5 Tips on Buying Pet Insurance

A decade ago, the thought of pet insurance seemed as good as buying organic toothpaste. However, the veterinary industry has changed significantly in the last few years, making many surgical operations, previously available only to humans, now to your best friend, Fido. Of course advanced treatment comes with a cost, the average cost of a hip dysplasia costs $2,600 and a kidney transplant can cost up to $14,000.

Most people never imagine spending that kind of money on their pets surgery, but when reality kicks in and the family pet is sick, it's hard to put a dollar amount on your best friend. With that said, Pet Insurance is a great way to protect your pet from ever having to make a decision about what treatment you can afford, but rather, what treatment is the best treatment for your pet.

Here are 5 Tips on buying Pet Insurance:

1. Shop around - there are over 14 Pet Insurers in the United States, all with various policies and levels of pet insurance. Depending on your dog's age, breed and if a purebred, the medical history, the highest level of pet insurance may not be necessary. Then again, the older the pet, the more expensive the insurance generally is, especially with larger breeds.
2. Compare Apples to Apples - Make sure to compare the various insurer's policies, deductibles, co-pays and caps equally when deciding on which insurer to use. For example, company x. may have a "per incident" deductible, but company y may have a "per year" deductible, those are two very different things. Choose your pet insurance as carefully as you would your car insurance, read the fine print and don't be afraid to ask the insurance company what the specific wording means, as it's better to find out before buying the insurance, than when it's really needed. Not all plans cover routine wellness care, such as flea control, heartworm medication, and immunizations. Rather, they cover accident and illness. Clarify your needs before selecting a plan.
3. Have a checklist - Pet insurance can cost as little as $9 / month, depending on what you want covered. Decide whether you want to cover vaccinations and annual visits or do you really want to use the Pet Insurance for Emergency purposes (ie. Fido swallows a sock). Also, keep in mind that pet insurance policies, such as dog health insurance policies, are more affordable than veterinarian loan programs, which charge high-interest rates.
4. Ask about multiple pet discounts - If you own more than one pet, be it a cat, gerbil or dog then there is a good chance that you can get a multiple pet insurance discount. You also can get a discount if your dog follows a training class or is spayed / neutered. Some also offer discounts if your puppy /dog goes through dog training classes or socialization classes.
5. Talk to your HR or Benefits department - Many companies such as Del Monte & Google are offering pet insurance to their employees as an added perk. Fortunately, this perk seems to be gaining popularity as an employee benefit across the United States, so don't hesitate to ask your Compensation & Benefits Manager if that is something they already offer or are planning to implement.

Use these tips to find, compare and save money on Pet Insurance.

Need help? We'll help you find the best pet insurance to meet your family and pets needs. Take a few minutes to request a pet insurance quote from one of the many highly qualified pet insurance carriers. It'll ease your mind and save you money.