What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is a type of insurance policy that can help pet owners pay for the cost of veterinary care if their pet becomes sick or injured. Also known as pet health insurance or pet medical insurance, these policies provide financial security and peace of mind by limiting pet owners' financial risk caused by unexpected vet bills.
Pet insurance can provide valuable financial security for future visits to the emergency vet — which costs between $800 and $1,500 on average but can easily add up to $5,000 or more. Such an expensive and unexpected bill can present a significant financial burden for many pet parents, forcing them to question whether they can afford their pet's critical care. Pet insurance can provide valuable peace of mind by knowing if your beloved companion ever gets sick or injured, the cost of treatment will never stand in the way of their access to care.
No pet insurance company will cover a pre-existing condition, so it's important to enroll before any issues arise. The best time to enroll is right now. It is never too soon.
Pet insurance can help save pet owners money on veterinary care by reimbursing a portion of their eligible expenses. While every policy is different, this is how pet insurance works in most cases:
Pet insurance is generally affordable. The average monthly premium is $29 for a cat and $47 for a dog, but it’s important to recognize that there's a wide range in pricing (many see rates as low as $12/mo, others might see rates as high as $100/mo) depending on a few key factors.
How long does pet insurance take to kick in?
After you purchase insurance, there will be a waiting period in which some coverage is restricted. Waiting periods are determined by the pet insurance company, so it’s important to check before you sign up. Most waiting periods last only 14 days.
Pet insurance is a type of insurance policy that can help pet owners pay for the cost of veterinary care if their pet becomes sick or injured. Also known as pet health insurance or pet medical insurance, these policies provide financial security and peace of mind by limiting pet owners' financial risk caused by unexpected vet bills.
Pet insurance can provide valuable financial security for future visits to the emergency vet — which costs between $800 and $1,500 on average but can easily add up to $5,000 or more. Such an expensive and unexpected bill can present a significant financial burden for many pet parents, forcing them to question whether they can afford their pet's critical care. Pet insurance can provide valuable peace of mind by knowing if your beloved companion ever gets sick or injured, the cost of treatment will never stand in the way of their access to care.
No pet insurance company will cover a pre-existing condition, so it's important to enroll before any issues arise. The best time to enroll is right now. It is never too soon.
Pet insurance can help save pet owners money on veterinary care by reimbursing a portion of their eligible expenses. While every policy is different, this is how pet insurance works in most cases:
- Go to any licensed vet or animal hospital whenever your pet is sick or injured, knowing your out-of-pocket costs will be limited with insurance coverage. Pay the vet bill during your visit at the time of service.
- Submit a claim to your insurance company by mail, app, or online internet browser. Some pet insurance companies may require paperwork or a medical history review to process your claim, so be sure to save all receipts and documentation you receive from your vet appointment.
- Get reimbursed for 70% to 100% of covered expenses (after your deductible is met). On average, policyholders get reimbursed within 5 to 9 days after submitting a claim.
Pet insurance is generally affordable. The average monthly premium is $29 for a cat and $47 for a dog, but it’s important to recognize that there's a wide range in pricing (many see rates as low as $12/mo, others might see rates as high as $100/mo) depending on a few key factors.
How long does pet insurance take to kick in?
After you purchase insurance, there will be a waiting period in which some coverage is restricted. Waiting periods are determined by the pet insurance company, so it’s important to check before you sign up. Most waiting periods last only 14 days.
I'm interested in obtaining pet insurance, where do I start?
We can help with that!
Our clinic offers multiple way to go about this.
Option 1:
Give us a call and set up a healthy pet wellness exam. After your exam, we will walk you through the steps to sign up for Trupanion's Exam Day Offer that provides 30 days of immediate medical coverage for a pet's new, unexpected illnesses and injuries, without any waiting periods, after a recent veterinary exam. This offer is triggered when a pet has had an exam within the last 24 hours, and it allows pet owners to try Trupanion's coverage risk-free for 30 days, with the option to continue coverage afterward.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
In addition to the same day exam coverage that eliminates the need for a waiting period, Trupanion also can do same-day payouts to large emergency clinics if those clinics also work with them. Meaning at an emergency clinic visit, you pay your portion of the bill (typically the exam fees and deductible, and Trupanion will pay the rest of the bill before you even leave the emergency clinic. No more waiting to be reimbursed for an expensive emergency visit.
Option 2:
Research different insurance policies on your own and select one to sign up for.
We can help with your research by utilizing Pawlicy Advisor's insurance company comparison tool.
Click here to access:
Our clinic offers multiple way to go about this.
