When it comes to pet insurance there’s A LOT to talk about, so I definitely see this being a multi-post topic. Not only is there a lot to learn about insurance in general (can you even easily explain any of your insurance policies?), but there are also many pet insurance companies, and within each company, many different options to choose from. But that’s a good thing! It’s proof that pet insurance is in high demand and with so many options to choose from, pet parents are sure to find a plan that suits them and their pet. I’d like to start by explaining a little bit about pet insurance and its associated jargon, how you can search and compare policies, and what I have learned from a handful of pet insurance companies.
Full disclosure, I’m interested in getting insurance for my two dogs. You might think, “But why? Your mom is a vet, Caitie.” Of course, my mom is a GREAT vet, but there are some things she simply can’t do. What if, God forbid, one of my dogs may need a CT or MRI scan one day? Can’t find those at your general practitioner. What if Charlotte, my border collie mix that LOVES monitoring the yard, develops cataracts? You better believe I would definitely get cataract surgery for her; but a board-certified ophthalmologist would need to do the surgery (Animal Eye Care) so she can see clearly again. I’ve seen almost everything, so believe me when I say I can understand the difficult situations I’ve seen many pet parents in. The goal with pet insurance is to help ease this burden- so when it comes time to deciding what’s best for your pet, you can focus on getting the best care, and not so much the final bill.
Full disclosure, I’m interested in getting insurance for my two dogs. You might think, “But why? Your mom is a vet, Caitie.” Of course, my mom is a GREAT vet, but there are some things she simply can’t do. What if, God forbid, one of my dogs may need a CT or MRI scan one day? Can’t find those at your general practitioner. What if Charlotte, my border collie mix that LOVES monitoring the yard, develops cataracts? You better believe I would definitely get cataract surgery for her; but a board-certified ophthalmologist would need to do the surgery (Animal Eye Care) so she can see clearly again. I’ve seen almost everything, so believe me when I say I can understand the difficult situations I’ve seen many pet parents in. The goal with pet insurance is to help ease this burden- so when it comes time to deciding what’s best for your pet, you can focus on getting the best care, and not so much the final bill.
I spoke for over an hour each with both ASPCA Pet Insurance and Embrace (and briefly with Trupanion). Let's start with basic terminology and what it means for you. Pet insurance has become so customizable that it's important you understand the following if you're interested in pet insurance for your pets.
ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE - I was told by the ASPCA Pet Insurance rep that this is the most important thing a pet parent should look at when comparing pet insurances. Select the option that will give you the most money back. An annual deductible is the amount you pay for covered healthcare services before the insurance plan starts to pay. Make sure to choose a company that wants you to meet the deductible only once per YEAR. Some insurance companies want you to meet a deductible once per "EVENT" (You are not getting the most back this way). Examples of some deductibles are $500, $250, or $100 per year. A popular option is $250 per year.
REIMBURSEMENT OPTIONS - Reimbursement is the amount of the bill the policy will cover (once the deductible is met). Some examples are 70%, 80%, and 90% of the bill. 90% is the popular option. You can receive reimbursement via check or direct deposit. A very helpful new option that has surfaced is the ability for the pet insurance company to reimburse the veterinary hospital directly in the event of unforeseen circumstances!
ANNUAL LIMIT - This is the maximum amount the policy will cover each year. Some options are $5,000; $10,000; $15,000; $20,000; and Unlimited. Some companies won't let you increase your annual limit option (but will allow a decrease), so be sure to choose carefully. If you have been coming to CCVH for a while I can look how much you've spent with us to help you get an idea of what option may be best for you.
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION - An illness or injury that occurred prior to the policy starting. Unfortunately, there is not a pet insurance that will cover pre-existing conditions. But from my talks with ASPCA and Embrace, I have found them to be very fair in judging pre-existing conditions. ASPCA will deem it NOT a pre-existing condition if your pet has been symptom-free for 180 days. For example, say your pet had a urinary tract infection (UTI) before you got a policy. It was successfully treated and cleared up, but your pet developed another UTI over 180 days later. Your policy will still cover it. For Embrace, they only look at the past year of medical history to determine what constitutes as a pre-existing condition. (I'm sure there are other companies that treat pre-existing conditions fairly, but these are the two examples I know at the moment). This is why getting a policy sooner is better, before there are pre-existing conditions to consider. Maybe you're thinking "but my pet is older and already has an issue that can't be covered." If this is the case, I would still recommend an accident only policy...
