Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Tips on Buying Pet Insurance

By Coleen Smith


Your furry, beloved one is not guaranteed to always remain healthy. Pet insurance is a simple way to ensure that you will not have to make difficult decisions in the future. You can prepare for the unexpected with a low cost pet insurance policy, especially if you know what to look for.

There are numerous considerations that you want to make when opting to buy coverage for your pet. If you have a long standing relationshop with your pet's veterinarian, this is especially true. You'll want to make sure that you can still stay with the same vet even though your payment method is different. Knowing what to ask before you buy in can save you stress, hassle and yes, money as well.

It is important to know which insurance your current veterinarian is able to accept. You should speak with both your veterinarian and any insurer that you might be considering. Your veterinarian might also be able to refer you to a pet insurance company. He probably has a pretty good idea of what is covered under the different policies and how that matches up with your pet's health needs.

Any pre-existing condition that your dog or cat has should be discussed before you choose a provider. It is crucial that you find a provider that offer insurance that will address this issue adequately as well. Though general health may be covered by all plans, many policies will not pay for the continued treatment of a known condition. If at all possible, buy a pet insurance policy while your pet is young, before he has any health problems.

The same is also true for a chronic or recurring condition. Even if you have had no prior notice that such a condition existed, some policies may pay only for the first or first several visits related to the same issue. While your animal may not have shown evidence of a recurring condition, it is important that you find an insurer that will offer continuous coverage on fair terms should such a condition arise.

Financial stability and reputation are important too. After all, you want a company that's still going to be in business when and if you have a claim. If you were not able to get a referral from a trusted veterinarian you can also try asking around. Try family, friends and co-workers. Maybe employees at the local pet store will be able to offer information about one or more insurance companies. You are looking for a policy that covers the cost you're likely to incur at the best possible price.

Another way to find out how well a pet insurance company serves its customers is to read online reviews and ratings. This is especially true when it comes to consumer analysis of claim response. You can read these to see if a company raises the premium after a certain amount of claims are filed, or if there are other coverage issues that arise should you animal have extensive health needs.

Selecting the right pet insurance for your needs will serve you well in the long run, but it's not always easy. Your animal, your loved one, is counting on you to make sure that he or she is able to get the attention and treatment that will be necessary throughout life. You can avoid the need to suddenly come up with a lot of money in case of an unexpected illness or accident by paying a small monthly fee now.




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