If at all possible everyone should have pet health insurance. Let’s face it, vet costs are increasing just like everything else.
Accidents or illness can happen when we least expect it, and through no fault of our own.
I used to work at a veterinary hospital and every day I saw such sad situations of beloved dogs who suddenly got seriously ill or in a tragic accident. The owners are naturally overwrought with grief and then they are told how much the bill will be.
I’m grateful that our hospital and most other veterinary hospitals and clinics accept most pet insurance and offer alternative payment methods, such as Care Credit or Scratchpay. Care Credit is a credit card that you pay every month and they charge interest. The amount of interest charged depends on your credit standing. Scratchpay is a loan rather than a credit card. They don’t charge interest if paid off within a certain period of time.
But there are still many who don’t have insurance and who don’t qualify for alternative payments. My heart breaks for them! I wouldn’t wish that situation on my worst enemy and certainly not on a poor innocent animal!
As devastating as these situations are, the peace of mind knowing that at least you don’t have to worry about the vet bill is priceless! Among the rise in the cost of everything these days, pet insurance is one thing, however, that has become more affordable than it has been in the past.
When shopping for the best pet insurance for your dog and your particular circumstances here are a few tips to look for:
Illness Coverage: Takes care of expenses when your dog is sick. Be careful, though. Sometimes there are specific limitations, especially for some illnesses like cancer.
Accident Coverage: Covers your pet if he is injured, like swallowing something he shouldn’t. Accident-only pet insurance policies are less expensive because there are fewer chances of your dog getting injured than your dog becoming sick. Insurance is a risk-associated business, after all.
Tip: If your plan has a list of medications that are covered, take them to your veterinarian appointments so you can be sure that treatment options are covered.
Alternative Therapy And Herbal Treatments: Are included nowadays in some pet insurance plans, but most offer it as a rider. Look for things like hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic therapies. Most policies will specify exactly what they will cover and who may administer them.
Wellness Coverage: Means your dog’s routine care, like vaccinations, heartworm tests, neutering, or dental cleaning may be covered. It’s also usually only offered as a rider and there are a lot of variations among insurers. Many have caps on the amount they’ll pay for coverage.
Exclusions: Will be spelled out in your pet insurance policy. Read that section carefully before you sign and question anything you don’t understand. If you get your answers in writing, — one of the many great things about e-mail — print it out and keep it somewhere you can reference it when you need to. That goes for your policy also.
I sincerely hope that nothing like any of these situations happens to your beloved Chihuahua, but being prepared can be priceless for your peace of mind!