Pet Medicine | Pet Health » policies

Choosing the Right Pet Insurance Policies

Rick — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 23:59:54 +0000

Since pets are very vulnerable to diseases of several kinds, the expenses for treatment have been on a steady increase all the time. When the pets are insured properly, the expenses related to the medicine can be met easily without any problems with the costs. Pet insurance is available from various sources with lot of coverage plans and options. Pet insurance is available for injury treatments or sickness, while some plans that come under the category of deluxe plans are devised in such a way that it covers all type of illness. Some plans also offer routine care and examination of the pets. The pet insurance market has grown and become popular to the extent that they even cover dental care, acupuncture treatments and chiropractic care for the pets. Most of the insurance companies cover dogs and cats under the pet insurance plans. Now, a few companies are also offering pet insurance coverage for birds and exotic pets. When insuring pets like iguana, parrots, or potbellied pigs suitable plan and insurance company should be chosen to suit the needs of the pets.

Pet insurance policies or plans are also very similar to the health insurance coverage of human beings. There are limits for coverage, exceptions for pre existing illnesses, deductibles, co-pays etc. Normally pet insurance plans make the owners of the pets to pay the veterinarian bills and care taker bills before receiving any reimbursement. It is advised to avoid insurance companies, which have limited benefits on the pet insurance plans. When the price is set for a certain maximum level, the policy will only allow the pet owner to spend till the set limit regardless of the amount to be paid towards the medical expenses. This plan may entitle the pet owner with a low deductible, but calls for high co-pay, which will be more costly affair in the long run than the high deductibles with low co-pay charges.

Pet insurance information sources:

The best information about pet insurance can be got from the veterinarians. Either they may have the right plan or may recommend a right plan for the pet owner. Internet also can be a good source of information. While researching care needs to be taken to go through the policy of the insurance company regarding exclusion terms and conditions, benefits which can be got out of the insurance policy, their reputation, financial standing, history of disbursing money time taken for processing claims, etc.

There should not be any kind of fixed benefit schedule in the pet insurance policy as it may come with a low deductible and higher co pay costs, which will not be suitable for the pet owner. The policies should cover the diagnostic testing, MRI, Cat scans, X-rays, specialists, cancer treatments, hospitalizations, cost of medicines etc, after hour treatments, etc.

Subasree contributes several informative articles regularly to http://www.petsmixonline.com and http://www.petsmanners.info which have exhaustive resources for pets health, training and their manners.

What is wrong with my hamster?!?

I just cleaned my hamster’s cage last week and I didn’t notice anything but today, my sister decided to play with the hamster and I noticed that the hamster’s face was swollen on the right side, also his left arm was bare, all of his fur was gone there, and a couple of his nails are super long and yellow! I know I should definitely take my hamster to the vet but my parents refuse since the lowest vet hospital we could find was $60 JUST for an appointment then later on medication expenses.. but I am still trying to find a reasonable price vet but for now, I really need to know what’s wrong!

Information:
White Russian Hamster
Had him for about 7 months
Bought him from Pet Co
Also there aren’t that many vets that specialize in Hamsters down where I live.
Right now, I am just guessing it is cancer since cancer is very common in hamsters. The lump around the mouth could be a tumor which may affect his long grown nails because a hamster needs its mouth for grooming. I know this lump is not from a fight because this hamster is a solitary hamster and has never interact with another hamster before. If this is cancer, then the vet suggested me not treat it because it will most likely die in surgery since it is so small.
I haven’t changed his bedding and he never shown any symptoms of an allergic reaction from the bedding. I clean the cage one every two weeks. I don’t know if that is enough but it looks clean and smells fine to me.
I haven’t changed his bedding and he never shown any symptoms of an allergic reaction from the bedding. I clean the cage one every two weeks. I don’t know if that is enough but it looks clean and smells fine to me.

