Saturday, March 15, 2008

Tips To Get the Best Deal on Pet Insurance

You love your pet and are looking to buy a Pet Insurance program to head off nasty veterinarian bills in the future.

There are a few things you should know before you start looking at Pet Insurance Policies. Certain things can affect the price of the policy you buy.

  1. Get quotes from 2-3 Pet Insurance Providers, never go with the first quote.
  2. There are different types of policies make sure you compare apples to apples.
  3. The breed of your pet can influence your Pet Insurance Premiums - some breeds are more prone to disease and illness.
  4. The age of your pet plays a roll in your Pet Insurance Premiums - the younger the pet, the better the rate you will get.
  5. Basic plans cover accidents only, not veterinary check-ups or surgeries, make sure you get a list of whats covered.

Make the best choice for your pet by getting the 2-3 quotes suggested in #1 above. You might be surprised at the difference in Pet Insurance Premiums between insurance companies.

Pet Insurance is available for Cats, Dogs, and some other types of pets. Check with the insurance company to see if they offer coverage for the type of Pet you have. You can reduce the rates of your Pet Insurance by purchasing higher deductibles and co-pay options. Sometimes this can make the coverage really affordable.

Ask the agent or broker if they can provide you with options. If you are dealing online, try changing the deductible to a higher amount and see what reduction you get on your premiums.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Declawing Pet Insurance

Bringing home a new pet is always a stressful time - both for the owner and the animal. A new addition to the family will feel lost, bewildered, and wondering where that big furry milk-machine disappeared to.

As a new owner, you may worry that your pet won't settle into family life, or perhaps you already have other animals and are concerned how they will react to the intruder. You also have the added worry of buying suitable food and bedding, deciding where the toilet will be, how your pet will be exercised - more of a problem for dogs than cats - and a myriad other matters to resolve.

One issue that doesn't immediately leap out at you is that of insurance. Only 15% of dog owners and 7% of cat owners have their pets insured. There is no good reason for this. Pet insurance is relatively cheap compared to the costly vet bill you could face if you don't get your animal insured.

Claiming on pet insurance mirrors the way human beings use the NHS. For the first seven or eight years, most insurers will have relatively minor claims experience from pet owners. Usually, this changes in the next few years.

So just because you have a lovely two-year-old dog that never seems to get ill, don't kid yourself: in another seven or eight years you'll be spending hours at a time at the vet's - and potentially paying through the nose.

And taking a pet to see a vet can be as costly as having an operation yourself:

• A hip replacement for a dog can cost up to £3,000

• Care for a cat badly hurt in a car accident can cost £1,500 or more

• Bowel surgery and subsequent hospital care for a dog that has eaten a sharp object can cost up to £2,500

• If your dog falls down a rabbit hole while out on a walk and fractures her leg, for example, treatments can be as high as £1,500.

• And if your pet develops any on-going health problems, such as diabetes or cancer, treatment costs can run into thousands.

Insurance can help out greatly with this. You will be required to pay an excess, the amount of which you can normally set yourself - the standard minimum is £50 - and your insurer will pay out costs over and above that.

Lifetime cover is best for pets like dogs, cats and reptiles, but check your policy. Some will only cover your pet for conditions developed after the policy was taken out. Others will only cover a particular illness for up to a year, then exclude it from the policy once that year is up.

Some policies have an option to pay up to a fixed amount, such as £4,000, per year which will cover all conditions. However, if your diabetic cat suddenly develops arthritis, the upper limit on your policy may not cover all your new costs. An alternative is to have a fixed cost per condition, but this is only done on an annual basis - no good for lifetime conditions.

By far the best type of pet insurance is lifetime cover with a fixed amount per condition, per year. This will guarantee your pet is insured no matter what illness they contract or how long-term the treatment is.

