Pet Insurance

A pet insurance policy covers your household pets such as cats and dogs. It provides peace of mind and reassurance when it is most needed. It is bad enough trying to deal with the trauma of a pet in critical condition without having to deliberate over the financial cost of any treatment should you not have pet insurance cover.

Imagine having a pet suddenly taken ill or having been struck down by a motorist and then rushing them to hospital and being told that it would take many thousands to perform a life saving operation. With xrays, anaesthetics, operational staff and vet, fees, medication and ongoing recovery care possibly being needed the prospect of this costing thousands are very possible. For the monthly outlay of a relatively small amount of money you will never have to worry about the financial implications of any treatment and have to make an awful decision that you were forced into due to hardship.

The most basic plans cover injuries and accidents. These plans cover incidents such as car accidents, broken bones, burns, allergic reactions or injuries involving your pet ingesting foreign objects or poisons. Such plans are relatively inexpensive. With most plans, you are limited to two claims per year. Basic accident plans don't cover expenses related to illness or disease.

Slightly more expensive are plans that cover both accidents and illness. These cover diseases of most major body systems, cancer and infectious disease. The limits on coverage range from two to three thousand or more of your cash, varying with the cost of the plan. Many of these plans offer added benefits such as accidental death coverage, which reimburses you the purchase price of your pet, if he or she accidentally dies during treatment. Some plans offer to pay kennel fees for your pet if you are hospitalized and unable to care for your animal - this is an excellent added benefit.

A few companies are now offering plans specifically for older dogs. These plans are only slightly more expensive than those for other dogs. The deductibles tend to be higher on these plans. Pet insurance plans for older dogs cover stroke, heart disease and cancer, which occur most often in the older dog. In order to receive benefits, you must have the insurance before your pet becomes ill. If you suspect your pet is sick, don't waste your money on health insurance. All plans for older dogs have health requirements and require a check up before the policy is issued. These health insurance plans offer euthanasia coverage in the event you would need to put your pet to sleep.

Remember, all insurance companies want to make money. Plans are written to reduce the liability of the company and make a better profit. They stack the deck in their favor by excluding conditions typical in certain breeds. For example, many larger breed dogs are prone to hip dysphasia and certain disorders of the bones and joints, so many pet insurance plans list these ailments in the exclusions for the breeds most prone to the disorders. If you have a breed that is prone to a particular illness and pet insurance won't cover the treatments it may not be worth the premium. For the same reason, pre existing conditions are generally not covered and some plans require a check up with a vet to exclude these.

What to look for in a policy

There are several factors worth looking into when taking out a pet insurance policy. The premium to pay will obviously depend on the level of coverage that you take out, as with any other insurance premium, but with shopping around you may find a deal that provides optimum cover at the best price for you. With many companies now quoting online for pet insurance the competition has grown and prices have not risen by as much as they coould have. Checking an online quotation should not take more than several minutes only.
Areas of cover that you should be aware of when choosing a policy are:

• Vet and veterinary staff fees
• Death by illness and accident
• Length of cover, years or life
• Is there a large excess to pay
• Are claims cover annualy or on a 'per condition' basis
• Advertising and Reward expenditure
• Third Party Liability and any related Legal Expenses
• Loss by theft or straying
• Kenneling/cattery fees and cancellation reimbursement

It may be impossible or extremely difficult to obtain cover for older pets who have had a previous illness so it is wise to take out cover when they are young, say within the first 6 months. The premiums should be a lot lower due to their age and the likelyhood that any potential illnesses have not been discovered yet. Obviously, any illnesses thath a car suffer, however slight, may impact on the premium paid.

Our Recommendations:

Direct Line - Pet insurance from the leading Insurance company.

MORE TH>N - Insurance backed up by a major UK company.

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