Elvis The Cat: Tips on Buying Pet Health Insurance

Since most of us consider our pets to be members of the family, we’re continuing to cover highlights from the wonderful world of pet health insurance and how to pay for pet medical care, and today we wanted to point you to a list of tips put together by the Illinois Department of Insurance to help pet owners when they are trying to buy pet health insurance for their pets.

None of it should be a surprise to anyone who has bought health insurance for themselves or a family member lately, but we applaud the Illinois Department of Insurance for putting it all together for pet owners in one place. In particular, we like the list of options and questions to ask your insurance agent before you buy a pet health insurance policy:

Review Your Options and Compare Benefits Among Policies.

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.

Ask Your Insurance Agent or Company to Explain Plan Details.

Can I choose any vet?

What is and is not covered? Remember the general four categories of coverage (accident, illness, wellness and additional benefits).

Is there a per-incident limit for accidents or illnesses?

Are there annual or lifetime limits?

Will I be reimbursed by a certain percentage amount or according to a benefit schedule?

Is there a waiting period before coverage becomes effective?

If my pet has a pre-existing condition or chronic condition, how is that covered or excluded?

Does the policy have continuous coverage for long-term conditions?

How long does the company take to pay claims?

From the Illinois Department of Insurance Tips for Buying Pet Health Insurance

You can also find other handy tips on buying pet health insurance from the Illinois Department of Insurance here: Illinois Department of Insurance Facts for Buying Pet Health Insurance

Elvis Gives the Illinois Department of Insurance a Thumbs Up!

Do you buy pet health insurance for your pets? Tell us about it!

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1. Elvis The Cat: Should We Regulate Pet Health Insurance?
2. Healthcare Reform: No Surprise, Health Insurance Companies Fight Covering Children with Pre-Existing Conditions
3. Reminder: Short-Term Health Insurance is only for the Short-Term!
4. What is a Pre-existing Condition? And How Can I Get Health Insurance if I Have a Pre-Existing Condition?
5. Healthcare Reform: Ohio Receives $152 Million To Start Interim High-Risk Health Insurance Pool for Ohioans with Pre-Existing Conditions