Once you've settled on the type of cover, there are a few more things to bear in mind:

  • Some companies will offer a multi-pet discount for all the animals in your household
  • If you are a dog owner, consider public liability cover - if your dog attacks someone the insurance will cover any compensation or medical bills.
  • Decide how you want to pay for your insurance. A one-off annual fee can be handy for getting the cost out of the way, but you may find it easier to pay monthly - ask about interest-free direct debits.
  • Check how much your premium will increase if you make a claim. It's no good having all-singing, all-dancing pet insurance you're too scared to claim on it!

Finally, if you've decided on lifetime cover, make sure it does mean lifetime. Dogs and cats can live as long as 15 to 20 years, so ensure your 'lifetime cover' isn't just for 10 years.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Pet Insurance for all types of pets, even lizards

A pet unfortunately is often considered an accessory not important in a household. But if you decide to have one, you will be surprised how a simple animal can enrich your life. Soon your pet will be part of the family and you will feel obliged to take care of its well being as much as you can afford to.

One of the ways to provide your pet with a healthy life is to heed every advice the vet has given you and thus to afford all the medical attention your pet require which also means buying them a pet insurance policy.

If Your Pet Is A Cat

When your pet is a cat and because of its docile nature, you may think it unnecessary to invest for it a pet insurance. But the fact remains that cats do age regardless of where they stay and they are prone to suffer medical as well as dental problems that can put them at risk from a health point of view. Therefore, if you want to afford the medical bills that your cat may summon, you must have a cat pet insurance, regardless of its circumstances.

Another reason to get your pet cat an insurance policy is to have it act as a safeguard to take care of the pet cat and give its owner a certain amount of money in the event of the death of the cat.

Also there is another manner in which a cat may be insured. Cat health pet insurance is most often favored by those who are old in age and who wants their pet to be taken of in case of their deaths.

This means the elderly owner pays a fixed amount of money into a trust and if the cat does outlive him or her then the person or persons that become the pet's new guardian will receive the sum of money for its upkeep. Thus, cat health pet insurance will take care of the pet when the master dies and it can continuously live a normal and healthy life in the care of its new owner.

If Your Pet Is A Dangerous Dog Breed

Unfortunately, some of our pet dogs have been classified as dangerous breeds. These dog breeds usually fall on the larger dogs.

There are homeowner associations that have put restrictions on certain dog breeds. Some of these associations have banned specific breeds in their neighborhoods. Those associations who have not banned specific breeds have strongly requested that the homeowners purchase dog liability pet insurance.

Fortunately most insurance agencies will not label your dog by its breed, but by its history. They often understand that it is not the particular breed that determines whether a dog is dangerous, but its circumstances and training.

Most of these agencies impose different options for their dog pet insurance. If for example, your dog might be a biter, then your dog pet insurance will be a little higher than the dog which is calm and submissive.

While most of those which are classified as dangerous are the larger breed dogs, some of the designer dogs can be just as fierce. The owners of tiny dogs should also invest in dog pet insurance in case these dogs injure someone. But to be safe, any dog owner should purchase dog pet insurance. Not only will it help in case of liability, but will also help with the general health expenses of your dog.

If Your Pet Is An Exotic Animal

If you are inclined to have an exotic animal for a pet, it is all the more reason to get it a policy. After all no matter what sort of exotic pet you have, you most likely to have spent a huge sum of money on them. Since exotic pets are also not cheap pets to maintain, and when it is time to purchase an insurance policy for them, exotic pet insurance is going to be the best.

Another main reason that you need to have exotic pet insurance is that most vets will probably not know a lot about your pet, and so they aren't going to know what to do when your pet needs care. This will mean that if you have to see the vet with your exotic pet, you might be spending a lot more money than you realize. This is very important for you to know, because if you get an exotic pet insurance you are making sure that the pet care is covered, no matter how much it costs you.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

US Pet Health Insurance Dog Cat Policies

Preparing for your own financial outcome after an injury is the same as having the US pet health insurance dog and cat polices in case a need arises. As many people realize taking care of a pet requires shots and sometimes surgery. If you have a pet and they need surgery, the financial burden may be overwhelming. Pet insurance protects you just the way your insurance protects your loved ones from this financial burden in the case of injury or illness.

