The ASPCA estimates that the annual cost for veterinary visits can range from $350 to $1000. That does not account for emergency visits that can cost an average of $1000 per visit. The average yearly cost of pet insurance is around $500. As you can see, paying for an insurance plan for your fur baby is well worth the money, even if you only use it for basic checks ups and requirements.
Before even attempting to secure a policy, though, you will need to do a couple of things. Do some research on the type of animal that you have. See what types of medical problems are common for your breed. Find out what the average life expectancy is. Check to see if there are any specific issues that arise for pets in the area that you live in. For instance, if you live in an area surrounded by wilderness and wild animals, or if you live in an apartment in the center of a bustling city. Every aspect of your life affects the animals lives and should be considered when getting a pet policy.
All insurance policies have the potential of being confusing, and frustrating. Having the coverage that you need may fall short if you do not avoid the seven most common mistakes made whenpurchasing pet insurance.
- Coverage Amount-The amount of coverage that you will need depends upon numerous things. You want to make sure that you have the correct amounts, without paying for things you do not need. You should have already analyzed your specific needs, and everything that could affect the health of your animal. If you find yourself with a high-risk pet, or if you are living in a dangerous area, you will want to have a higher coverage amount that includes provisions for accidents and emergencies.
- Emergencies-Pets can have emergency situations, just like us. As stated above, the average amount of an ER vet bill can be a substantial amount. Some policies will not cover this type of pet care, so double check any contract that you are considering before you sign on the dotted line.
- Policy Coverage-Read every line of the contract of your pet insurance Australia policy. You need to know exactly what is covered. If you have a puppy that is prone to jumping off the stairs, you will want a policy that can cover sprained, or broken, bones.
- Exclusions-Since you did the research listed above you will already know what types of illnesses, or diseases, are likely to occur to your furry friend. Check your policy to see if any of these are not covered. The insurance company will have pre-made policies designed for the type of animal that you have, and the breed. They will try to add exclusions to prevent themselves from having to pay for vet bills that are needed for your specific pet.
- Pre-Existing Conditions-Problems that are already present in your animal will not be covered. There will be a clause in your policy that details what will be covered, and what will not be. If your animal has already seen a vet for an issue, such as diabetes, you will be responsible to cover any, and all, bills that pertain to that issue.
- Premium-The premium, also called the excess, is an area of the policy that you want to have control over. The effortless way for you to do this is to adjust the amount that you will have to pay first, before the insurance policy kicks in. Set the amount at a level that you can pay easily.
- Claims-If you do ever have to file a claim, make it quickly. Many companies will have a time limit in which you can file for compensation. If you go over that amount of time the bill will fall on to you to pay.
Avoiding mistakes when buying a pet insurance policy is important if you want to ensure that your fur baby is covered. It is a policy that should be added to your personal insurance portfolio. Your pet is part of the family, and as such, deserves to have insurance coverage in case something should happen to them,
