By Karla Sullivan
Every day when we walk in the door whether happy or sad, our pets greet us through a birds song, a cats purr and a dogs wagging tail. They are always there for us regardless of it all and the month of May is special for them; National Pet Awareness Month. If you don’t own a pet, you can celebrate the pets in your community by donating to a worthy cause in their name or adopt a pet.
Over 60% of American households have pets but many are not insured, what about pet insurance as a gift?
Pet insurance protects pets in case of accidents or illness since the cost of veterinary care can be quite high. If you have been to the vet, you may be sick yourself when veterinary drugs can cost $16 a day and operations even transplants are available for thousands of dollars. And just double that if you have more than one sick pet.
Pet insurance may be the way to go even though many comment that it is too expensive. However, many pet insurance providers offer a variety of plans that will work within your budget. They also provide coverage to the veterinarian of your choice without pre-authorization or a referral required.
More pet health insurance companies are also enhancing their insurance to cover wellness visits to the vet. Generally deductibles range from 0 to 500 annually with up to 100% coverage and plans run about 30-50 dollars a month which is not bad when you consider an unexpected accident to your favorite pet costing thousands. Some owners have seen critical care bills close to 20,000 dollars. Some do offer alternative therapies as well such as acupuncture and chiropractic care for your pets.
Pet insurance plans are called “indemnity plans,” which means that you pay for your vet’s covered services at the time of treatment. You then submit claims to your pet insurer to get reimbursement after you have met any deductibles and paid your co-payments. States usually have different regulations regarding insurance and pet insurance companies insuring your pet in California must comply by the state Department of Insurance guidelines.
Our canine, feline and feathered even the rodents are part of our family unit watching over us in all circumstances. They deserve the same in return.