Answer
The most common signs of hamster’s fur problems are: loss of fur, sores, dry, itchy skin, reddened skin. These problems may be caused by tiny skin parasites, allergies, hormonal imbalance or improper diet. Hamster having an allergy can be one of the most common reasons for hamster fur loss. Cedar Shavings can cause allergic reactions. Pine shavings are preferable to cedar but paper based shavings are the best used. A hamster may become allergic to certain foods. It is important to consider if anything was changed to the hamster’s diet, location, or routine which could have caused the hamster the allergic reaction.

Wood shavings as bedding can be replaced with tissue paper to establish if the bedding material is the cause of the allergy. Feeding the hamster a plain diet for a few days may establish if the hamster is suffering from a food allergy. When you establish what is the source of allergy that is making the hamster losing fur, the remove the source immediately.

Also, a skin reaction can be caused from high temperatures. The right room temperature for a hamster should be 65 ° F / 18° C and 80°F / 26°C.

I hope he gets better! ):

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Pet Insurance Policies Choosing The Right One

Rick — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:49:53 +0000

Pet insurance information sources:

Learn about types of guinea pigs and guinea pig facts at the Guinea Pig Breeds site.

Is it bad to purchase pet meds on-line?

My vet warned me against buying my dog’s heart worm medication on the internet stating that companies don’t offer warranties for meds bought on-line and for that reason I risk getting counterfeit meds. I can’t find anything on the company’s website. Has anyone seen any definitive information about this?

Answer
I’ve worked at a vet clinic for many years, and have discussed this issue with many of the drug reps that come through. The reason vets warn you about getting these medications online is the fact that you don’t know exactly where the medications are coming from. The companies that supply and manufacture the medications, such as Merial which supplies Frontline and Heartgard, do not supply medications to these online pharmacies. Most of the online pharmacies get the medications from Australia or other countries not under FDA jurisdiction. Most of the time they are essentially the same product, sometimes, however, the medications are counterfeited, or even expired. Because these medication are acquired by loop holes and semi illegal means, the companies will not back the product. If your dog has a severe reaction, or comes up heartworm positive, the company will not reimburse you, nor pay for any of your vet bills since it can’t be proven that it is their product.

Is every medication ordered through online pharmacies counterfeit or expired? No, most of them, while illegitimately acquired, are legitimate medications. That statistic, however, doesn’t help when it’s your animal that dies or is otherwise affected by that small percentage of bad medications. A lot of vet clinics will try to match the prices of pharmacies like 1800petmeds, as long as the price they are selling it for is not less than what we actually pay for the medication. Because 1800petmeds uses a huge warehouse, they are no as affected by price increases as vet clinics, who have a limited stock space. When the company increases it’s price, vet clinics have to pass that increase down to the client, while an online pharmacy with thousands of boxes sitting in a warehouse can wait a few months to raise prices. These price increase times are often when you see the crazy savings offered by the pharmacies. During regular flat rate times, however, the prices charged by pharmacies and vets are very close to one another.

Bottom line, it’s up to you whether or not to risk it. We have many clients who have used online pharmacies for years with no problems at all. We have had one client who had a dog that came up heartworm positive while on prevention. Honestly, it could have been improper use of the medication, or it could have been a bad batch from the online pharmacy, either way he out was over six hundred dollars in treating the dog. So, it is a rare occurrence, but it is always a possibility. If you do decide to order from an online pharmacy, be smart about it. Inspect the package for anything that looks suspicious, keep a close eye on the expiration date, and watch your animal very carefully for any reactions. Also, don’t be afraid to ask your vet to match prices, the worst they can do is say no.

Hope this helps.

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Pet Insurance Know What Different Policies Mean and Read Tips on How to Choose a Cheap Policy

Rick — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 05:27:12 +0000

Every time the pet owners have the same question: Do I really need to buy insurance for my pet. Consider this: Vet’s fees in the recent times have risen so much; you may as well pay your mortgage. Fixing a cat’s broken leg, for example, can cost £825. Surgery for a dog that has eaten something dangerous can cost £1,500.
Let’s not forget the impact all this will have on you and your family.(Kid’s especially are attached to the pet and can’t bear to see their dog limping!)

