Pet Insurance Comparisons - A Step by Step Guide to Getting the Cheapest Pet Insurance?

A question I am often asked is "What is the cheapest pet insurance".

The simple answer is you get what you pay for, but that doesn't mean that you can' get a great deal that suits your budget and gives you the insurance cover you need. Let me explain.

Basing your choice of pet insurance coverage on price alone is a recipe for disaster. Sure you will get cheap monthly premiums but it is simply false economy because you will end up paying for a policy that fails to provide you with enough to pay your vet bill when you need it.

There are ways to swing the odds in your favor so that your monthly premiums are kept at a minimum while you still enjoy a level of coverage that safeguards you against costly veterinary medical bills.

Step 1/.

The first rule in getting a good value pet health insurance policy is to make sure you get five very important medical conditions included in your policy.

These are a must:

Coverage for Chronic disease Continual coverage for chronic disease Coverage for Hereditary/congenital conditions Cancer Coverage Coverage for Breed specific conditions

Why do you need these inclusions?

If you do not include these five essentials in your pet insurance plan, you are wasting your money because without them you will not be fully protected.

These pet medical conditions can and probably will affect your pet during its lifetime and each of them is singularly difficult and expensive to treat.

A handful of good pet insurance companies provide cover for these elements in their baseline plan. Others have them as add-ons for which you pay extra and yet others do not include them at all.

Here is a short list of some of the Pet Health Insurance Companies that include the five conditions in their baseline policy.

Healthy Paws Trupanion Embrace Purina Care

Step 2/.

OK then. So we have identified a few insurance providers with have these important medical conditions included in their baseline plan. The next step is to look at their price to see how their premiums compare. The baseline premiums will likely range from around $5 per month to $15 per month. This is their starting point however there are other factors that will affect the monthly premiums such as the coverage levels you choose, your breed of animal, your pet's age, your location and so on.

Generally speaking you should expect to pay from $15 to $40 per month, or even more if you select a premium plan.

Step 3/.

This is the part where I teach you how to save money on your monthly premiums.

Most pet health insurance companies base their pricing structure on a few factors.

For example:

What's Covered What's not Covered (exclusions) Maximum Payout Deductibles Co-Pay

It's the last two I want to focus on for now.

Deductible is the amount of the veterinary bill you must pay before the insurance company starts paying. Co-Pay is the percentage of covered expenses that you must pay after the deductible is met.

You can raise or lower the amount you pay monthly by adjusting the levels of these two elements. In other words, if you choose a higher deductible or co-pay, you will lower your monthly premium but your out of your pocket expenses for medical treatment will be higher.

On the other hand, a low deductible or co-pay will push up the cost of monthly premiums but your out of your pocket expenses will be reduced.

This is a bit of a balancing act so here's a couple of things to ask yourself that will help you arrive at the right balance that suits your budget and your pet's well being.

Take a moment to think about your pet. How old is he? Does he live indoors or out? Is he a naughty pet that is always getting into mischief? Is the breed susceptible to any hereditary diseases? Is he overweight? Does he have road sense and so on.

By asking yourself these questions you should be able to determine a level of coverage that is affordable, will most likely meet all of your pet's medical needs, and save you money along the way.

Remember:

The higher the deductible and co-pay, the lower your monthly premiums.

The lower the deductible and co-pay, the higher your monthly premiums.

You are much better off to adjust the deductible and co-pay slightly to bring the premium down, than to remove any of the five important coverage elements mentioned above.

Step 4/.

There is one more thing you need to consider: Maximum Payout Structures.

At the high end of the scale, medical costs for serious illness or injury can be as much as 10 or even 20 thousand dollars Since it is impossible to know in advance what injury or illness your pet will suffer, you will want to focus on plans that give you the most flexibility when it comes to Maximum Payouts so you are not left short.

There are a number of 'maximum payout' structures offered by pet insurance companies including

Maximum Payout Per Incident Maximum Payout Per Year Maximum Lifetime Payout Maximum Payout Per Body System Maximum Payout Based on a Predetermined Benefit Schedule Unlimited Maximum Payout

Maximum Payout per Body System and Predetermined Benefit Schedules are not recommended. They will cap how much of your Annual Maximum Payout you can spend on any one illness, accident or injury. Simply avoid them.

Better to go for Maximum Payout Per Year (the 'Maximum Annual Payout' gets reset annually so you will have this amount available to you every year), or Maximum Lifetime Payout (the maximum amount you will be reimbursed during your pet's lifetime).

Let's take a look at some of the leading insurance providers. Embrace Pet Insurance has an annual maximum payout of $15,000. Purina Care insurance, $20,000 per year, and Trupanion insurance $20,000 per year.

