Purchasing pet insurance can be a tricky process. With so many policies available to pet parents, it can be difficult to know which is best suited to your furry friend’s unique needs and circumstances. Fortunately, it is easy to pick the perfect policy by keeping these five things in mind while shopping for and researching coverage options:
The Best Policy is Not Always the Cheapest
It’s easy to be tempted into bargain shopping. Pet parents are often lulled into purchasing the policy with the lowest premium, only to find out down the road that it doesn’t include any of the care that their pet requires. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to avoid. While it’s wonderful to find a cheap policy, pet parents would be better served by shopping based on benefits rather than costs. Look out for policies that cover the care your pet actually needs and shop among them rather than just comparing prices.
Pet Insurance Policies Are Subject to a Variety of Terms
Like most insurance, pet insurance is seldom straightforward. Because of this, pet parents should dedicate some time to reading and understanding the terms and policies of a specific insurance plan before purchasing it. Doing this can often save pet parents the burden of realizing once their pet has been hurt or becomes ill, that their insurance policy does not cover that unique condition or that benefits have been barred because of the pet’s age or location. If, after reading the exclusions and policies, you still have questions about the potential coverage, contact the company directly.
Many Pet Insurance Policies Will Not Cover Pre-Existing Conditions
Although it can be tempting to wait to purchase pet insurance until you really need it, this is a dangerous approach. Because many pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions or illnesses, pet parents who don’t purchase coverage until their pet becomes sick may find themselves without any financial help whatsoever. Rather than waiting until your pet becomes ill or too old to purchase a policy, shop around for coverage when your pet is perfectly healthy. In addition to guaranteeing a lower premium, this approach will also ensure that your pet has coverage when he or she truly needs it.
Not Every Plan Covers Each State
Imagine purchasing a pet insurance plan only to find that it doesn’t actually cover the state in which you live. While this is unlikely, it is possible, and it’s worth paying extra attention to this when shopping for pet insurance policies. If you have any doubt about whether or not your state is covered by the plan, contact the company directly for further clarification.
Most Plans Have Enrollment Ages
To make pet insurance as effective and fair as it can be, most policies require an enrollment age. This is the minimum and maximum age your pet can be before being enrolled in health insurance. Ranges vary depending upon species and breed.
When pet parents do their research beforehand, it is much easier to find the perfect pet insurance policy to protect their furry friends. Here are pet insurance policies recommended by LovePets.
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