Its not just the injuries which are covered by pet insurance but nowadays all sorts of weird and wonderful eventualities are taken care by pet insurance. For e.g. if your cat is stolen, some providers will pay out the cost of advertising and a reward, or even cover the cost of your holiday if you can’t go because your pet’s ill. It is up to you to choose which type of covers suit your circumstances and then buy.

You may try this reasoning that there is no need to buy pet insurance and it’s better to put some money aside for any kind of potential pet emergency However, there are two main dangers to consider here: first, you’ll be stuck if an expensive problem arises before you’ve built much cash up, and second, your pet won’t be covered for public liability, so if it runs into the road and causes an accident, and the drivers sue, you’ll be liable for the cost .

While the focus of this article is cats and dogs, we also have riders who may be interested in buying insurance for their horses. Horse insurance policies are different than cats and dogs so check before buying. Being the owner of a horse you should be aware that in the sad case of a death of your horse, its disposal can be expensive. Also having a cover which pays towards the cost of repair or replacement of lost or damaged saddlery and tack can be a good thing. You may compare various horse insurances at website mentioned below.

In all cases make sure you check the excess to be paid by the policyholder (you).
Now let’s talk about tips on how to choose pet insurance
It can be a daunting task to choose the right insurance policy given the number of companies out there, but if you do it in a step wise manner it should be a breeze.
1.Start by comparing the price.
2.Consider the policy excess
3.Are you getting lifelong cover?
4.Think about other benefits
5.Read the small print

COMPARE THE PRICE
Obviously, the cost of pet insurance is an important consideration. But different insurers have different ways of setting the price, so always get a quote for your specific circumstances to compare between insurers.

CONSIDER THE EXCESS
There are a number of ways some providers save themselves money when it comes to paying out claims. One of these is by including a high excess on their policies.

The excess is the amount that you have to pay each time you have to claim for a certain condition, so choosing a cheaper product with a higher excess could actually end up costing you money.

ARE YOU GETTING LIFELONG COVER
You should check carefully what you are being offered by pet insurers and understand clearly what they mean by ‘lifelong cover’. Understanding lifelong cover can be complicated, but here are a few simple guidelines on the types of cover generally available…

Time capped cover
Some plans (often at the cheaper end of the spectrum) will only cover a condition for the first year you claim.
E.g :If your pet developed arthritis, you might be able to claim up to £2500 for the first year’s treatment, but no more. You would then have to cover the cost of treatment every year yourself, for the rest of your pet’s life.

Financially capped cover
Some insurers call their financially capped cover ‘lifelong cover’. In this case, an insurer will pay out each year, but only up to a fixed total amount for each condition. After that, they will stop paying.
E.g :If your pet developed diabetes and you had a policy that was financially capped at £3,000, you may need to claim £2,000 in the first year. By year two, the amount you can claim for treatment of the diabetes is now just £1,000. After this, you would have to pay for the treatment for the rest of your pet’s life.

Lifelong cover
The best pet insurance is cover that pays for treatment up to a certain amount, every year, for as long as your pet needs treatment.
E.g :If your pet were to develop epilepsy and your policy covers up to £3,000 every year, you could claim for treatment up to this limit each year for the rest of your pet’s life.

Remember to compare these policies with your personal needs and circumstances.

ADDITIONAL COVER TYPES
Although veterinary fee cover is the key element of pet insurance, most insurers offer a range of additional benefits. These can include cover for:
‘ The cost of advertising and reward to recover your pet should it go missing;
‘ The cost of looking after your pet if you have to stay in hospital;
‘ The purchase price of your pet if it is lost or passes away;
‘ The cost of your pet causing damage for which you are legally liable.
‘ There are many more benefits available aside from these, so read through the full list of benefits to make sure the cover you have is right for you.
Have a go through these covers and think which is applicable to your circumstance or future.If are not the travelling types and have no intention of travelling outside the country with your pet there is hardly any point buying a pet travel cover , is it?

