Well, you have finally got your degree and can live on your own. That sounds great until you realize the responsibility you have and, that your new roomie is furry. The only thing that remains to be mentioned is that your new roomie is the best room companion you could have ever thought of. However, unfortunately, there is nothing you can do if your pet falls ill because unlike a car, you cannot scrap it and use its parts in order to fix the situation. You need some kind of a shield because sometimes veterinary costs might really ruin your budget.
Consider your pet insurance as the protection from the instant noodle diet for next three months. It is a monthly fee which keeps you away from a shock of the $4000 bill in the future. You might be tempted to miss the payments, but they are definitely cheaper than the money you would have earned by selling your PlayStation console. Just take it as an expense, please.
The first point you should pay attention to is the amount of the deductible and its way of calculating. In most cases, you prefer an annual deductible rather than a deductible per condition in order to save some money. If your deductible is recalculated each time your dog bites your socks, you will go bankrupt very soon. You should choose the deductible amount which you can pay in case of an accident.
Secondly, consider the reimbursement percentage because it is very important. In most cases, pet insurances provide reimbursement from 70% to 90%. It is proportional to the price of the plan, but it is very helpful in case of the five-digit price. At least 80% is recommended.
Mind the reimbursement model because some companies are very lazy to pay the money back to you. First, you will have to pay the bill of your pet’s doctor and then wait while they send the money back. Sometimes it takes a lot of time if you have no credit card with a high credit line. Ask if there is any possibility of the direct pay options, but you won’t be lucky most of the time.
There is a terminology such as accident-only and accident-plus-illness plans and, of course, you should choose the second one. Accident-only plan is very cheap, but it is completely useless in case of your pet’s illness. Do not forget that you should protect yourself from the expenses related to the illnesses of your pet which is very possible. Forget the cheap solutions and protect your family.
Be careful about the wellness plans because they are a marketing trick which increases the cost of your pet insurance. It covers only the routine procedures, such as vaccination. It is much cheaper to pay for them yourself – about fifty dollars a month. It is better to get an insurance covering only the emergencies because they are very expensive.
Pay attention to the waiting periods for your pet’s protection because you should understand when you can use them. There is the fourteen-day waiting period in case of accident and the longer period in case of knee problems. If your puppy broke his leg the day after you bought the insurance, you will be very disappointed in the service.
Be careful about the exceptions regarding the pre-existing conditions because they will try to deny your possibility to receive any coverage. If your cat was limping three years ago, there is a high possibility that they will not cover it anymore. There are companies which are stricter than others, but you should investigate their reputation. You should choose the company that treats you properly.
One of the companies with a good reputation in the field is Lemonade and Healthy Paws. Embrace can be chosen in case you prefer flexible approaches for your special pet. You should not consider the services provided by no-name companies from weird websites with cheap insurance policies. You should use only reliable brands in order to avoid scamming in case of an emergency.
Finally, I understand that the information is boring for you. But remember that your pet depends on you only and he or she cannot get a job in order to contribute to your budget. It is the perfect time to buy the insurance for your pet because he or she is still young and healthy.