Best insurance for your pets!
Pet Insurance is as necessary as insurance for yourself, your child, home and cars or be prepared for huge bills from your vet for your pet’s treatment. If you think, you do not require insurance for your pet, then think again. How will you feel when your pet falls ill in the middle of the night and you have to rush to the vet? Your vet might save your pet with timely intervention but what about the vet fees that you have to pay? With charges of almost everything increasing, vet fees are increasing too. A surgery for a dog that has accidentally eaten something can be somewhere around £1,500 while having a broken leg of your cat fixed can have you poorer by £825. Pet insurance also covers weird requirements like putting up advertisements for your stolen dog, or charges of your holiday if you are unable to make it because of your pet’s illness.
Though one rarely makes claims on such eventualities, yet expensive policies are sold on such accounts.
Another useful tip of cutting cost for pet insurance is considering self insurance. Every month you can put a certain amount aside for your four-legged animal which can be safely used in times of emergency. Instead of purchasing an actual policy, all you need to do is safe deposit your amount for future use. However, the risks involved include running into an emergency before you have piled up enough cash and protecting against public liability. So consider these points before you make the decision to go without an expensive insurance cover. However, we are mostly talking about regular cats and dogs which can be maintained even without going in for insurance cover. But exotic pets like koi carp or a tarantula, are difficult to maintain without insurance. You can consider third party insurance for such cases.
Now, if you have decided you need a policy and that is the best and the wisest thing to do, then decide the kind of policy that best suits your pet. Premiums depend upon the breed, age, pedigree and location. Vet charges are more in the South East and London. The best way for buying a policy is reading the fine print which most people miss out on. Be honest with your insurance company and reveal your pet’s medical history which might prove expensive in the short term but in the long term you would not face any problem while making claims. Ensure that your provider covers pre-existing medical conditions so that you do not have to pay huge vet bills for pre-existing illness. Various policies have yearly limits while some have limits set for specific condition. It is better to opt for yearly limits provided the limit does not increase each year. Some providers want to sell lifetime cover but don’t opt for such policies as the premium will bound to increase once your pet gets older. Changing the excess level helps you reduce costs.
Some pedigree breeds develop hereditary conditions and there are policies which do not include treatment for such conditions. So check with your provider if your insurer provides for such options. Some policies even cover the cost of cremation and also dental treatment. Now you can visit comparison websites and shop for the best suitable policy for your pets.
By Nancy Dodds of Financemate.co.uk
Pet insurance
Pet insurance may not be the first thing people think about when they are spending time with their beloved cat or dog, but it certainly shouldn’t be the last. When a pet gets sick this can have a huge effect on the entire family. It’s easy to get distracted by the muddy paws and constant tricks and forget that dogs age far more quickly than people and that they are susceptible to just as many illnesses, including stress.
There is no such thing as the NHS for dogs or cats. Relatively simple surgery to treat a cat with a fractured paw could create bills in excess of one thousand pounds. Bills can include all sorts of unexpected extras such as the cost of kennels, special food, and long term medication while your pet is recovering. A sick dog for example could mean that a holiday has to be cancelled. Our pets are constantly up to mischief and that is one of the reason we enjoy their company. Sometimes a hungry dog can end up eating toys which could require emergency surgery when the item has to be removed. Some pet insurance policies allow you to get your flight money back and will also provide bereavement counselling
Many people enjoy the added security their dogs bring to the home, However, if you own a large animal then it may be worth considering a type of pet insurance that would keep you protected if your dog were to bite a postman or a visitor. It is also worth considering the potential for your pet to cause an accident while you are in a public place like a park. There are even pet insurance polices which will offer the security of cover if your dog should cause road accident.
Such incidents may seem extreme but the since animals can be so unpredictable it is well worth considering the options you have. Always remember to shop around for the right pet insurance cover and make sure that you have considered what policy will give you the best for your cat or dog.
Many policies can cost as little as four pounds per month and can be designed so you get the best pet insurance for your particular needs. The pet insurance broker will have a number of choices available designed to help you get past the many hidden costs of owning a pet. Nearly half of all pets will need some kind of medical treatment or care each year. This alone will cost on average two hundred pounds a figure which can rise to thousands if more serious treatments are required.