READ THE SMALL PRINT
It’s annoying having to read the tiny details about a policy. But all insurance plans have terms and conditions to make clear what is covered and what is not.
Once you’ve decided which cover suits you, price comparison site petsinsurancecompare has a pet insurance comparison service detailing different cover levels for cats ,dogs and horses. Unfortunately this only covers a limited number of providers but it’s still a good start as it produces a cheap benchmark price.

The author has an expert knowledge about various types of pet insurance policies of UK.She has listed out a throughly researched comparison of various cats ,dogs and horse insurance policy fees for the UK at www.petsinsurancecompare.com

What is the best pet insurance company?

I have a one year old border terrier and he is currently registered with Petplan pet insurance,however the monthly premiums are quite high. My dog is on the covered for life policy and petplan will pay the vets bills direct.
I want to know if there are any other cheaper insurance companies who will pay the vet directly if there are any bills and also who will pay the cost of any medical treatment for life rather than just a year.

Answer
The following website doesn’t review all pet insurance carriers, but it’s a good start:

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How to Compare Pet Insurance Policies

Rick — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:23:46 +0000

Pet insurance is a relatively new concept and pet insurance plans came into existence approximately 20 years ago. Ever since, the pet care industry is growing at a steady pace. Millions of people in America own pets and spend a considerable amount of money on pet care. Vet bills, routine checks, diseases and liability suits concerning pets can burn a huge hole in your pocket. A safe way out would be to get pet insurance to banish your worries. This way at least you can be somewhat tension free knowing that your pet’s needs would be provided for in case of an emergency.

If you’re looking for cheap pet insurance, you’ll have to compare pet insurance quotes from different companies. When comparing pet insurance policies there are a number of options you’ll have to consider like deductibles, coverage, limits etc. The cheapest pet insurance policy is not necessarily the most viable one. A cheap pet insurance plan more often than not means that you have to compromise on coverage.

So, what’s the best pet insurance plan for you depends on your financial condition and the needs of your pet. So, how do you go about getting affordable pet insurance as well as adequate coverage? Well, you’ll have to make a comparison of pet insurance companies and the plans that they offer.

How to Compare Pet Insurance Companies

Before investing in low cost pet insurance make a pet health insurance comparison of a minimum of 5 quotes from different companies. This should give you a reasonable idea of the kind of options you have. Here is a list of things to consider while comparing pet insurance plans.

Obviously, the price of the policy is going to be your main deciding factor. So, compare the quotes offered by different companies. The coverage is the next thing to consider and is perhaps even more important than the price. You may invest in a cheap pet insurance policy but if it doesn’t cover a condition specific to your pet, it will be a waste of money.

Most pet insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Most pet owners seek coverage for vet bills and routine wellness checks. Check if the policy offers additional benefits like vaccination and sterilization. If your pet is young and would need sterilization in the not-to-distant future, this is something you’ll have to look into.

Another important consideration in pet health insurance comparison is whether there is any age limit. Most insurers will insure a pet after 8 weeks of birth and up to 8 years. Others have no upper age limit but will charge hefty premiums for older pets. Also check whether the policy offers discount pet insurance in case of multiple pets. Examine each policy for conditions that will not be covered. Every policy has an exclusion list that includes specific diseases, ailments and conditions.

Once you settle on an insurer, ensure that he is licensed to practice in your state. You can check with the State Insurance Licensing agency to confirm. Another significant factor to be taken into account is the claims procedure. Most insurance companies settle claims expediently but some have long-drawn claims procedures. You don’t want to make several calls before you finally claim your money.