* There is one stand out. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance offer an Unlimited Maximum Payout Structure as part of their baseline plan. Not many pet insurance companies offer unlimited payout structures at no extra cost. This is by far the best structure to have particularly if you are considering a plan with lower monthly premiums.

Lastly, you should find out about the reputation of each pet insurance company. There are a few websites that provide Pet Insurance Comparisons and ratings based on actual customer satisfaction reports, real experiences, testimonials, Better Business Bureau Ratings etc. Using the information gathered by these sites will take out a lot of the leg work for you and help you to plot a straight line to the best pet insurance coverage that suits your pocket and the on-going health needs of your pet.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Pet Care Insurance - Put Your Pet First   Cat Health Insurance   Vital Information About Pet Insurance   Understand The Nuts and Bolts of Pet Insurance   

Dog Insurance Cover - Does Dog Insurance Provide Good Value For Money?

Not everyone bothers to take out dog insurance cover for their pet, so I want to examine the main reasons for considering this as an option. Clearly there is an additional cost involved in putting a policy in place, and the whole point of any insurance is to weigh up the cost of the policy against the possible costs if you do not arrange cover. On the one hand of course there is the thought that you might pay for cover throughout the life of your pet and have no reason to make a claim on it. Then the policy can look like a waste of money. On the other hand there are thousands of people each year who make claims on their policies for all sorts of reasons.

Some claims are for relatively small amounts of money, but others can be for very substantial amounts. The point is that it is impossible to know what is going to happen through the course of your pet's life, but there are many things that could happen which would lead to you having to find very large amounts of money. So the question is could you deal with that situation without insurance, and are you prepared to take that risk?

Consider the type of things that could very easily happen over the course of your pet's life that would cost you money. One of the main reasons people take out a policy when they get a pet is to pay for any veterinary fees. You are probably aware that these are not cheap and there are all sorts of reasons that you may require the services of a vet. Dogs can suffer from a huge range of diseases and conditions, just like us and then there are the possibilities of accidents too. If your dog developed an ongoing condition, so that they required treatment on an ongoing basis, the costs of something like that could go on for years and result in a very substantial amount of money.

Some conditions or accidents may need an operation or series of operations to bring your pet back to health. While this may not be an ongoing cost, many fairly common operations can costs thousands. Without insurance, the choice you then have is to try to fund this cost yourself, or not go ahead with something that could either relieve your dog's condition, or even save its life. Most of the time it would only take something fairly minor to come up to make the investment in your dog insurance cover more than worthwhile.

Another element of this type of protection is to pay for any claims against you for injury or damage to property caused by your dog. This is called liability protection and is one of the things that can lead to some of the biggest claims. It is not just disobedient animals that are involved in instances where claims are made against the owner. Your dog biting someone is a fairly obvious example, but what about your dog running into the road and causing a traffic collision. This is very common, but depending on the circumstances the potential claims against you could be enormous. What if there was more than one vehicle involved and one or more people were seriously injured. Could you cover a claim for personal injury and vehicle repairs yourself?

These are the kind of questions you need to ask yourself when considering whether or not to take our dog insurance cover.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Got A Pet? Read Why Pet Insurance Is So Important For Your Pet And Your Finances   Pet Insurance: Little Known Features and Types of Coverage You May Not Know About   

Affordable Dog Insurance - Balancing Affordability Against The Need For Financial Security

The cost of keeping a dog is quite substantial at the best of times if you work out the total cost over the lifetime of your pet, but these can increase astronomically if your dog requires treatment by a vet for illness or injury. The nature of some illnesses, such as arthritis or diabetes is that they are ongoing and therefore require ongoing treatments. This is when the costs can really start to become very substantial, and when having adequate do insurance in place can make an enormous difference to your finances.

The cost of insurances will vary with certain risk factors, as they do for any type of insurance policy. The greater the increased risk of a claim or the likely increased cost, the higher your premiums will be. This can be affected by all sorts of things. Where you live in the country can be a factor, as the bills from vets will be different in different areas. This is one thing that will be taken into consideration when you are making an application for a policy.

Another factor unique to cover for pets is the breed of dog that you want to insure. Again this is ultimately to do with costs, but the fact is that the companies will know from statistical evidence that certain breeds are on average going to cost more in vet bills over the course of the animal's life. For example, it is known that a lot of the larger breed will be more costly, so you are likely to pay higher premiums if you want cover for a St Bernard, Great Dane, a Wolfhoud or Old English Sheepdog.

