Pet Health Insurance, Good Deal or No Deal.

by Anna Glendenning | More from this Blogger

16 Jun 2006 12:46 AM

If you've taken your beloved family pet to the vet lately, chances are good that you came home with sticker shock along with your bundle of fur! With all of the advancements in medical treatment and screening veterinary service costs have become a real investment for families interested in giving Spot or Fluffy the best!

One way to help families cover the costs of veterinary bills may be pet health insurance. An insurance program that many people may have never heard of before, pet health insurance has been around for awhile, but is gaining popularity as vet bills continue to rise.

Buying a Pet health insurance policy may ease some of the pain a big vet bill may cause if your pet has problems later, but pet health insurance may not always save money. The law views a pet as personal property, not as a person and as a result, pet insurance is a lot more like auto insurance than your family medical plan. Pet health insurance doesn't work the same as health insurance for people picking the right policy for a pet can become very difficult.

Before shopping for a pet insurance policy, you may want to investigate how the policy works. In most cases you have to pay the full vet costs and then file a claim for reimbursement from the insurance provider. The co-pays are often between $50 to $100.

The odds are good insurance can save you money if your pet has an unexpected health problem, but you'll probably still have to pay a share of the total cost. Most pet health insurance policy will have price charts and payment rules, so it can be difficult to know what your out-of-pocket expenses might be.

Some of the Leading Pet Health insurance providers are:

• Optimum Wellness Plan: Not true insurance, this program cuts routine costs significantly but doesn't cover emergencies.
• Petshealth Care: Insures Cats and dogs only. 1-800-807-6724.
• Petshealth Inc.: Insures cats and dogs only. 1-866-275-7387.
• Veterinary Pet Insurance: Only big company to cover exotic pets, and cats and dogs. 1-888-899-4874.

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Families.com Blogs are for informational purposes only. Families.com assumes no responsibility for consumer choices. Consumers are reminded that it is their responsibility to research their choices properly and speak to a certified insurance professional prior to making any decision as important as an insurance purchase.

Learn more about Anna Glendenning

Anna Glendenning is a mother of four. Two biological children grown and out of college, and two siblings and adopted together in 2003. Anna's Personal Website http://www.adoptiveparentsnetwork.

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