No matter how careful you are with your dog, accidents happen — and sometimes they’re costly ones. Just ask Les Kaciban of Ashburn, Virginia, whose Komondor puppy Charlie swallowed a corn cob and required emergency surgery to remove it.

The bill came to a whopping $3,600. It was a good thing that Kaciban had pet health insurance. His out-of-pocket expenses came to an easier-to-swallow $1,000, while his insurance policy covered the difference.

Pet owners today face higher veterinary costs than ever. The American Pet Product Association, a trade organization based in Greenwich, Connecticut, reports that because technological advances in procedures for pets, like hip replacements, physical rehabilitation, and chemotherapy, have become more available, spending for veterinary services for dogs have exploded to an average of $407 per year for surgical procedures and $248 per year in routine wellness visits.

A pet health insurance policy can help defray those costs, explains Kristen Lynch, executive director of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. This financial risk-management tool can make the difference between affording health care for your dog — and not.

Insurance Benefits and Drawbacks

Pet health insurance has its benefits, says Carol McConnell, DVM, vice president and chief veterinary officer at Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. in Brea, California. “It gives dog owners freedom,” she says. “It’s less restrictive for them. They don’t have to make a medical decision for their baby based on cost.”

Among its other benefits, notes Lynch:

• Pet insurance protects a dog’s family’s finances against unforeseen medical costs, offering them peace of mind knowing that they have resources should their pet become injured or ill;

• Pet insurance gives people the confidence to take their pet in for veterinary treatment without hesitating or waiting before a medical condition worsens;

• Pet insurance allows the veterinarian to provide pets with top-notch care and practice the most advanced medical treatments; and

• Pet insurance helps the dog live a longer, healthier life.

“Pet insurance is designed to be used,” Lynch says. “When people wait to take their dog in for medical care, it ends up costing more — especially with pets that are so good at hiding their illness.”

Of course, pet health insurance policies have their limitations, too. Depending on the type and its fine print, certain conditions may be excluded, such as pre-existing illnesses, anything related to pregnancy and/or birth, some routine treatments like parasite management and dental maintenance, and the purchase price of the dog if she passes away after a certain age.

At the time of underwriting, insurers may also look at factors like the dog’s age, whether she’s purebred or a mixed breed, and where she lives, Lynch says.

“And there are waiting periods, too,” she says. “Typically, there is a 48-hour wait for accident insurance, and a 14-day wait for policies that cover illnesses as it takes a longer time for illnesses to manifest.”

Demystifying Insurance

The pet health insurance process works similarly to human health insurance, says Emily Pointer, DVM, medical coordinator and staff internist at the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City. After choosing a plan that works best for their pet, policyholders pay a monthly premium and are responsible for co-pays and deductibles when they take their pets to the vet, she says.

“One important difference between pet and human health insurance is that even if the pet owner has insurance, she is usually responsible for paying the cost of veterinary care at the time of service,” Dr. Pointer says. “The pet owner then submits a claim for reimbursement.”

The process usually looks like this:

• Visit your vet (providers usually allow you to take your dog to any licensed vet).
• Pay your vet bill.
• Submit a claim to your insurance provider.
• Your provider looks into your receipt, visit details, and vet records and pays out the claim according to your policy.
• You receive reimbursement from your insurance company.

Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, selecting a plan is where it can get complicated.

A dozen different companies provide health insurance plans for pets, and each one has its own range of policies and premiums. When comparing them, first think about the type of coverage that fits your situation the best.

Coverage Options

In general, policies cover three distinct categories, says Lynch: accident, illness and wellness. Accidents include unexpected injuries, like Charlie’s corn cob meal that required emergency surgery; illnesses include diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, like diabetes or urinary tract infections; and wellness (also termed routine or preventative care) includes vaccinations, laboratory work and dental work.

Insurers often combine the different types of coverage in their plans, Pointer says. “And then there is a price difference as well. The more a policy covers, the more expensive the premium,” she says.

Think of it like good-better-best policies, Lynch says.

Selecting Insurance Plan Variables

On top of that, many insurers allow you to customize some or all of your plan variables. For example, with SPOT Pet Insurance, you select the deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement rate. Other providers may have a pre-packaged recommendation or requirement for the variables within their plans. Pet parents can think about how much involvement they want to have in building their policy and let that help them narrow down which provider to use.