The main things that will affect the cost of your cover as they type of policy you choose and what you want to have included in it. Other than this, you can obviously save money by comparing quotes from lots of companies to see who is the most affordable. You will also find that by actually buying your policy online you may be able to save quite a lot too. This is because it is cheaper for the insurer to sell you a policy this way, so they can pass on these savings to you.

The cost of any policy is going to vary with the level and type of cover you require. An annual policy will cover you up to certain limits on each area, such as vet fees, and that cover will stop at the end of the policy year. You can opt for lifetime cover which means your pet will be insured throughout its life, but there will still be a maximum limit. Depending on the policy you have, this could either be a maximum amount for each year, which starts again the next year, or it may be a total amount for the policy. Either way, you can claim up to the maximum then the cover stops.

You need to think carefully about the type of policy that is best for you and your pet. Clearly a gold plated life cover is going to cost more, but then if your dog develops an illness that requires expensive ongoing treatment, you are going to be thanking your lucky stars that you had the cover.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Pet Insurance: Little Known Features and Types of Coverage You May Not Know About   Understand The Nuts and Bolts of Pet Insurance   

Arranging A Pet Plan

Everyone loves their pets, so pet insurance is just another way of protecting someone's interests. However, before jumping into buying a big pet plan, people should stop to consider what type of insurance their pet is really eligible for and what type of cover is really needed. When it comes right down to it, pet insurance really breaks down into two different categories.

Professional Animals

Professional animals are the ones who need the most coverage. These are animals who need a lot of insurance in the first place to protect them in the event of injury or illness. Just as a professional singer might insure their voice, the owners of professional animals, show dogs, performing animals, will likely cover, say, a race dog's legs, or even a show dog's teeth.

Of course, the main thing is life insurance for these animals. Life coverage for a performing animal is vitally important as it covers not only the emotional damages of losing a beloved animal, it also covers the loss of income incurred in the event of their passing. It covers the cost of burying the animal as well as buying and training a replacement animal.

When it comes to professional animals, pet plans are there not only to cover the emotional loss, but the practical, financial loss, as well.

Domestic Animals

When it comes to domestic animals, they're looking at much smaller insurance plans, as well as much lower prices. When it comes down to it, a beloved pet may be impossible to replace, emotionally speaking, but financially speaking, the costs are quite a bit lower than when replacing a performing animal.

For instance, a dog that is rescued from the pound doesn't really cost much more than shots, food, training and so on. The eventual cost may be something worth insuring, but it's not likely to be nearly as much as the same costs would be to train a show animal or a racing dog.

In any event, the owner may well want to cover their beloved dog or cat simply to make sure that they can afford them a proper burial, to make sure that they can rescue another animal from the pound without losing any time, and to make sure that they are covered financially in terms of any costs that might be incurred with the loss of their pet.

Losing a beloved animal is never easy, but insuring them should be done from a practical perspective. What are the actual, real costs of losing the animal and replacing the animal? When it comes down to it, insurance isn't really there to cover simply the emotional damages, but the practical costs of losing a beloved part of the family.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Pet Insurance: Little Known Features and Types of Coverage You May Not Know About   Understand The Nuts and Bolts of Pet Insurance   Got A Pet? Read Why Pet Insurance Is So Important For Your Pet And Your Finances   

Taking The Confusion Out Of Choosing Pet Insurance

Anyone who has ever owned a pet has been faced with an unexpected pet health crisis. Standing at the counter at the vet's office with a critically ill animal is not the time to discover that most practices require payment up front to even look at the pet. In today's economy, few people are financially prepared for the high cost of saving a pet's life. Savings accounts can be emptied, credit cards maxed, and entire paychecks spent with just one unexpected pet emergency. Pet health insurance is not just a luxury any longer, it is as necessary as health insurance for humans. Choosing the right plan for your pet can be baffling and overwhelming; luckily there are sites that compare and rate pet insurance options to help make the best decision for your pet's coverage.

There are many companies offering pet insurance; with so many plans available, pet insurance comparisons at a glance are the most helpful tool in aiding your choice. Real life pet insurance reviews can take the guesswork out of your decision.

Questions about your pet health insurance options are endless. You may be wondering if breed specific complications are covered, such as hip dysplasia in german sheperds or respiratory conditions for pugs. Is cancer covered? What about chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure? Are there age requirements to be met? How much will the policy cover in case of an accident or other immediate life-threatening emergency? Are all pet varieties covered, such as rabbits, birds or horses? What about normal well-animal visits; are plans available for spay or neuters, shots, dentistry, and wellness exams?

Researching pet insurance online is a daunting, time consuming task with more questions than answers. Even when the decision is reached, doubts may remain about your choices. It is highly recommended to use sites that compare and rate pet insurance and read pet insurance reviews to avoid unexpected coverage lapses. Most sites will give basic coverage costs at a glance as well.

