| |
Pet Health Insurance
By Stephen Pratley
When a pet is injured or ill, you may experience natural feelings of concern, as you would with other family members. Like children, they depend on you for everything from food to providing a regular trip to the vet. Taking good care of your pet is not as easy as many people think. A well chosen pet health insurance policy alleviates the worry by providing affordable care.
Policy Coverage
The pattern of consumption of health care services for a pet differs from human health care. Pet health insurance policies principally cover household pets such as dogs and cats and some policies even offer cover for horses. Specialist providers cover other animals including cows, pigs, goats, mice, rabbits and others. The cost of each policy differs according to the type of animal and your specific requirements.
In general, pet insurance provides wide ranging cover that usually includes up to £6000 vet fees per condition, emergency boarding fees, cost of recovering stolen pets and third party liability up to around £2 million. Lower cost programs typically cover up to 25% of the cost of major surgery and other services such as X-rays, MRI and other high cost diagnostic tests. Pet health insurance policies are principally designed to cover accident and illness however some also cover routine medical expenses such as preventative vet visits, worming and shots.
Common Exclusions
Pre-existing conditions and congenital disorders such as epilepsy or untreated hip dysphasia are likely to be excluded. So, insuring your pet at the early stages - as early as 6-8 weeks of age - will usually prove to be more cost effective.
Cover for Major diseases
If Bonzo develops arthritis or another significant condition requiring ongoing treatment, the better policies will usually allow you to claim up to £2000 annually. Naturally, the cost coverage for major treatments depends upon the cover you choose.
Caps and Excesses
Caps determine the total amount payable by the insurer per claim and, in some cases, annual basis. The excess is the amount you are expected to contribute towards each claim. Some policy excesses are annual: once you have paid the excess, any further claims are fully covered by the insurer. Others require you to contribute towards each claim. You should therefore select a decent insurer with affordable premiums balanced with your exposure in terms of caps and excesses.
Key factors to consider
There are therefore many factors to consider when choosing pet insurance.
• Get a quote as per your needs and carefully compare the prices, terms and conditions of each policy provider.
• Consider your financial exposure in terms of any excess payable.
• Choose the cover and premium level according to the type, age and condition of your pet. Consider any financial caps carefully.
Conclusion
Veterinary science continues to advance, finding treatments and cures for many of the major diseases. But this comes at a significant price. Some household pets suffer without proper care, because their owners cannot afford to pay for their medical treatment. Pet insurance policies can protect owners from unexpected vet bills, ensuring good health for the pet and peace of mind for the owner.
About the Author
Stephen Pratley is Marketing Manager at ipoints
ipoints has partnered with some of the UK's leading providers of pet health insurance, allowing you to earn ipoints with your policies. Find out more and Earn Loyalty points on Pet Insurance
ipoints is the largest Internet-based rewards programme in the UK with over 1 million UK members and works with more than 200 major clients both online and offline.
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/34860.html
| If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/34860.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
| Some other articles by Stephen Pratley | Comparing Credit Card APRs
Summary
Making an informed decision when choosing a credit card can be a bit of a challenge: there are so many tempting offers. Some insights into the card's features and the ...
|
|
| |
|