The deductible in dog insurance works the same way as in human health insurance: you’ll need to meet your deductible before you can be reimbursed. Once the deductible is met, you’ll be reimbursed up to the percent defined in your policy. A low deductible could be $100, and a high deductible could be $1,000. The options available for deductibles depend on the insurance provider.

For annual limits, insurers typically offer lower-end coverage of less than $2,000, mid-range coverage in the $2,000 to $3,000 range, higher-end coverage in the $3,000 to $5,000 range, and unlimited coverage, “which is like the Cadillac of pet health insurance,” she says. “Sixty to 80 percent of policyholders have mid-range coverage. That’s because if a pet has to stay overnight for treatment, for example, it can cost about $2,000 or $3,000.”

For reimbursement rates, dog owners can expect to get 70, 80, or 90 percent back on eligible claims. Again, some providers will have a set reimbursement amount while others allow you to choose your deductible when you set up your policy. Premiums vary depending on the deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement rate.

Something else to consider when choosing a policy: Whether the provider has a cap on particular conditions, like $500 for kidney disease or $1,000 for foreign body surgery; a set percentage that it will pay of the overall cost, such as 70 percent of the bill for a foreign body surgery; any per-incident maximums; or specific policies regarding coverage of chronic conditions, Pointer says.

“There may also be restrictions for hereditary or genetic conditions if you have a purebred dog,” she says. “So be sure to read the fine print of each policy.”

Become Pet Insurance Savvy

Deciding whether to invest in pet health insurance and can be a painstaking process. But with some careful research and reading of various policies’ fine print, you can choose the one that’s right for you and your dog.

“It is very important for pet owners to be well informed about this complicated subject before picking a policy,” Pointer says.

Cesar Millan is the chairman of SPOT Pet Insurance, and that’s who ensures his pack. They share his mission of creating healthier pets, better humans, and a better planet.

What are your thoughts on health insurance for your dog?

Considering health insurance for your dog? We can help!

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Veterinary Care is a Basic and Fundamental Expense for Your Dog

Veterinary costs have risen dramatically in the past decade especially when it comes to emergency and specialty care. The American Veterinary Medical Association performed a study in which they reviewed expenditures for veterinary services and found that in the last 25 years the cost of veterinary care has nearly doubled. Gone are the days when veterinary care consisted simply of a rabies vaccination for the farm dog.

Emotional attachment to our pets has increased over the last 25 years as well, and now many people consider pets as part of the family. As a result, we have higher expectations for our pet’s health care. Technology and medical knowledge likewise has advanced. Veterinarians can do so much more now for their patients due to new technology such as in-house laboratories, digital radiography and ultrasonography. We have new medications and new surgical procedures that can save and improve the quality of the lives of our furry patients. While the quality of veterinary care has increased the costs have increased as well.

Ways to help mitigate the cost of veterinary care

Pet Insurance

For the cost of a monthly premium, your pet will be covered to some extent in the event of illness or an accident. Policies can range from ten to a hundred dollars a month depending on the benefits and coverage provided with the average policy costing $30-40 per month. Unlike health insurance where there are networks and additional charges incurred for seeing a physician out of network there are usually no restrictions on what veterinarian you can use as long as they are licensed.

Be aware that pre-existing conditions are usually not covered or if they are, they get only limited coverage. For this reason, it is best to consider pet insurance when you first get your puppy or dog – a time when they are usually healthy. For example, if you have an older dog with diabetes, complications from the diabetes are unlikely to be covered although if he develops something unrelated then the policy will usually cover it.

Some veterinarians offer wellness plans

These are programs where the customer pays a low monthly price directly to the veterinarian which typically covers the annual cost of an exam and immunizations. A wellness plan should not be confused with pet insurance as wellness plans typically do not cover emergency or specialty care and only cover certain basic care from the particular veterinarian that the wellness plan is purchased from.

