Sunday, September 12, 2010

By Coleen Smith

Your furry, beloved one is not guaranteed to always remain healthy. One good way to make sure that you won't have to make difficult decisions in the future is to buy pet health insurance now. You can prepare for the unexpected with a low cost pet insurance policy, especially if you know what to look for.

There are numerous considerations that you want to make when opting to buy coverage for your pet. If you have a long standing relationshop with your pet's veterinarian, this is especially true. You'll want to make sure that you can still stay with the same vet even though your payment method is different. Knowing what to ask before you buy in can save you stress, hassle and yes, money as well.

It is important to know which insurance your current veterinarian is able to accept. You should speak with both your veterinarian and any insurer that you might be considering. Your veterinarian might also be able to refer you to a pet insurance company. He probably has a pretty good idea of what is covered under the different policies and how that matches up with your pet's health needs.

Any pre-existing condition that your dog or cat has should be discussed before you choose a provider. You need to know what will and won't be covered if you buy an insurance policy from this company. Many pet insurance policies exclude pre-existing conditions altogether. This means that new problems will be covered, but continued treatment of a health problem that your pet already has will not be covered. Better yet, if your pet is young and you don't think he needs insurance yet, don't wait. Get the policy before he develops any ongoing health problems.

The same is also true for a chronic or recurring condition. Even if you have had no prior notice that such a condition existed, some policies may pay only for the first or first several visits related to the same issue. While your animal may not have shown evidence of a recurring condition, it is important that you find an insurer that will offer continuous coverage on fair terms should such a condition arise.

Financial stability and reputation are important too. After all, you want a company that's still going to be in business when and if you have a claim. If you were not able to get a referral from a trusted veterinarian you can also try asking around. Try family, friends and co-workers. Maybe employees at the local pet store will be able to offer information about one or more insurance companies. You are looking for a policy that covers the cost you're likely to incur at the best possible price.

Online ratings and reviews also provide a fair amount of insight into how well a company performs. This is especially true when it comes to consumer analysis of claim response. Be alert to any problems people have had. Did the insurance company do well even if a pet had extensive health needs? Did they raise the premium after a certain amount of claims were filed?

Choosing the right pet insurance is not always easy, but it is certainly always beneficial. Your cat, dog or bird relies on you for their health care needs for their whole life. Paying a minimal fee now, will spare you the difficulty of having to sudden arrangements in the event of an unforeseen accident or illness.

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