When choosing a pet health care plan, it is important to understand payment policy. Some veterinarians accept direct payment from the provider, but a lot of them will expect payment up front; the insurance company will then reimburse you the costs incurred. Make sure to call both your regular veterinarian as well as emergency vet clinics in your area to see if they accept the insurance you are considering or will help you file the claim after the visit.

In order to defray costs of deductibles or up front fees, a pet owner should open a savings account just for emergencies involving their pets. A few dollars put into these accounts will add up quickly and help lessen the financial burden of an unexpected vet bill.

Even with a savings account, most people underestimate the costs associated with vet visits. Pet health insurance is a fantastic way to get peace of mind. No one wants to have to use pet insurance, but if you own a pet, chances are at some point you will need to. Researching pet health insurance reviews is a great way to compare companies; real life owners share their experiences with providers so that you can avoid any unpleasant surprises. Using sites that compare and rate pet insurance companies can save much time, aggravation and confusion when making the choice that is best for you and your pet.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Pet Insurance: Little Known Features and Types of Coverage You May Not Know About   Cat Health Insurance   Vital Information About Pet Insurance   

Pet Insurance - Things To Know About Pet Insurance

Being a proud owner of pet can be joy most of time but the medical bills can be expensive at times. The soaring vet bills are often the reason that pet owners worry about especially for old pets. If you are thinking about getting your pets insured you need to ask a few things to before putting your signature on dotted line. Here are few tips on buying the pet insurance.

• Know your pet • Buy the full coverage • Technology coverage like MRI and Scans • Ask the vet for recommendations

The insurance is often based upon the age, health and the life expectancy of the pet. If your pet is in excellent health now and is not having any particular problems or is not a rare breed, chances are you might be able to obtain the reasonable quote for the insurance.

The rising cost of the pet health care often takes three figures quite easily. The estimated cost of pet care for life time is often estimated at average of $2000 to $4000 these days. Reading the details of coverage is a great idea that might help you determine the real cost that might be taken by you. If your insurance company is not paying for some common disease of your pet then you should try to find another instead.

Similarly the pet care should be taken the recommendation of your vet in deciding for the insurance too. They are often more familiar to the basics of the insurance plan for pet and can give you some good tips on that as well. One very important thing to ask the insurance experts about which doctor they have on the list. If the treatment is not satisfactory, or the company is cutting corners at that you better find some other one.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Pet Insurance: Little Known Features and Types of Coverage You May Not Know About   Understand The Nuts and Bolts of Pet Insurance   

The Importance of Pet Insurance or an Alternative

It would be hard to underestimate the love some of us have for our pets. They are there for us because we are there for them and as a result they can become some of our most rewarding relationships. They remind us that it is incredibly important to care about things other than ourselves for a healthy emotional life. Not only that, they are a huge source of fun. Whether frolicking in the park with your beloved puppy or playing fun head games with your feline friend and a laser pointer, there are a lot of fun times that pets are prepped to provide. Caring for a pet can be trying. They take time to learn just like all of us but language barriers and socialized disparity between their animal instincts and what we expect of them can make this process trying. We make do though, because we realize they need a little extra patience and care.

These animals need other kinds of care sometimes as well. Pet health insurance or an alternative to pet insurance can be very helpful when owning a pet leads to frequent vet visits and a possible need for more troublesome medical procedures. A friend recently introduced me to their tiny pup named Boddie. He was a boisterous little dog and seemed incredibly healthy yet still I couldn't help but ask, was there dog insurance in the picture. Was there some alternative to dog insurance in the picture. What would happen to little Boddie if he got worms or he fell off a high surface in my friend's home. It is enough to worry you sick.

There is a ton of trouble a tiny little dog can get into, it is part of their nature to explore and be brave, sometimes that leads to bad things happening. Affordable pet insurance or some form of it can be a great safe guard against healthy happy dog behavior. You never want to be so controlling and nervous about potential veterinary costs that you would stifle your pet, but you do want to know that in case of an emergency they will be okay. Insurance for dogs and other pets can help make things easier on the whole family.

Being a pet owner comes with a lot of responsibility, it also comes with a sense that you and your beloved pet's time together is finite. That the end is inevitable should not get in the way of you truly enjoying your pet. Pet insurance or some alternative offers you peace of mind and a great cushion should things get rough.

Dog Insurance For Life: Is Lifetime Dog Insurance The Best Value?   Some Reasons Why You Should Consider Getting Pet Insurance   Pet Insurance: Little Known Features and Types of Coverage You May Not Know About   Vital Information About Pet Insurance