Step-by-Step Guide 2023

Pet Insurance Complete Buyers Guide

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Best Friends Deserve the Best Pet Insurance

What Is Pet Insurance?

Similar to health insurance for humans in many ways. Pet insurance is health coverage for pets bought by a pet owner that helps cover the cost of expensive veterinary bills. Insurance will partially or entirely cover for veterinary treatment of the insured person’s ill or injured pet. Moreover, there are different types of pet health insurance coverage options.

Pets are not just animals; they are friends, playing partners, mentors, and emotional support. They are more like family members. Somehow, pets bring so much joy into our lives. They make us laugh, comfort us when we are emotionally down and are always there for us no matter what. Most pet owners don’t insure their animals after we all know how important our pets are in our lives. They are ready to pay expensive bills to vets and are OK with lost or stolen pets but are not agreed to insure their pets to save money. It is strange but true.

Adopting a pet is not as simple as you think. They come with many responsibilities. Only food and walking are not enough for them. They need vaccinations, medication, and proper veterinary care. As we know, the healthcare system is expensive. That’s why we need pet health insurance. Pet insurance can be an effective way to provide emergency healthcare for the furry members of your family while protecting yourself financially. Are you one of those who have not insured their pet yet?

Why Would I Need Pet Insurance?

With rising costs of personal care, grooming, and medical expenses, it’s not uncommon to see people clearing huge bills annually on their pets. Pet insurance has been gaining popularity thanks to a range of benefits it brings:

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Safeguard from Accidents

Sometimes our pets get hurt while playing or for other reasons. Your insurance will cover all these medical expenses. So don’t worry about your pocket.

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Affordable and Saves Extra Expenses

By investing just a small premium, your pet can get covered for benefits such as accidents, medical care, and other comprehensive protection.

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Ensures Best Health

Your furry friend will get the best treatment and medical care thanks to the insurance policy.

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Other Benefits

Depending on your insurance company. Your pet will get exclusive benefits like coverage for a pet getting stolen.

What Are The Different Pet Insurance Coverage Options?

Insurers typically offer two main coverage options: comprehensive insurance and accident-only insurance. Each insurance has its pros and cons. You can select it according to your needs.

Comprehensive Coverage

Some comprehensive plans are available bundled with wellness coverage. This pet health insurance coverage has the widest range of benefits, including coverage for:

Accidents
Injuries
Chronic illness
Infections
Hereditary issues
Diagnostic care
Emergency care

Pros of Comprehensive Insurance

Covers a wide range of illness
Covers vet-diagnosed sickness or disease
Good fit for breeds that commonly experience health issues

Cons of Comprehensive Insurance

Monthly premiums will be higher
Won’t cover routine care

Accident-Only Coverage

Accident-only pet health insurance coverage limited benefits, with no coverage for most illnesses. This type of policy is good for emergencies, such as:

Accidents
Injuries
Bites from animals or insects
Swallowed objects
Accidental poisoning

Pros of Accident-Only Coverage

Affordable monthly premiums
Best for young and healthy pets

Cons of Accident-Only Coverage

Covers only injuries from an accident
Won’t cover routine care

How To Choose The Right Pet Insurance?

To find the right insurance plan, you need to know your pet’s medical history and your budget. Then, make a list of what matters most to you, such as the types of illness you want to have covered. Remember, pet best health insurance plans have many variables that make it impossible to compare one company against another. Read policies carefully to ensure they reimburse for the type of coverage you want. Choose Fast ESA Letter. Their prices are low, and they have a wide coverage area with 100 % settled claims.

Before you choose a policy plan, here are some pet insurance terms every pet owner should know:

Coverage

Carefully review what your policy covers and does not cover. Coverage can include treatments, medications, and fees or be limited to specific procedures. And that coverage can be limited further, excluding certain conditions as well. Perfect coverage would include any situation and any treatment.

Covered Conditions and Exclusions

The best plans don’t exclude common ailments and should cover most needs. We recommend avoiding procedures with complex conditions such as hereditary and hip dysplasia.

Benefits

Benefits simply mean the amount a company will pay you for a covered incident or during a given period, compared with how much you’ve paid for coverage. Good benefits are receiving much as possible for a covered incident.

Premiums: This is how much you pay monthly to the insurance company for the insurance policy. Generally, the better the coverage and benefits, the higher the premium.

Deductible

This is the amount you’re responsible for paying before the company reimburses a claim. Some plans will charge you only a single deductible for related treatment over your pet’s lifetime, while other programs will charge the deductible every year.