The Benefits of Pet Health Insurance
Almost everyone is probably familiar with the concept of personal health insurance, most people are aware of the benefits to be had by taking out a private health cover policy. How many have considered doing the same for the family pet? Pet health insurance is an extremely logical product, especially when we consider that modern vets now use advanced medical and surgical procedures that can be extremely costly.
Owners of pedigree breeds stand to potentially benefit the most from pet health insurance. Many pedigree breeds have hereditary health conditions which can be difficult to treat and cure, by taking out pet health insurance, owners of pure breed animals are helping to safeguard against the very possible health costs attached to owning an already expensive animal.
Many pet health insurance policies come with a range of additional benefits, which can include items such as meeting the costs of having the animal sheltered should you need to go into hospital yourself, and helping with the costs of searching for a lost or stolen pet. Pet health insurance can differ significantly between providers, in many ways you do get what you pay for, the cheaper forms of pet health insurance will only cover direct vet fees. More complete pet health care insurance policies will cover clinic visits along with the cost of medication, which can be steep if your pet is prescribed a long course of expensive medication.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that it is only owners of rare breeds which can benefit from pet health insurance, even the family pet will be expensive to treat should they fall sick. Attributing the monetary value of the animal as the main force behind the decision to take up a pet health care insurance policy is foolish, many family pets have extreme sentimental value, even though they cost very little to acquire initially, both types of animal cost the same to treat, owners of both types will benefit from having a good pet health insurance policy.
If you do not have pet health insurance for your animal, you should investigate the possibility of putting one in place right now, depending on the health of your pet right now, you could well be heading for some hefty vet bills in the future, especially as the animal gets older and sickness becomes a more frequent occurrence.
Have You Considered Pet Insurance?
Many people would consider private health insurance a necessity more than a luxury these days, so why do so many people fail to consider pet insurance to protect themselves against vet fees should their animal becomes sick or fall foul of an accident?
Pet insurance is designed to make sure that should your pet need any form of veterinary care, you are protected from the costs. Modern vets use extremely advanced medical practices, many of which can be very expensive. Likewise, the cost of some of the more advanced animal medications can also be fairly high, especially if you are advised to give your pet a long course of costly medication. Pet insurance can cover you for both of these increasingly high costs.
It isn’t just owners of pedigree and pure breed animals who can benefit from pet insurance, the family pet costs the same to treat as a show animal, and will often be attributed with far more sentimental value. Pedigree owners already understand the costs associated with keeping a pure breed animal, such as certain hereditary conditions, and are well aware of the benefits that pet insurance can bring them.
Many pet insurance policies will come with a range of additional benefits, or you may find that you are offered bolt on benefits to extend your pet insurance package. Some pet insurance policies will even pay a lump sum upon the death of your pet, much like a personal life insurance product. More advance features include meeting the cost of seeking a stolen or lost pet and paying for your pet to be taken care of if you yourself have to spend time in a hospital and there is nobody available to take care of your animal.
Pet insurance can be very cost effective, especially for pets who are beginning to rack up the years, most animals suffer some form of sickness as they get older, just like humans, it makes complete sense to use pet insurance to make sure that you are not liable for hefty treatment fees.
Anybody who values their pet’s health and is concerned about the ever increasing costs of a trip to the vet should check out pet insurance as a possible way to alleviate these worries and ensure you have the resources to maintain your pet in optimum health.
Have You Considered Dog Health Insurance?
Modern veterinary practices rely upon increasingly advanced treatments and surgical procedures, many of which can be as expensive as human healthcare equivalents. If your dog is sick, or falls foul of a particularly nasty accident, you could find yourself facing a very large vet’s bill. Dog health insurance will protect you from this particularly nasty situation and make sure that you are equipped to take care of Fido, regardless of the illness or accidents that may befall him.
Dog health insurance will also cover you for the cost of expensive medications, although you may not consider it, modern pet medicines can be extremely expensive, especially if your dog is prescribed a long course consisting of multiple medications, dog health insurance covers you for the medication as well as the veterinary care.
