Another free Pet Health article for you!

Dog Insurance: Yes, you need it

Although pet insurance has been available for approximately 20 years, many pet owners have never used it and are surprised that such a thing would even exist. After all, insurance is for people, right?

Well, if you have ever had to use your savings account in order to pay for a pet's surgery or if you have ever had to put a beloved pet to sleep because you couldn't afford medical care, then you know the usefulness of pet insurance.

As is the case with most other health-related expenses, the costs associated with an average pet's medical care are rising all the time. If you have multiple pets, the cost of even the most basic care can be financially painful. When deciding whether or not to buy a health insurance policy for your pet, you have to ask yourself a few questions.

1. Do you consider your pet to be part of the family?
2. Would you be unable to pay for (possibly thousands of dollars in medical bills if your pet develops cancer or needs long-term medical care?
3. Would it absolutely break your family's heart to have to euthanize your pet because you didn't plan ahead for potential health crises?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then you'll want to seriously consider purchasing an insurance policy for your pet.

What Kind of Pet Insurance Is Available?

Pet insurance is now available through a multitude of specific companies; and, just as with your average health insurance plan, the higher the premium, the greater the range of benefits you and your pet receive.

The average plan is from $20 per month and has either no annual benefit limit at all or a limit of approximately $15,000. Many plans offer discounts for multiple pets. Your deductible will be determined by the plan you choose, but the average is approximately $100 per year.

Since the majority of the medical expenses generated by a pet are related to routine procedures, look for a plan that covers vaccinations, neutering and spaying, annual check-ups and dental care. You want your pet to be protected in case he develops a serious illness or injury, but these lower-budget procedures can also put a big dent in your bank account. Make sure you're pet is covered!

What Sort of Restrictions Are There?

You may be willing to pay for your pet's health insurance, but that doesn't mean an insurance company will automatically cover him. If your pet is over a certain age, he may be denied coverage. Even if you find insurance for your pet, there are always certain coverage limits and restrictions. Most policies won't cover the treatment of pre-existing conditions or genetic defects. Sometimes cancer is also excluded from coverage (although many companies will add cancer care to the coverage for an additional cost).

Be aware of any waiting periods that are written into your pet's policy. The waiting period will determine when your pet's coverage actually begins – waiting periods can last anywhere from two weeks to six months. Once your plan takes effect, you may have to choose a veterinarian from a list of approved providers.

If your uninsured dog needs emergency medical care and you have no funds available, ask your vet if their clinic offers any sort of emergency funding. Sometimes veterinarians will set aside funds for pets whose owners cannot afford care, especially if the treatment does not involve long-term care and multiple visits.

If there are no such funds set aside, you may be able to finance the fees. A final option (and definitely a long-shot) is the humane society or non-profit pet support group that offers financial aid. You have to apply for their limited funds and few applicants actually receive enough money to pay all of their pet's medical bills. Insurance is really the only way to make sure that your pet can receive costly medical care if he needs it.

Article Source: http://wellnessarticles.net

Paul Easton is a self confessed online marketing nut- who helps from an "in the trenches, doing it" point of view. Search engines and linking for long term traffic a speciaity. Working out of New Zealand, he focuses on Niche US markets. Current project - Dog Clothes Dog Clothing, T-shirts jackets and more than 2558 designs

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Pet Health Articles Via RSS!

Diabetes Root Cause - And How To Trigger Your Body To Produce More Insulin!

Ebook Reveals Secret Natural Solutions To Eliminate Menopause Symptoms

Totally Tranquil - Listen and feel stress melt away.
FREE demo!

Additional Articles From - Home | Pet Health

How do you classify Animals? - By : Andrew Tomkinson
Dealing With the Excessive Barker - By : Jeff Austin
Pet Diseases: Healthy Pets Make Healthy People - By : Subasree
Choosing the Right Pet Insurance Policies - By : Subasree
Getting the Best Deal out of Pet Insurance Policies - By : Subasree
The Most Common Cat Diseases - By : Subasree
Three Good Reasons to Buy Buckwheat Dog Beds - By : jerrybrecken
The Dog Bed Deodorizers For Your Dog - By : jerrybrecken
The Basics of Pet Insurance - By : Debbie Ray
Reputable Puppy Breeders - How to Find and Locate Them - By : Moses Wright

WRITER SIGNUP

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email to Friends
	Ezine Ready

AUTHORS/WRITERS

Member Login
Submit Articles
Submission Guidelines

PUBLISHERS

Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
New Content Alert
Article RSS Feeds

To Get Your Sleep Back on the Right Track ...
Click Here!

The Original Amalaki

Take charge of your health ... Take Zrii!

SITE INFO

Announcements
About Us
Contact Us
Link to Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Article Partners

Visit one of our Shops
for Great Products

Alternative Healing
Fitness & Exercise
Chronic Conditions
Emotional Wellness
Nutritional Products
Stress Management
Family Wellness