Pet insurance companies are starting to provide coverage for wellness since a pet that goes in every year for a check up is generally healthier so it pays to shop around. Compare the different companies that provide pet insurance, their costs, deductibles, benefit limits and range of coverage provided so that you can find the plan that is right for you and your dog. As you review the different policies focus on what is covered, how much the policy will cost you per year, check for deductibles and co-pay and read very carefully about any exclusions. In addition to not covering pre-existing conditions, some companies will exclude pets of a certain age or certain breeds that are susceptible to hereditary condition so it pays to read the fine print.

How to file claims

Once you find an insurance company and pet insurance policy, become familiar with how to report claims. Veterinarians are typically paid when services are rendered, then you file a claim and you will receive reimbursement from the pet insurance company at a later date. It helps to be prepared, if you bring the claim form with you when you visit the vet then you can ask them to fill it out and fax it directly to the company. Sometimes when a claim is processed quickly this way, you can end up receiving reimbursement before the balance on the credit card you used for the veterinary transaction is due.

Pet insurance is relatively new and most pet owners have not jumped onto the pet insurance bandwagon yet. It is estimated that only one percent of the pet owning population has pet insurance. Very few of my clients have pet insurance. In the 10 years of practicing emergency medicine I have had perhaps 30 patients that were insured. For these patients, the insurance was usually a godsend saving the owners from the large expense of an unexpected catastrophe. And yet on an almost daily basis, there are cases when one of my patients needs an urgent medical procedure that directly conflicts with the owner’s economic realities. Forgoing treatment or euthanizing the patient end up being the only options left, neither of which is ideal. Pet insurance isn’t for everyone but it may be just right for you.

Considering health insurance for your dog? We can help!

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You would probably never think of your beloved dog as a liability, but unfortunately, that’s exactly how some homeowners associations and apartment complexes view dogs.

If you’re buying a home, you may discover that your homeowners insurance doesn’t cover dog bites, and if you’re looking for an apartment, townhouse, or condo to rent, you may find the landlord turning you away if you can’t show that you have insurance coverage for your dog.

Why Would I Need Dog Liability Insurance?

There are several reasons why you, as a pack leader, might need to take out a canine liability insurance policy.

One of the most common reasons is because most major insurance companies have a list of so-called “dangerous” dogs that they won’t cover in their homeowners insurance, even if the dog has no bite history. These “dangerous dog” lists commonly include breeds like pit bulls, Staffordshire terriers, Doberman pinschers, Rottweilers, Great Danes, German shepherds, Alaskan huskies, and wolf hybrids.

You might know that your dog is a gentle giant with no history of aggression, but if they belong to a breed that’s been deemed dangerous, you won’t be able to get coverage from your homeowners or renters insurance.

You may also need dog liability insurance if your dog has bitten someone before. All dogs have the potential to bite if they feel threatened or scared. Your pup may have nipped at a neighbor if the neighbor started roughhousing with them in a way they didn’t like, or she may have bitten one of your friends who got too close when she had a litter of puppies.

Even if your dog has never bitten anyone, if they have gotten rambunctious and knocked someone over, they may be branded as having a history of aggression.

Unfortunately, most homeowners or renters insurance companies will not take specific circumstances into account and will refuse coverage to any owner whose dog has a bite or aggression history, no matter what the breed.

How Do I Get Dog Liability Insurance?

Several brokers and insurance companies in the United States currently offer canine liability insurance, so if you’re being required to carry this type of insurance by your county, apartment complex, or homeowners association, you should look for a company that is licensed to sell insurance in your state.

Take the time to do your research and read over policies carefully to make sure there aren’t any problematic exclusions. Some companies will only offer coverage for your dog when she is on your property, so if the two of you are walking around the neighborhood or playing at the dog park when the worst happens, you’ll have to pay for any damages out of pocket.

Premiums vary from company to company, with some organizations offering policies that start as low as $75 a year and others that go up to $1,000 (depending on the deductible, the dog breed, and any bite history). Some companies offer specific policies for individual dogs, so you may be able to negotiate a lower price if you can show your dog has no history of biting or aggression. Providing proof of obedience training or other specialized training may also help lower your rates.

Although you might hate the idea that your dog needs liability insurance just because other people think he or she is potentially dangerous, it’s better to pay for the coverage than to face paying for injuries out-of-pocket or becoming separated from your canine friend due to housing restrictions.

Find the right policy, and rest easy knowing that you and your dog can stay together.

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