Owners of pedigree and pure breed dogs are well aware of the associated costs in caring for an already expensive animal. What about the mongrel family dog though? Is it truly worth taking out a dog health care policy for the family pet? Most family pets may not have cost very much to buy, but they will have accrued a significant amount of sentimental value, and they cost exactly the same to treat as an expensive show dog. In many ways it is the owners of the simple family pet who will possibly benefit the most from dog health insurance, owners of pedigree dogs tend to take far more care over the health of their animal, making sure it eats a nutritional and balanced diet and is kept away from possibly harmful situations. On the other hand, the family pet tends to be given table scraps, is allowed to roam free and generally will encounter far more health risks than a cocooned pure breed animal. So we can see it makes perfect sense to acquire dog health insurance for your family pet.
With dog health insurance, your provider will pay for the medical care and medication once the insurance policy has been verified as being valid. Dog health insurance need not be expensive, and the benefits to be had by safeguarding you form potentially very steep vets fees, far outweighs the slight cost of acquiring the dog health insurance.
Pet insurance could help pet owners new Petplan study shows
Petplan pet insurance recently issued the findings of its Pet Census, an annual study of pet ownership in the UK. Petplan found that 97% of vets have reported that more pet owners are choosing to have their pet put down due to unaffordable veterinary care costs.
While UK households are dealing with rising utility, petrol and mortgage costs there is a concern that more pets with treatable medical conditions are at risk.
Increases in pet obesity and diabetes, arthritis and other problems have all been identified in the Petplan Pet Census as common causes of increased and ongoing vet bills.
Simon Wheeler, Head of Marketing at Petplan pet insurance, believes the report makes depressing reading.
“We receive over 8,700 pet insurance claims per week and of the top ten claims, six could be recurrent manageable conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis - the very animals that are currently most at risk of being euthanased.”
Vets prefer dealing with clients who have a pet insurance policy in place as a wide variety of treatments and therapies can be called on.
People with pet insurance tend to seek veterinary advice at an early stage which can help to avoid extensive medical treatment.
For more information on Petplan pet insurance please visit their website http://www.petplan.co.uk/petquote
Which dog insurance Points to ponder Petquote pet insurance
If you are considering taking out a dog insurance policy, you may be finding it a problem to know what to look for. There are so many types of dog insurance cover, and so many providers each trying to convince you they are the best.
So what factors do you need to take into consideration before deciding on a dog insurance policy?
What do you want to cover? There is a huge variation in what is covered by different dog insurance policies. You need to study what type of cover is offered by each policy and decide if you really need it.
For instance, do you think you are likely to travel abroad with your dog? If you’re sure you won’t, there is no point in paying for a policy that includes cover for the cost of travel for a dog, or for a pet passport.
What breed is your dog? Dog insurance policies vary enormously in the cover they provide for different breeds of dog. Many breeds have a hereditary tendency to a particular medical condition. You need to check that a condition from which your dog is likely to suffer is not specifically excluded from the policy before you sign up to it. Also, some breeds are more likely to be stolen than others. Make sure that if your dog is one of these breeds, you actually will be covered if your dog is stolen.
Age and health of your dog. If your dog is a healthy youngster, don’t assume he doesn’t need dog insurance. The more energetic he is, the more easily he can get into a scrape! And remember that the younger your dog is when you start to insure him, the lower your dog insurance premiums will be. Waiting till he actually gets sick could prove to be a big mistake.There will certainly be a dog insurance policy out there somewhere, that is right for you and your pet. You just need to persevere in finding it. Don’t be carried away by the hype, read the small print and make sure you’re covered for everything you need.
Pet health insurance start young and be safe - Petquote pet insurance
When you have a healthy young kitten or puppy, it’s easy to think nothing can go wrong. So in the midst of all the other expenses you are suddenly facing, it can be tempting to regard pet health insurance as something you can forget about for the time being.
However, the older your pet becomes, the more necessary pet health insurance becomes - and the more expensive too. And the problem is that once your pet develops a particular condition before you’ve insured him, that condition will be excluded from insurance claims!
So the principle is, for pet health insurance for your cat or dog, the earlier the better.
The earlier you start the lower the premiums are. You can start at 8 weeks – some pet health insurance providers will allow you to start at 5 weeks.
It’s easy for kittens and puppies to stray. Puppies can easily cause accidents, and do all sorts of damage as they haven’t yet been trained. Kittens are often involved in accidents – sadly they can be trodden on or squashed in doors because they are difficult to spot.