ACCIDENT ONLY POLICY - Some companies offer "accident only policies." This won't cover preventative care (vaccines, routine bloodwork, spay/neuter, etc), but does cover events such as bites, lacerations, foreign body ingestion, toxic ingestion, and broken bones. Pet insurance companies have different lists of what is considered an "accident" in their accident-only policies. So if you're considering this type of plan, be sure to compare these lists.
NAPHIA - The North American Pet Health Insurance Association - The association comprised of reputable health insurance companies and pet health professions, committed to advancing and growing the pet insurance industry. A great resource for more information.
I also suggest visiting PetInsuranceQuotes.com for more terms and definitions explanations and to get a pet insurance quote.
PetInsuranceReview.com is another great resource to compare insurers' basic info (without needing to provide any of your information), get a quote, and read reviews.
I'd like to make future pet insurance-related blog posts that go into more details about policies and the different pet insurance companies.
ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE - I was told by the ASPCA Pet Insurance rep that this is the most important thing a pet parent should look at when comparing pet insurances. Select the option that will give you the most money back. An annual deductible is the amount you pay for covered healthcare services before the insurance plan starts to pay. Make sure to choose a company that wants you to meet the deductible only once per YEAR. Some insurance companies want you to meet a deductible once per "EVENT" (You are not getting the most back this way). Examples of some deductibles are $500, $250, or $100 per year. A popular option is $250 per year.
REIMBURSEMENT OPTIONS - Reimbursement is the amount of the bill the policy will cover (once the deductible is met). Some examples are 70%, 80%, and 90% of the bill. 90% is the popular option. You can receive reimbursement via check or direct deposit. A very helpful new option that has surfaced is the ability for the pet insurance company to reimburse the veterinary hospital directly in the event of unforeseen circumstances!
ANNUAL LIMIT - This is the maximum amount the policy will cover each year. Some options are $5,000; $10,000; $15,000; $20,000; and Unlimited. Some companies won't let you increase your annual limit option (but will allow a decrease), so be sure to choose carefully. If you have been coming to CCVH for a while I can look how much you've spent with us to help you get an idea of what option may be best for you.
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION - An illness or injury that occurred prior to the policy starting. Unfortunately, there is not a pet insurance that will cover pre-existing conditions. But from my talks with ASPCA and Embrace, I have found them to be very fair in judging pre-existing conditions. ASPCA will deem it NOT a pre-existing condition if your pet has been symptom-free for 180 days. For example, say your pet had a urinary tract infection (UTI) before you got a policy. It was successfully treated and cleared up, but your pet developed another UTI over 180 days later. Your policy will still cover it. For Embrace, they only look at the past year of medical history to determine what constitutes as a pre-existing condition. (I'm sure there are other companies that treat pre-existing conditions fairly, but these are the two examples I know at the moment). This is why getting a policy sooner is better, before there are pre-existing conditions to consider. Maybe you're thinking "but my pet is older and already has an issue that can't be covered." If this is the case, I would still recommend an accident only policy...
ACCIDENT ONLY POLICY - Some companies offer "accident only policies." This won't cover preventative care (vaccines, routine bloodwork, spay/neuter, etc), but does cover events such as bites, lacerations, foreign body ingestion, toxic ingestion, and broken bones. Pet insurance companies have different lists of what is considered an "accident" in their accident-only policies. So if you're considering this type of plan, be sure to compare these lists.
NAPHIA - The North American Pet Health Insurance Association - The association comprised of reputable health insurance companies and pet health professions, committed to advancing and growing the pet insurance industry. A great resource for more information.
I also suggest visiting PetInsuranceQuotes.com for more terms and definitions explanations and to get a pet insurance quote.
PetInsuranceReview.com is another great resource to compare insurers' basic info (without needing to provide any of your information), get a quote, and read reviews.
I'd like to make future pet insurance-related blog posts that go into more details about policies and the different pet insurance companies.
CCVH News
We still have 2 more weeks of our Spay/Neuter Special.
We also have a $25 off coupon on the home page. Be sure to mention/show it at check out!
February is National Dental Health Month! In an upcoming blog post I will introduce our February specials, which will be sure to include a discount on dental cleanings!
It finally feels like winter - stay warm, my friends!
We also have a $25 off coupon on the home page. Be sure to mention/show it at check out!
February is National Dental Health Month! In an upcoming blog post I will introduce our February specials, which will be sure to include a discount on dental cleanings!
It finally feels like winter - stay warm, my friends!
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