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Dog insurance is more than disaster coverage.
Key points
- Family pet insurance can help shield your pets from sickness and injury.
- Preventive insurance has no waiting period.
- Some insurers cover pre-existing conditions.
Winnie couldn’t eat. She had trouble sleeping. We rushed her in order to the vet. She experienced swallowed a piece of her bone, which meant surgery. The following week, the particular bill arrived — plus hoo boy, was it a big one. Winnie isn’t insured, so we were forced to pay out of pocket.
It’s a familiar story. Pet insurance typically covers pets when they get sick or even injured. But pet insurance does more than that will — it can help keep your own pets through getting sick or injured in the first place. It can even cover your pet for pre-existing health conditions.
Typically, insurance coverage comes with a waiting period before you can file claims. If a dog breaks her leg and needs surgery, her owner can’t buy her insurance policy on the spot to cover surgical treatment fees. Waiting periods with regard to accidents plus illnesses can be days or weeks. However , one kind of coverage does kick in immediately: preventive insurance.
Preventive insurance usually covers the cost of vaccinations, flea medication, and routine exams — kind of like those yearly wellness checkups we humans regularly forget to schedule, much to our doctors’ disappointment. There’s no waiting time period. You’re covered if you book your doggie a regular checkup the day after your purchase.
2 . Pre-existing conditions might be protected
Insurers offer limited coverage for pre-existing conditions. These are health issues your animals have prior to pet insurance plan kicks in. Some insurance companies do cover pre-existing conditions that meet the following requirements:
- The condition is curable.
- The pet shows no sign of the condition for 12-24 months.
Winnie got stomach problems long before the girl surgery. She’s a sensitive pup. Because it’s upon her medical record, her stomach issue likely qualifies as a pre-existing situation. But suppose her situation is treatable, and she stops having symptoms for a year or so. In that case, some insurers might consider the girl condition “cured” and protect further expenses.
The best insurance for pre-existing conditions gives pet owners the particular flexibility to cover pets with existing healthcare issues. Even if a condition isn’t curable, veterinary discount plans like Pet Assure offer enrollees discounts on vet care for their pets, including pre-existing problems.
Ideally, owners purchase their own pet insurance coverage when pets are young and healthy. Had Winnie been covered by preventive health insurance from day one, her recurring medical issues might have been identified and prevented before they became the wallet-bleeding problem.
Regardless, there are options regarding owners who missed the boat. Unlike humans, animals could be covered at any age. The best pet insurance policy companies offer owners affordable prices and unparalleled peace of mind. Shop around to find pet insurance that meets you and your pet’s needs.
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