Kittens can get ill quite quickly. Often they get better quickly too, but it’s frightening while it lasts. For instance, one condition that affects kittens is a type of infection that causes joint inflammation. The kitten stops eating, stops playing and is obviously in severe pain. The condition can be treated and the kitten is soon back to normal, but at a minimum it need a course of anti-inflammatories and a course of antibiotics – this is expensive!
If you wait until your pet is actually ill or has an acccident before taking out pet health insurance, that condition or treatment won’t be covered. The later you leave it, the more likely it is that there will be a pre-existing condition – and the higher the premiums will be.
Don’t take the risk! Leaving it too late to get pet health insurance could be a costly mistake – for you AND your pet.
Watch out for your dog! Petquote pet insurance
Most pet dog insurance policies will cover you if your dog is stolen. They will pay out for advertising, reward and even, in some cases, replacement of your dog.
But anyone who has been through the experience of have a dog stolen knows that it’s not really about money. It can be a devastating and heartbreaking time. So although it’s comforting to have pet dog insurance, you don’t want to have to claim on it – you really want to prevent it happening in the first place.
So what precautions can you take to prevent it happening?
First and foremost, DON’T think it can’t happen to you. Pedigree dogs or fighting dogs can be stolen for selling, breeding or dog-fights, but any dog can be stolen for ransom – you don’t have to be rich or famous. Thieves know very well that even people on a low income will go to any lengths to find the money to get their dog back.
Get your dog microchipped (microchipping is insisted on by some pet dog insurance providers). This helps enormously in finding him if he gets lost. Tattoos also help, although some thieves have been known to remove them. And take regular photos of your dog so that you always have a recent one available.
If your dog has been neutered, attach a tag to its collar saying so. This could deter thieves who are looking for dogs for breeding.
DO NOT leave your dog tied up outside shops. More dogs are stolen this way than almost any other way. If you need to go shopping leave your dog at home.
NEVER let your dog out on his own. If you let him out in the garden, make absolutely certain the garden is completely secure, with high fencing and locked gates.
Beware of strangers taking too much interest in your dog. Of course, most people are just being friendly, but avoid giving away information such as his name or where you live in casual conversation.
There is an alarming rise in dog theft in some parts of the UK and police are often reluctant to get involved. Pet dog insurance is better than nothing but it’s not much comfort if it happens to you. Don’t add to the statistics – follow these precautions and help beat the dog thieves.
Pet Insurance Protect Your Pet
Vet fees can be steep, and you never can be sure when your pet will be taken ill, or possibly involved in an accident. A modern veterinary practice uses cutting edge technology to attend to the needs of your pet, meaning that costs can be on par with human health care, especially if your pet has to undergo complex or time consuming surgery. Overnight care fees are also increasingly expensive, with a short stay in veterinary care for your pet often costing as much as a hotel.
Vet fees aside, the cost of medication for your pet can also be fairly high, increasingly so if you’re favoured animal has to undergo a lengthy course of treatment using advanced medications. The good news is that you can safeguard yourself from the risk of Fido placing a huge drain on your pocket when he feels a little poorly, pet insurance can protect you from unforeseen expense.
How is Your Pet Covered?
In the UK, most pet insurance products will pay up to 100% of medical costs for your pet, although this may exclude certain preventative treatments such as vaccinations. Just like health insurance for people, your insurer may insist that current and ongoing health issues are not covered by your policy. More comprehensive forms of pet insurance may also include a limited amount of third party insurance. Added value may also be offered in the form of covering the costs of boarding your animal should you yourself have to be hospitalised, and for paying the expenses of investigating the loss of a pet.
Deciding how much and which type of pet cover you require can be tricky, certainly many people would see the benefits of insuring an expensive pedigree animal, but are unaware of the benefits to be had by insuring the family pet.
Choosing the Right Provide for Your Pet Insurance
Always read the proposed policy documentation carefully, making sure that you understand everything that is laid out within the schedule; do not be shy in asking your pet insurance provider to explain anything you do not understand fully, as they are on hand to provide this kind of help.
Petquote offers comprehensive and affordable pet insurance for cats and dogs.