Elvis the Cat: Is Your Pet a Midnight Warrior?

We don’t know about you, but Elvis the Cat’s favorite form of entertainment and exercise usually involved beating up other neighborhood animals, so this story sounded more than a little familiar to us:

Robert Bashore’s dogs cornered a muskrat in the backyard of his Lansing, Mich., home. The muskrat won, and Nathan, a 5-year-old dachshund, fared the worst in that heated battle. Puncture wounds required a trip to the emergency vet — and an $800 bill. VPI Pet Insurance, a subsidiary of Nationwide, reimbursed Bashore for nearly half that amount.

“Get [insurance] as early in the dog’s life as possible,” says Bashore, who insured Nathan the muskrat hunter (right) before he was 1 year old. “If that’s not possible, still get it knowing that there may be some exclusions based on the dog’s health history.”

Pet Health Insurance: How To Cover Medical Expenses For Your Dog Or Cat

If you’re thinking of buying a pet health insurance policy for your furry family members, don’t forget to take a close at all your options. In particular, pay attention to the following:

Covered conditions. Pet health insurance coverage can be split into four general categories: accidents, illnesses, wellness and additional benefits.

Accident coverage is the most basic type of pet insurance, reimbursing you for treatments related to unexpected accidents and injuries to your pet.

Illness coverage covers services that relate to an illness your pet may contract.

Wellness coverage is an option for pet owners who want more comprehensive insurance coverage, and it insures everyday veterinarian expenses, as well as preventative care.

Some pet insurance policies may also cover additional benefits unrelated to the other categories, such as advertising and reward reimbursement, loss by theft or straying, and burial or cremation expenses.

Pre-existing Conditions. Ask about pre-existing conditions and review the policy to see if they are covered. You should also check to see if hereditary and congenital conditions are considered pre-existing conditions under your policy.

Continuing coverage for chronic or long-term conditions. If your pet is treated for a covered condition during the policy term, some companies will consider that condition a pre-existing condition when the policy renews and will exclude coverage or charge a significantly higher premium for that condition in the renewal policy.

Exclusions. Treatments not covered by pet insurance can vary by type of pet or breed. Not all pet insurance plans cover preventative care, dental care not associated with an accident or injury, or treatment of behavioral problems.

Reimbursement. The insurance company will either reimburse you for a set percentage of your bill or use a benefit schedule to determine payment. Make sure you understand how the policy makes payments. Most pet insurance policies require you to first pay the veterinarian out of your own pocket, and then file a claim with the insurance company to be reimbursed directly.

Choosing your Veterinarian. Most pet insurance providers permit you to visit any licensed veterinarian, including general, specialist, and emergency veterinarians. You should check whether your policy allows this, or whether it requires you to stay within a certain veterinarian network.

Have you bought pet health insurance for your furry family member(s)? Tell us about it in our discussion forum!

Related posts:

1. Elvis the Cat: Which Pet Health Insurance Plan Would Make Sense for You?
2. Elvis The Cat: Tips on Buying Pet Health Insurance
3. Elvis the Cat: Is Your Pet’s Health Insurance Right For Your Pet?
4. Elvis the Cat: Is Your Pet’s Health Insurance Right For Your Pet?
5. Elvis the Cat: FDA Issues Warning on Buying Pet Drugs Online