So, before you invest in a cheap pet insurance plan, check out reviews of pet insurance plans over the internet. This will save you a great deal of time as well as money. Besides, you’ll be making an informed decision about which insurance policy is most fitting for your pet and your pocket.

Pamella Neely writes about how to start a dog walker business, including how to get dog walker insurance and write a dog walking business plan.

I want to start selling pet insurance. How do I find a company I can apply for a contract with?

Im a licensed insurance agent and want to expand my lines of business. Being the animal lover that I am, I want to provide health insurance to pet owners.

Answer
Are you currently appointed with MetLife Auto & Home?
They have an arrangement with a pet insurance provider.
Ask your MetLife marketing rep in your state or start by going to this website www.metlifepets.com
I’m sure you need to be appointed with MetLife.
I may be wrong, but I think most other providers of pet health insurance just market directly to the public and have no agents.

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Pet Health Insurance Policies

Rick — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:40:09 +0000

Recent advances in scientific research have supplied pet owners with the way to now save their darling family pets from wounds and diseases that would have caused the pet to be euthanized in the not so distant past.

The distressing news is that once the inconceivable occurs and a pet’s life hangs in the balance most pet possessors discover that they’re not able to afford the frequently astonishing cost of the treatments which may range from $3000-$10000 and some times even more, and are forced to euthanize their pets anyhow. It’s in these cases that pet possessors wish they had the foresight to buy a pet health insurance policy. Pet health insurance is akin to human health insurance.

Owners who buy pet health insurance do so for a diversity of reasons. They may be fascinated by the thought that they’ll be able to economise on their pet’s yearly jaunt to the veterinary surgeon or they may simply be concerned that if a life-threatening health crisis arises they will not be capable of paying for the treatment. Pet owners may choose from an assortment of plans such as pet fatality/mortality insurance, major medical insurance, and basic medical insurance (insurance policy names might alter from company to company.) A lot of pet healthcare insurance companies offer a diversity of extra riders to complement the pet healthcare insurance scheme.

Mortality/fatality pet insurance is akin to human life insurance. The owner pays a premium each month the pet is alive, in the case of its demise the owner is reimbursed a preset sum of money. Although the mortality insurance policy doesn’t take the hurt out of losing a loved household pet it could help with any extra medical bills that are accrued at the close of your pet’s lifespan.

Basic medical health insurance generally covers veterinary surgeon expenses such as accidents, non-elective operations, hospital care, and sicknesses. One popular insurance firm extends a scheme that pays from cuts to cancer up to a thousand dollars; most pet owners employ this scheme for emergencies only. Pet possessors are advised to buy a pet healthcare insurance policy plan as early in their pet’s life as practicable. Numerous insurance firms and vets call attention to the fact that most freak accidents occur in the earlier years of a pet’s lifetime. Owners had better be mindful that most pet health insurance plans don’t cover genetic dis-orders that arise in certain breeds and a few of the costlier surgeries. Most insurance plans likewise won’t touch pre-existent conditions.

Horse owners might need to look at buying a loss of use insurance policy for their horses. A loss of use policy antes up if the horse is wounded so severely it’s no longer fit to be ridden or bred, but isn’t so seriously hurt to warrant euthanizing the beast.

Discover more about protecting your pet at pet health insurance

What should I know so that I can choose between a high deductible or a low deductible in pet health insurance?

Answer
The deductible you choose will depend on your own financial position. If you are looking for the policy as a way to cover large expenses (cancer, broken bones, surgeries, etc.) and are able to pay for smaller veterinary fees then you may want to choose a higher deductible. A higher deductible will also help lower your premium. If you are wanting the policy to help out with all of your vet bills, a lower deductible would be a better option.

Also, keep in mind that some plans have deductibles that are yearly and some that are per-incident. With a yearly deductible, once you reach that amount – you won’t have to pay any more. With a per-incident plan your deductible is applied to each incident.

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