Shopping for pet insurance can be a confusing experience.
Depending the company and what type of plan it is, the type of coverage your pet receives may be different.
The types of conditions or situations that are covered will vary as will the amount of money that the plan will pay.
Injuries are commonly covered by pet insurance plans.
This may include injuries from being hit by a car or eating a foreign object.
Some injuries may not be covered, such as injuries that are deliberately caused by a family member.
Illnesses are also covered by most pet insurance plans.
Typically diagnostic tests will be covered as well as treatment and hospitalization for the illness.
Some plans may also cover medications that are prescribed for your pet.
Medications such as pain relievers and insulin can become expensive, especially if it is a long term medication.
Many plans may not cover medications or may limit the types of medication they cover, such as excluding over the counter medications or routine medications, such as flea and tick preventatives.
Routine care is not covered by all plans.
Routine care consists of routine vet visits, spay or neuter, vaccinations, and flea, tick or heartworm preventatives.
Plans that do cover routine services may limit which services or how much is covered each year.
Dental care may be covered under your policy, but some plans specifically exclude it.
Plans may also limit the types of dental services, such as only covering routine dental cleanings or only including medically necessary dental care.
Plan usually do not cover pre-existing conditions.
Pre-existing conditions usually include any medical issues conditions that existed before coverage was purchased.
In some cases, conditions that were covered may become pre-existing when the plan renews.
Plans may also specifically limit coverage for certain common medical needs, such as pregnancy or hip dysplasia.
In addition to knowing what types of vet costs your plan will cover, it is equally important to know how much they will pay towards the costs.
Plans may have a deductible for the year or per incident.
The plan will not pay for covered services until the deductible is met.
A co-pay or percentage of the total cost may also be required.
Some plans may cover preventative or routine care with no co-pay or deductible.
Different plans may also have different criteria for determining how much they will reimburse for a specific diagnosis or procedure.
Some plans have set rates, while others may pay a percentage of the veterinarian's charge.