Protecting the smallest member of your family: A step-by-step guide to pet insurance
By Burke Jones
Let’s face it – Fido and Fluffy are an important part of your family. Do you want to have to assign a dollar value to them if they become sick or injured?

That may well be the case if you don’t have pet health insurance. Rising veterinary costs mean that pet owners can pay hundreds – and even thousands – of dollars for their pets’ health problems. As the bills stack up, uninsured pet owners must determine how much they are willing to spend on their animal friend. It can be a heartbreaking decision to make.

Much like insurance for health, cars and homes, helps people put a little money away now to avoid a major payout later. Coverage and cost vary, so it’s important to thoroughly research the options if you decide to insure your pet.

Step one: Determine if is Right for You

When people decide to get a pet, they often don’t consider how they will deal with the inevitable unexpected illnesses or accidents. Keeping a pet indoors by no means eliminates all the hazards. They can still swallow foreign objects, ingest a poison or injure themselves. As well, living indoors does not make a pet immune to disease and infection – particularly those that are common to their breed. Pets with access to the outdoors have even more opportunities to pick up a disease or get hurt.

Don’t have a dog or cat? Insurance companies are starting to offer plans that meet the needs of a variety of pet owners. Some now offer coverage for birds and exotic animals.

Not all owners are good candidates for pet insurance, however. is ideal for owners who deeply love their pets and are willing to spend a significant amount of money to keep them healthy and extend their life. They buy their cherished companions the best food and care they can afford, sometimes even putting their pets’ needs before their own. For this type of owner, can be a smart investment that can prevent considerable costs and bring peace of mind.

Pet insurance is not a good investment for owners who don’t have a strong emotional tie to their pet. Owners who would rather have their pets euthanized than spend money on vet bills are not good candidates for pet insurance.

Step two: Decide What Type of Coverage You Want

Most pet owners will weigh two main considerations when shopping for pet insurance: budget and coverage. Peace of mind can also be an important factor, but far more difficult to quantify.

Pet health insurance is still relatively new in the United States and Canada, so the options available are fewer than for other forms of insurance. That said, North American pet owners can choose from a variety of coverage choices, ranging from injury/accident-only to all-inclusive.

As with all insurance products, the cost of increases as the coverage improves. As a pet owner, you must decide what is

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the right balance between affordability and the care you want for your pet.

- Coverage
When choosing coverage, first consider what kind of insurance customer you are. Do you prefer all-inclusive coverage that pays for everything from routine checkups and vaccinations to accidents and chronic illnesses, or are you comfortable with a lesser degree of coverage that just kicks in during emergencies? Perhaps you prefer a flexible plan that offers discounts on a wide range of services, from veterinary care to training. This decision will lay the groundwork for your final choice.

Some issues to consider:

* Make sure to check for coverage of pre-existing conditions as well as breed-specific genetic ailments, such as hip dysplasia for large dogs. Some plans refuse to cover these conditions.

* Some plans place limits on annual, per-incident, per-illness or lifetime costs.

* How old is your pet? Coverage usually starts at eight weeks, but some plans won’t cover pets over a certain age (usually between six and 10 years old, depending on the breed, type of animal and other factors).

- Cost
Las opciones del pago para incluyen honorarios o los deductibles y/o los co-pagos planos. No asombrosamente, los planes con premios mensuales más bajos vienen con deductibles más altos y/o co-pagos más grandes.

Algunas ediciones a considerar:

* Las primas de seguro son afectadas por la edad, la salud y la casta de tu animal doméstico, así como el tipo de animal.

* Descuentos de las ofertas de algunos planes para los animales domésticos múltiples.

* Los planes requieren generalmente a clientes pagar la cuenta del veterinario primero y en seguida someter los recibos para el reembolso.

* Descubrir si las primas de seguro aumentan como tus edades del animal doméstico.

* Dependiendo del plan que eliges, los premios mensuales puede extenderse menos de de $10 a cerca de $40.

Paso tres: Elegir a asegurador

Te has determinado lo que puedes permitirse para pasar y la cantidad de cobertura tú desea.

Antes de seleccionar a un asegurador, aquí están algunas consideraciones finales:

* Hacer una lista de tus preguntas y prioridades por adelantado. Cerciorarte de contestar o comprobar apagado a cada artículo al repasar opciones del plan.

* Investigar a asegurador a fondo. Repasar tu Web site y materiales de las ventas, leer tus testimonials, hablar con otros dueños del animal doméstico y buscar las revisiones en línea. ¿Cuanto tiempo la compañía ha estado en negocio? ¿Sus clientes están satisfechos? Te cercioras de sensación cómoda sobre todo tú oír o leer.

* Comparar el horario de la ventaja de plan con los honorarios de tu veterinario para determinarse a qué grado cubrirá el plan los costes reales del tratamiento.

* Descubrir cómo la compañía de seguros reembolsa rápidamente pagos de la demanda a clientes los' y si tiene plazos de la demanda.

* Leer la impresión fina. Te cercioras de totalmente entender las ventajas y, más importantemente, las limitaciones de plan. Si algo no está claro, pedir - y conseguir la respuesta en la escritura. Si no, puede ser que te encuentres no tienes la cobertura que necesitas si ocurre un accidente.

* Comenzar un archivo para tu animal doméstico. Utilizarlo para todos los recibos y papeleo del seguro así que puedes guardar encima de tus demandas y cerciorarse de tú están maximizando tu inversión del seguro.

Tu responsabilidad como dueño del animal doméstico no termina con el alimento, el abrigo y el afecto. El seguro médico del animal doméstico puede dar al miembro más pequeño de tu familia a la vida más larga y más sana - y proveer de ti más hora de gozar del amor incondicional que te ofrece tan dispuesto.
Burke a Jones es un contribuidor frecuente a la escritura del depósito de la salud del animal doméstico sobre seguro del perro y medicina del gato.

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