Thursday, April 28, 2011

Why You Should Compare Pet Insurance Plans Options

By Tom Addison


There are many different companies out there that you can use to compare pet insurance, now. The best pet insurance is both easier and harder to find now that more companies are offering policies, and it's important to look around before buying one.

After the monthly fee, there is a deductible to cover. This amount might be an option you choose when enrolling, or there might only be one option. You must pay this amount, before the plan pays anything, so be aware of that when choosing a policy. Co-insurance is the other piece of covered expenses that you are liable for - this states what portion of covered expenses you must pay after the deductible has been met. Again, it may be a choice you make, or already built into the plan.

Out-of-pocket limits are rare or nonexistent in policies for pets, so you can still spend a lot of money if your pet requires thousands in care and your plan pays only 70% of the costs after the deductible. This is a good reason to consider a higher co-insurance level. Maximum benefit limits, either yearly or lifetime ones, should also be scrutinized, as they vary widely.

Unlike human health coverage, policies for pets usually don't cover chronic conditions, even if they are not preexisting. Because these conditions can be quite expensive, many companies offer riders that allow you to obtain this coverage for an additional fee. A few plans do include it already, but it's important to look out for.

Plans vary in whether they cover basic services such as exams and shots. Sometimes, these are available as riders, and sometimes they are just not covered. A few plans include a certain amount of basic care. Read the fine print carefully if you are concerned, but since most owners obtain coverage for emergencies, this is not a major issue for them.

Be sure to read the exclusions carefully when you go to compare pet insurance. The best pet insurance plan for you might need to include some things that only certain companies cover. If you do plan to get coverage for your pets, do it immediately after you receive them, since preexisting conditions are not covered.




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