Should You Buy Pet Insurance?

To most people the decision to buy a pet is akin to adding another member to their family, and for those living alone the chance to acquire an invaluable and loving companion.

However, unlike human members of the family pets don’t have access to a free National Health Service, so if they become ill or get injured in an accident and require round the clock care from a vet, their healthcare could end up being astronomically expensive. Furthermore, extreme distress for the pet owner may be compounded by having to make the decision about whether to continue treatment of the pet based purely on financial grounds. That is why many pet owners choose to take out pet insurance for their beloved animals; to ensure that their pet has the best chance of survival should anything serious befall them.

Pet insurers offer a significant amount of cover for injury or illness, typically in any potential vets’ fees that may occur. That is in addition to covering the costs of providing advertising should a pet go missing; and an additional reward to the person who finds and returns the animal. Also, especially handy for those who own boisterous dogs, many pet insurance policies offer third party liability for canines.

But even though standard pet insurance cover offers all those benefits, many pet owners choose to take out enhanced pet insurance, especially those who wish to travel abroad with their pets. Premium pet insurance offers higher amounts of cover and also includes many additional features not available under a standard pet insurance policy.

Under enhanced cover, additional vets’ fees including those for prescription food, referral to a behaviourist and complementary treatment are offered as part of the policy. Holiday cancellation, loss of pet passport, repeat tick and worming treatment are covered up to various amounts, as are emergency expenses incurred abroad.

However, should the absolute worst happen and the pet become too ill to continue, then the costs of ensuring that their end is as painless and dignified as possible are also covered under the majority of enhanced covers.

Premiums for standard pet insurance will vary widely according to the breed (in cases of cats and dogs), its age and whether there are any hereditary conditions attached to the pet. However, most mainstream pet insurance policies apply only to cats and dogs. Furthermore, exotic pet insurance and coverage for other smaller pets may be available from a number of specialist pet insurers, depending upon the animal.

Of course, there is much to consider before taking out the appropriate pet insurance, but as you can see there is much to be gained from doing so.

What You Should Know About Pet Insurance

Keeping an animal as a pet means adopting it as part —practically a member, if not really a member— of the family. Your children pet it, you talk to it, you care for it and you love it, especially if your pet is a dog or cat that can also reciprocate with love for you. It is therefore natural for you to fret and worry if your pet gets sick, hurt or otherwise unhealthy.

What happens, then, if your pet suddenly gets hurt or falls ill, and you don’t have the budget for its hospitalization or treatment at the time? Will you nevertheless take it to the vet, hoping to find him a compassionate professional, who can ‘advance’ you the cost of medical treatment? Or would you just accept the inevitable -whatever it is— result of your pet’s injury or ailment? To avoid such scenario, the answer is pet insurance.

Why Insure your Pet?

Whether you accept it or not, your pet is an investment. You probably bought it from a pet shop or a kennel if it is a dog. You provided it with food, water, shelter, and plenty of attention. In return you expect to derive pleasure and reciprocal attention from it. It may, of course, simply be psychic in terms of fulfillment but fulfillment nevertheless. Therefore it follows that you hope to receive such fulfillment from your pet as long as you can.

But pets, like humans, are also subject to ailments, accidents, and hurt. In such instances they also need medical treatment and attention, but it does not follow that you can always support such need. The need may come suddenly and unexpectedly, that you may not be ready for it. Therefore, as you insure your loved ones you should think of insuring your loved pet or pets to provide it with a continuous opportunity to reciprocate the love and affection you bestowed on it.

Insurance coverage

Pet insurance, just like normal insurance for humans, also underwent a series of development phases. After the barrier of non-acceptability was hurdled, the extent of insurable coverage also grew in a series of spurts. Today, after many decades, pet insurance has evolved into an insurance industry sector with its own rules, regulations, levels, standards and requirements. Pet insurance has come of age.

Like any other kind of life insurance, pet insurance basically covers health and hospitalization, veterinary care and medicine, and life and accident insurance in varying combinations of cover, depending on many different factors. These factors may include, among others, pet species and other specifics (if a dog or cat, for example, breed, age, and whether its master is a family or an individual), living and other domestic conditions, and level of care normally bestowed by its owner. Some might even consider the economic stratum the owner belongs to as a significant factor in determining the appropriate insurance cover for the pet.

Insurance Particulars

As stated above, insurance coverage of pets vary with companies in terms of coverage and eligibility requirements. Some pet insurance companies will not cover animals not certified by their veterinarian as ‘normal’, ‘stable’, or ‘controlled’, those prone to certain ailments or diseases, ‘old’ pets, and the terminally ill. Other companies, notably those insuring pets of high-profile owners such as the rich and the famous, may even require authenticated and certified pedigree papers, but the coverage amounts may also be astronomical and incredibly large.

Premium payments also depend on the capacity to pay and desired or agreed on terms. Some may be monthly, semi-annually or annually, and may cover regularly scheduled check-ups, standard or special preventive medication, vaccination, grooming, and other wellness requirements. Group insurance options are also available, often at rates lower than individual costs, as well as accident insurance, which may specify coverage terms.

It is best to check around for the best deals, but one thing is sure: pet insurance is your best gift for your pet.

When should you start your pet insurance cover for a kitten?

When should you start your pet insurance cover for a kitten??

Thanks

Should I go for Argos Pet Insurance?

I am one week away from getting my first dog from a rescue centre and am looking at pet insurance. I have looked at Tesco, Argos, RSPCA and Petplan amongst others. They all seem to do the same thing but at different prices.

I am looking at going with Argos and would like to hear from anyone who has has success or failure with Argos, or recommend any others. Thanks in advance

should pet insurance be made compulsory?

i have just answered a question about a poor cat that needs a four hundred pound operation and i hate to be rude but i said that if the owner had pet insurance then he wouldnt be in the position he is in now
if you are going to have a cat or dog you should get it insured save the problems especially as it gets older,

i know insurance seems to be a waste of monet but i know that if i god forbid had to choose between getting my dog put down or paying for surgery it would break my heart

so i pay the insurance each month for the dog and two cats because i know that faced with a four hundred pound bill for pet fees i wouldnt be able to find it

what do you think

xxx

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