-rays and accidental injuries are also often part of the comprehensive coverage offered by providers. Even the smallest aspects of routine pet care, such as flea maintenance and heartworm control can be covered by pet insurance.
Based on the provider you select, the insurance company may or may not require some form of co-pay for office visits and emergencies. Also, depending on the company, pet owners are granted some flexibility when it comes to choosing their pet's veterinarian.
Of special concern for pet owners is cancer. Studies show that cats and dogs are most likely to get the disease. Pet insurance can help alleviate the financial stress of costly cancer tests and treatments. Double cancer coverage can also be purchased for at-risk pets.
Why Pet Owners Should Purchase Pet Insurance
Purchasing pet insurance is a way to protect pet owners from facing costly medical expenses in the event of an emergency. For a fairly inexpensive monthly fee, a pet owner can spare the entire family undue financial grief. Even worse, not having pet insurance, for some pet owners, may mean choosing to not seek medical treatment for the animal, an option that could result in its death.
Animals Covered by Pet Insurance
In general, pet insurance providers cover man's best friend and felines. While cats and dogs are probably the most common animal pet owners insure, many providers also offer coverage for exotic animals such as birds, reptiles, rabbits, ferrets and chinchillas to name a few. Medical insurance for horses is also available.
How to Find a Pet Insurance Provider
The Internet is probably a pet owners best bet when it comes to searching for a pet insurance provider. Pet owners can also check with their local veterinarian for assistance with finding a provider. And there is always the Yellow Pages to turn to.
The Cost of Pet Insurance
According to the Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Survey, small companies pay an average health insurance premium of more than $3, 000 per employee. This is typically 80 percent to 90 percent of an employee's health insurance. The average contribution by an employee for his or health insurance was $396.12. Certain pet insurance providers offer coverage for less than $1 a day, making pet insurance less expensive than health coverage for humans.
Monthly premiums for cat or dog pet insurance can range from $6 to $14 or $60 to $150 for annual premiums. Of course, depending on the provider and type of coverage the pet owner opts for, these figures can land in a much higher range.
Also keep in mind that some companies may provide discount premiums for people that wish to insure multiple pets.
