Expect The Unexpected

As a veterinarian, I know firsthand how expensive health care can be for your pet. We have for ourselves, cars, homes, boats and our two-legged kids, so why not our pets? The same way we cannot predict when an unfortunate event will happen to us or our property, our pets can also get sick unexpectedly.

Everyone knows , and money is tight for almost all of us. For this reason, having pet insurance is important, now more than ever. Unlike where you can be billed, most veterinary clinics require payment at the time of service, which sometimes prevents people from getting their pet the proper care that they need. This is  always hurtful for the owner because as responsible and loving pet parents, most people want to do what is best for their pet, but unfortunately sometimes cannot do so due to financial constraints.

Pet Insurance is offered by a wide range of companies from those where this is their only service, like VPI Pet Insurance, to car insurance companies like Progressive who also cover our furry, feathery and even our scaly friends. Most pet insurance companies reimburse for veterinary costs including vaccines, diagnostics, surgery and chemotherapy and you can receive your claim within 10 days to two weeks and some even offer direct deposit, which alot of people prefer.  The claim form is simple and easy to fill out and needs to be faxed with a copy of your itemized receipt to the insurance company. Just like human health insurance companies, pet insurance companies will not cover pets with pre-existing conditions so it is best to purchase coverage when your pet is still young and healthy, before any medical conditions develop. If you know that your breed of dog or cat is prone to specific health conditions like hip problems, it is best to speak with a representative who will be able to tell you which genetic health issues they cover.

On average, health insurance for your pet can cost anywhere between $20 and $40 per month, which is quite reasonable especially when you consider how high the cost of procedures can be.

Life can be unpredictable and when your pet is faced with a health crisis, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not you can afford to give him the treatment he needs. We love our pets like family, so let's protect them like family and make sure they're covered when you need it most.