If you have the US pet health insurance dog and cat policy, you will have some help in maintaining your pet’s health. If an emergency arises, your pets need to be protected by a health insurance policy to provide some financial help. In some case a dog or cat involved in an accident, the cost could rise into the thousands. If you love your pets, you always want to make them better, and this is where health insurance helps you keep your beloved pets alive.

The Quick Care Pet Dog and Cat Insurance

A company that pays your pet's medical costs in case of an accident needs to be easy to find. The US pet insurance company for dog and cat policies gives you a good coverage plan and puts your mind at ease. Some pet insurance companies do not offer the same coverage as this insurance company. You need coverage for injuries, diseases and lost of life or loss due to missing or theft.

The Quick Care Gold Plan Program

Of all the coverage plans, this plan seems to be the best coverage that offers insurance to pets between the ages of eight weeks old up to ten years old. US pet health insurance dog cat coverage provides coverage for accident victims, you pay the seventy-five dollar deductible, and they cover up to seventy percent. In the case that your deductible is fifty dollars, they will cover one hundred percent of the costs. The total amount of one accident coverage is twenty-five hundred dollars.

Dog and Cat Disease Coverage

Looking at the disease coverage, the deductible and payout amounts remain the same. This insurance pays for blood system, breathing and heart, ears, skin, cancer, infectious diseases, muscular system along with the nervous system and the digestive system. These diseases will be covered if your pet develops any problems and needs treatment.

Some More Coverage

US pet health insurance dog and cat provides coverage if your pet dies because of an accident up to five hundred dollars for the cost you paid for your pet. If your pet requires hospitalization, they pay twenty-five dollars a day up to two hundred and fifty dollar. If your pet goes missing, you get one hundred and fifty dollars for advertising costs and if your dog or cat needs euthanasia, the insurance pays one hundred dollars. The US pet health insurance dog and cat coverage does cover many costs that could affect your financial status.

Pet Insurance For Your Parrot

As a parrot owner, you may be asking why you need to get pet insurance for your African Grey. With today's rising costs for veterinary care, you may just need pet insurance for your parrot bird for peace of mind. There are a handful of insurance companies out there that offer comprehensive policies for pet parrots.

An insurance policy for your pet parrot can offer you a financial solution to managing your veterinary costs by reimbursing your eligible expenses for accidents, illnesses and routine preventive care, which includes office visits, lab fees, X-rays, surgeries, diagnostic testing, prescriptions, hospitalization and more. Your parrot is a member of your family and its quality of life is important to you. An insurance plan offers a financial solution to your veterinary bills so you can focus on providing your parrot health rather than on the cost of healthcare. Airborne viruses and bird flu are threats that may hurt you financially if you are not well covered.

African Greys are beautiful loving pets that can live up to 65 years of age. With all the commitment and investment that you have already made on your parrot, you will need the bird to be covered by an insurance policy because your parrot is vulnerable to illnesses and health risks. A good insurance plan for a parrot covers major medical treatments, surgeries for accidents, minor treatments, self mutilation, feather plucking and neoplasia surgery. And what if your parrot bites someone's hand and causes injury? In our litigious society, you need to protect yourself and your parrot against all possibilities.

A good insurance policy pays up to 90% of the benefit schedule or up to 90% of the veterinary bill. Premiums may cost anywhere between $15 to $20 a month depending on the coverage. You can also easily maximize your bird's coverage by adding a coverage rider. This can help pay for a routine exam, blood testing, fecal analysis, nail and wing trim and more.

Purchasing pet insurance for your African Grey parrot is good financial planning. Accidents and illnesses do happen and you need to be covered to have peace of mind. It would be sad if you have to resort to putting you parrot to sleep if you can't afford to face the veterinary costs.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Why do Pit Bull owners need pet insurance?