What Are The Factors That Determine The Cost Of Pet Health Insurance?

Here are the some factors that determine the cost of a pet health insurance policy.

Animals

Dogs and cats usually cost more than other animals because more claims request them. Additionally, exotic animals are hard to insure.

Breed

Some breeds are sensitive in terms of illnesses and injuries. People with these breeds may pay more for insurance coverage.

Gender

Generally, owners of male pets submit more claim applications than females, so females cost less.

Age

The older the pet, the costlier the insurance. Aged animals make pet health insurance too expensive for owners. Moreover, Most pet smart health insurance companies won’t insure pets after a certain age.

Location

Geographical locations have a direct impact on the price of the best pet health insurance. Generally, metropolitan areas have costlier insurance policies than the suburbs and rural areas.

Eligibility for Pet Insurance

Depending upon age, breed, pre-existing health conditions, where you live, and the size of the pet, the premium for the dog insurance and cat insurance plan will vary.

Depending on the insurer, some companies won’t insure older pets, and most providers will not cover a pet that is less than eight weeks old. From 2 months to 10 years, animals would get easily protected.

No pet health insurance covers pre-existing conditions, but that doesn’t mean you will not be eligible for coverage for any accidents or illnesses. Some companies only offer a range in certain US states, so your eligibility may depend on where you live.

Furthermore, many companies only provide domestic dog and cat coverage, but you can insure your exotic pets. There is little chance, but you can try some company that offers it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get pet insurance for older dogs and cats?

Many insurance companies may have a maximum age limit for enrollment, but the Fast ESA Letter allows you to get insurance for older dogs and cats. The insurance premium may be higher compared to what you’d pay with a younger pet.

Does pet insurance cover congenital and hereditary conditions?

Somehow these are pre-existing medical conditions. So, most insurance companies deny it, but the good news is that the Fast ESA Letter covers both congenital disorders and hereditary disorders.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying & Neutering?

Many insurance policies do not cover spaying and neutering because it’s considered an elective operation. Fortunately, Fast ESA Letter has a policy that covers spaying and neutering. Our pet wellness plans, also known as preventative care plans, can provide some reimbursement for spaying and neutering.

Does pet insurance cover medication?

Yes, but only for covered illnesses. The medication related to vaccination or spaying and neutering is not eligible for the claim.

Is it good to have a plan with no deductible?

Yes, it’s good if you are expecting high medical expenses during the policy year. Policies with no deductible or zero deductible typically have a higher monthly premium. But they allow you to avoid the extra charge and may help you save money on total annual expenses.

What is Pet Insurance Annual Limit and Why It Matters

An annual limit is the maximum amount of money your pet insurance company will reimburse you for claims within 12 months. Did not get it? Let us show you an example. If your pet’s insurance policy’s annual limit is $10,000 and you pay a total of $9,000 for veterinary care throughout the year, then all those vet bills would be eligible for reimbursement. The amount exceeding $10,000 will be your responsibility to pay. The Fast ESA Letter offers no maximum annual limits. Any amount throughout the year we will settle.

During policy time I’ve heard about waiting periods — what are those?

A waiting period is a time between when you enroll and when your policy becomes fully active. In a nutshell, this means that if your pet gets sick or hurt during the waiting periods, it will be considered pre-existing and become ineligible for coverage. Generally, companies have a one-week waiting period for injuries and a one-month waiting period for illnesses. Your pet is covered for any new accidents and conditions as soon as that pass.

What are the pre-existing conditions and are they covered?

No, pre-existing conditions are not covered in the policy. Pre-existing conditions are those that your pet faces before the policy gets fully matured.

How will I get paid for the claim?

If your pet gets ill or injured, contact the insurance company and show them the report made by the vet.

Can I change my policy later?

You can choose the policy anytime you need to consult your insurance company.

Do you need my pet medical record?

Yes. In many adoption cases, pets don’t have medical records. If this is the case, we’ll use the shelter’s medical records or when you first started taking your pet to your vet to process claims.

How can I buy the best pet insurance for my dog?

You can buy the plan through Fast ESA Letter. We have complete plans and discounts are available.

Will pet insurance cover my pet's vaccination?

This depends entirely on your insurance company as well as the plan type you will opt for.

How much will a pet health insurance policy cost me?

Depending on the age, location, breed, and weight of your pet, your premium amount will vary. Not just these, your pet’s health also affects your plan’s cost.