Pet insurance pays, partly or in total, for veterinary treatment of the insured person’s ill or injured animal. Some policies will pay out when the animal dies, or if it is lost or stolen.
As veterinary medicine is increasingly employing expensive medical techniques and drugs, and owners have higher expectations for their animal’s health care and standard of living than previously, the market for animal insurance has increased.
Pet insurance companies are beginning to offer the animal owner more of an ability to customize their coverage by allowing them to choose their own level of deductible or co-insurance. This allows the animal owner to control their monthly premium and choose the level of coverage that suits them the best.
Some of the differences in insurance coverage are:
- Whether congenital and hereditary conditions (like hip dysplasia, heart defects, eye cataracts or diabetes) are covered;
- How the reimbursement is calculated (based on the actual vet bill, a benefit schedule or usual and customary rates);
- Whether the deductible is on a per-incident or an annual basis;
- Whether there are any limits or caps applied (per incident, per year, age or over the animal’s lifetime); and
- Whether there is an annual contract that determines anything diagnosed in the previous year of coverage is considered pre-existing the next year.
Source: Pet Insurance
