You know you need pet health insurance, but how do you know what’s a good price? You can get two different quotes and the premiums are very different. Should you get the cheaper one? Not necessarily. You should decide what type of insurance you need and then compare prices on similar policies. Otherwise it’s like comparing the prices of two cars only to find out later that you took the used Toyota because it was a little less expensive than the new Lexus!

Most of the pet insurance companies have information about their policies and prices on their websites. The trouble is that they spread it all around in different areas. It’s challenging to find the information you need, especially if you don’t know what to look for. There are some key pieces of information that you need in order to compare similar pet insurance policies.

The first thing you need to identify is coverage. The amount of coverage you need depends on your specific pet and your financial situation. If your pet is young and healthy, you may not need as much coverage as someone who has an older pet with health problems. Also, if your dog escapes regularly to play in the street, you may visit the veterinarian more than most people do. If you expect to have higher vet bills, it’s probably a good idea to get more coverage. When you look at coverage limits, it makes a big difference if the limits are lifetime, annual or per incident. Some insurance companies have high annual limits, but very low per incident limits. If your pet gets very sick or has a major accident, a per incident limit of $1,500 is going to leave you paying the bulk of the vet bill. If you can find a policy with no per incident or high per incident limits, you’ll have more coverage. Of course the premiums will be higher too. Think about what type of vet bills your pet is likely to incur – one big one once in a while, or a series of little ones?

Next are deductibles. Just like with any kind of insurance, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Think about what you’re trying to accomplish. Do you want to be able to go to the vet without worrying about the cost? Maybe a low deductible is worth it? Can you afford regular vet visits, but want to protect your pocketbook in case of catastrophe? You could save money with a higher deductible. Here again, deductibles come in different flavors: annual or per incident. Choose the one you want based on the type and frequency of vet bills you expect.

Lastly, pet insurance is only going to save you money if you can actually collect when you have a claim. Find out what is covered and what isn’t. Some policies cover accidents and illness, but not preventative care. Most do not cover pre-existing conditions. Some even define a pre-existing condition as a problem that existed before the start date of the policy – and the policy starts over every year! Most insurance companies do not cover hereditary conditions in certain breeds. If you have a purebred dog, find out what hereditary conditions are not covered for that breed. If you want to be covered for that, find a company that doesn’t have that exclusion. Of course, the premiums will reflect yhe better coverage.

Pet insurance premiums will vary greatly, depending on two things. First is the coverage. It’s okay to pay more for better coverage if you want or need that coverage. Second is the competitiveness of the insurance company. The only way to make sure that you’re getting the best price is to determine the type of coverage you want, and then get multiple quotes on that product.

Author Bio: Written by Coleen Smith VIP Pet Insurance Pet Insurance Comparison Low Cost Pet Insurance

Category: Pets
Keywords: pets, dogs, veterinary costs, pet insurance, insurance