Option 1:
Give us a call and set up a healthy pet wellness exam. After your exam, we will walk you through the steps to sign up for Trupanion's Exam Day Offer that provides 30 days of immediate medical coverage for a pet's new, unexpected illnesses and injuries, without any waiting periods, after a recent veterinary exam. This offer is triggered when a pet has had an exam within the last 24 hours, and it allows pet owners to try Trupanion's coverage risk-free for 30 days, with the option to continue coverage afterward.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- What it is:
The Exam Day Offer is a promotion from Trupanion that gives pet owners immediate access to their standard policy coverage for 30 days, following a vet visit. - How it works:
When a pet has a recent exam (within 24 hours), Trupanion sends a personalized text or email to the pet owner with an offer for immediate coverage. - No waiting periods:
This offer waives the standard waiting periods for coverage, meaning accidents and illnesses are covered from the moment the offer is activated. - Unlimited payouts:
Trupanion's Exam Day Offer includes unlimited coverage for eligible conditions. - Activation and continuation:
The offer must be activated within 24 hours of the exam, and it provides coverage for 30 days. If the pet owner chooses to continue coverage beyond the 30 days, they can purchase a policy. - No payment information required initially:
Pet owners don't need to provide payment information to activate the offer. - Who is eligible:
Healthy young pets are ideal for this offer, and it's available for pets under 14 years of age who have had a recent vet exam. - What's not covered:
Pre-existing conditions, routine wellness care, exam fees, and sales tax are not covered. - How to get the offer:
Veterinary staff can trigger the offer by clicking a button in their software, which sends the offer to the pet owner via text or email.
In addition to the same day exam coverage that eliminates the need for a waiting period, Trupanion also can do same-day payouts to large emergency clinics if those clinics also work with them. Meaning at an emergency clinic visit, you pay your portion of the bill (typically the exam fees and deductible, and Trupanion will pay the rest of the bill before you even leave the emergency clinic. No more waiting to be reimbursed for an expensive emergency visit.
Option 2:
Research different insurance policies on your own and select one to sign up for.
We can help with your research by utilizing Pawlicy Advisor's insurance company comparison tool.
Click here to access:
Important considerations:
As veterinary medicine becomes more technologically advanced, the cost of care increases. That's because of higher costs associated with the equipment, facilities and training required to provide these higher-quality services. Pet health insurance can help by offsetting some or most of the costs of diagnosing, treating and managing your pet's illness or injury.
Things to consider when choosing an insurance provider:
-Regardless of the insurance provider, your veterinarian should be monitoring the health of your pet as part of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
-An insurance provider should clearly spell out to you the details, including the limitations and exclusions, of coverage for routine and/or wellness care, as well as emergency treatments and conditions that require extensive care. Find out how your premiums will increase as your pet ages or if you make any claims.
-See if there are add-on options to provide any specific coverage you may want, such as dental care or travel insurance.
-Find out how the provider defines and handles pre-existing conditions, including any diseases and conditions your pet has now or had in the past before you bought your insurance plan.
-In some cases, insurance providers will not insure a specific pet or breed of pet, or they may limit the number of pets you can insure, if the pets are considered "high risk."
-Some providers offer pricing discounts for multiple pets.
-All charges, including co-pays, deductibles, add-on charges and other fees, should be clearly explained to you so you fully understand the policy and its limitations.
-You should be allowed to choose the veterinarian who will care for your pet.
-Pet insurance plans are generally reimbursement plans – you pay the bills up front and are reimbursed by the insurance provider. Ask the insurance provider how claims are processed and what the timeframe is for reimbursement.
There's no magic formula to tell you if pet health insurance is right for you and your pet. Talk with our staff about it, and research your options.
As veterinary medicine becomes more technologically advanced, the cost of care increases. That's because of higher costs associated with the equipment, facilities and training required to provide these higher-quality services. Pet health insurance can help by offsetting some or most of the costs of diagnosing, treating and managing your pet's illness or injury.
Things to consider when choosing an insurance provider:
-Regardless of the insurance provider, your veterinarian should be monitoring the health of your pet as part of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
-An insurance provider should clearly spell out to you the details, including the limitations and exclusions, of coverage for routine and/or wellness care, as well as emergency treatments and conditions that require extensive care. Find out how your premiums will increase as your pet ages or if you make any claims.
-See if there are add-on options to provide any specific coverage you may want, such as dental care or travel insurance.
-Find out how the provider defines and handles pre-existing conditions, including any diseases and conditions your pet has now or had in the past before you bought your insurance plan.
-In some cases, insurance providers will not insure a specific pet or breed of pet, or they may limit the number of pets you can insure, if the pets are considered "high risk."
-Some providers offer pricing discounts for multiple pets.
-All charges, including co-pays, deductibles, add-on charges and other fees, should be clearly explained to you so you fully understand the policy and its limitations.
-You should be allowed to choose the veterinarian who will care for your pet.
-Pet insurance plans are generally reimbursement plans – you pay the bills up front and are reimbursed by the insurance provider. Ask the insurance provider how claims are processed and what the timeframe is for reimbursement.
There's no magic formula to tell you if pet health insurance is right for you and your pet. Talk with our staff about it, and research your options.