Pit Bull owners need pet insurance because it's smart and our breed is active and we often find ourselves at the vet's office.

Pet insurance gives owners a little extra help when they need it most and it also provides assistance for those unexpected situations.

Getting hit by a car, getting a dog born disease, eating a toy ball thrown in your yard, even getting lost are usually covered by pet insurance carriers in the US and aboard.

As a Pit Bull owner you can rest assured that your dog will receive the proper medical care and you can rest easy knowing that you won't have to break the bank to cover those expenses.

I know from experience that accidents can happen. My dog Angel ate a toy ball a kid through in my yard. That little ball almost cost my dogs life and $3,000 in vet bills to remove it.

My dog Patch severely cut his paw pad on a large piece of glass (once again tossed in my yard by a child) and required $300 worth of medical attention.

You can learn two lessons from my misfortune...

1. It's not if, but when will an accident happen.

2. You should monitor your yard and make sure it is clean of debris that can potentially cause those accidents.

Pet insurance offers protection against such things. Some insurance providers cover up to 6,000 illnesses your dog can get during their lifetime.

A few other items pet insurance offer are:

1. Coverage for unexpected deaths.

2. Coverage for boarding or kennel fees as a result of medical problems.

3. Recovery cost to pay for advertising or to offer a reward should your dog go missing.

Some Tips for Finding Pet Insurance for Your Pit Bull

1. Remember the cheapest is always the best policy. Research all the policy options because you may find investing a few more dollars is the best route to take.

2. Look for lifetime coverages.

3. Find out what the excess is. This is the amount of money you will have to pay out of your pocket.

4. Check if they have higher premiums for Pit Bull owners. Sometimes they do have breed specific rates and from my own research it will cost you a bit more but in the end I've found its worth it.

5. Check if they have breed restrictions. I haven't found one that does have this but you never know.

6. Decide on what level of coverage you need or want before you submitting a quote. You will find a wide range of options. Take your time and choose the appropriate level of coverage before you commit to anything to ensure you get the best possible option.

In the end having pet insurance for your Pit Bull is going to save you money, time, and frustration if something unfortunate happens. Having pet insurance is responsible, smart, and as a Pit Bull owner you never know when your nutty dog is going to do something, well, nutty and get themselves into some mischief.

And as my mother always said, "it's better to be safe than sorry."

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Suggestions on how to make most of your pet insurance

If you are new to pet ownership, or already own a pet, there may be some things you want to consider. Most pet owners love and care for their pets, but over time, pet care becomes expensive. Add the total cost of pet food, veterinarian care and grooming, and, well...you can clearly see what I mean!

Maintaining a Healthy Pet Can Be Expensive

Especially if you own a pedigree, veterinarian care alone can range anywhere from 2,000-6,000. So what can you do to offset pet care costs? Well, one thing you can do is maintain some type of insurance for your pet. What? You say pet insurance can be expensive too! I say it all depends. With a little forethought, you can make the cost of owning your pet manageable.

Let me offer some suggestions:

  1. Do your homework when looking for pet health insurance. You can look online for various pet insurance policies...
  2. Don't purchase from the first website you run across, you can get insurance qu for almost any type of insurance... and
  3. compare before you buy!
You will be able to find something to suit you and your pets needs.

Other Points to Consider Before you Insure Your Pet

  • Don't purchase a short term insurance plan. It's cheaper in the long run to purchase a longer term pet insurance policy...
  • Make sure your plan includes:
Routine Vaccinations, as well as an Accident Plan. I know, you may not need it, but be on the safe side.
Find out if you have to pay a deductible before you have to use your insurance. Don't be surprised. Most plans have some kind of out of pocket costs.
Make the Most of Your Pet Insurance Remember, all insurance plans are not alike. Do some homework before you commit yourself to any type of insurance plan. I can"t stress this enough! Plan well, you and your pet will be together for a while. insure that it stays healthy