VIP Pet Insurance
Our website offers information about a variety of premium pet insurance options.
Your pet is a valued member of your family. Just like when anyone else needs medical care, you want your pet to get the care they need without having to worry about the price tag. If you prefer predictable (as much as possible) veterinary expenses, then a VIP Plan is for you.
Pet Insurance companies offer a variety of plans for each type of pet. Some offer a standard and a premium plan, with riders that can beef up the coverage for certain situations. Others offer plan packages, from economical to deluxe.
Here are the things you should look for in a VIP Pet Insurance Plan.
Benefit Amounts
Pet insurance companies have a standard allowable amount for each procedure. Some companies offer a higher allowable amount on their premium plans. Compare their allowable amounts with your veterinarian’s fees for those procedures. A higher allowable amount means that more of the expense is covered by the insurance.
Percentage Covered
Along with benefit amounts, most insurance companies cover a percent of the cost after the deductible. Take this number into consideration along with the allowable benefit amount for each procedure. 80% of $113 is more than 90% of $100.
Deductibles
Deductibles can be per incident or per plan year. Lower deductibles mean fewer out-of-pocket costs for you when your pet needs to go to the vet.
Co-Pays
A lower co-pay means more predictability for you. Also look to see whether you only pay one co-pay for each incident or each office visit.
Well Care
Less expensive policies only cover you when your pet gets sick or injured. You also have the option of adding well care to your policy. They usually cover items like vaccinations and routine tests. Some also cover spay and neuter services. Look over the list of covered items. Since this is more predictable, it should be fairly easy to determine if the premium is worth it to you.
Chronic Conditions
Some insurance companies treat a condition that carries over from one year to the next as a pre-existing condition. Make sure the plan you choose covers an ongoing condition, since expenses for such conditions can add up over time.
Maximum Benefits
Most plans have per incident and annual benefit maximums. Higher maximums are especially important when that terrible accident or devastating illness happens. And that’s really why you’re buying coverage in the first place.
Pre-existing Conditions & Waiting Periods
Most, if not all insurance companies exclude pre-existing conditions and do not cover your pet’s expenses until after a specified waiting period. The answer to this is to get insurance for your pet as soon as possible, before he or she gets sick.
Hereditary Conditions
Most insurance companies exclude conditions which are hereditary in your pet’s breed. If you want to make sure these are covered, look for a company that doesn’t exclude these issues.