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When it comes to keeping your pet around for many healthy years, good veterinary care is at the top of the list of things human owners need to provide. But all those veterinary bills can add up, especially if your dog ever suffers an injury or a serious illness. One thing that pet owners can do to alleviate those costs is to sign their dog up for pet insurance. Choosing the right insurance is similar to choosing your own health insurance in many ways. Here are a few tips for picking the right policy for your dog:
Research and Compare Insurers
Before you purchase a pet insurance plan for your dog, be sure that you check out each insurer’s track record, and compare their policies to get the best coverage at the best price. Look for a trusted service that has been in business for many years, who offers additional features like a veterinary care hotline or a better reimbursement plan. Be sure to read the fine print and understand how each provider reimburses you for vet care. Check for coverage gaps or conditions that aren’t covered.
Know What Coverage You Need
Not all veterinary care is covered by all pet insurance, and what you get often depends on what you want. For example, do you want to pay more for pet insurance that covers routine care like wellness checks, vaccinations, and so on? Or do you want to cover that yourself, and pay a very small premium for emergency vet insurance that covers surgeries, accident care, lab tests, and so on? Knowing which kind of insurance you want to pay for will help you narrow down the options.
Be Sure You Enroll Your Dog Young
Most pet insurance is cheaper when your dog is in great health, and many offer a locked-in premium rate when you sign up. This means that if you know you want to have dog insurance, getting your dog enrolled when they are younger (and less likely to have preexisting conditions) will save you money in the long run. If your dog is already older and you want to find pet insurance, be sure to look at what conditions may be exempt from coverage, or may not be 100% covered.
Talk to Your Vet
Believe it or not, your veterinarian is one of the best sources of advice for a pet insurance plan. They can tell you what kind of healthcare you are likely to be needing in the future with your dog and can give you advice on what types of plans are better suited for your specific situation.
The Promise of a Longer Life
Getting pet insurance is a great way to have peace of mind about your dog’s health in the future, and could potentially even save your dog’s life. Just like human health insurance, having coverage for important medical care means that you can count on a longer and healthier life for your dog. Do your research and consider this step as soon as you can in your dog’s life to make the best investment you can.
Ash Babariya is the co-creator of Simply For Dogs, a licensed breeder of Boxers, and a life-long dog lover. Ash’s many adventures at the local dog park with her Boxers, Janice and Leroy, have turned her into the local “crazy dog lady”. She shares those adventures, as well as her research into the world of dogs, around the web to promote well-informed pet owning. Ash, Janice, and Leroy share a home in the Midwest with a brood of hens, all sorts of wild critters, and the occasional litter of puppies.
