[stacey101]

I know NOTHING about pet insurance, nor will my family take the time to explain how things like this work as they think its foolish to have an 'animal' on insurance...( im 19, nearly out on my own and potentially want Koda on pet insurance)

im not really sure of what questions to ask you, just anything you can offer would be great! I keep seeing the word deductible. Also, if you have your dogs on insurance in Canada ( im in Newfoundland ) recommendations?

 

[chubby]

Hi Stacey,

Pet Insurance is basically a way to prepare for any future accidents or illnesses that your dog may experience. The reason people opt for it is because many treatments and surgeries can be very expensive, and having an Insurer who will carry some of that cost (after you pay a deductible, let's say if the deductible is $100 a year, that means the first claim you make, you will have to pay $100 of it, and the insurer will pay the rest). There are different levels of coverage that each Insurance company will provide. Some insurance companies will cover a greater variety of accidents and illnesses, where others will only cover some. For sure, you need to research which accidents and illnesses are not covered, so you can choose a good provider. Generally, the higher premium accounts for greater coverage, so for example, if you're paying $20 a month, you may only be covered $1000 a year, which does not carry forward unused amounts. If you choose a higher level package at $60 a month, your coverage may be $5000 a year or more. Moreover, some insurers will give you that option to pay lower premiums if you are willing to pay a higher deductible.

Generally, if you foresee having difficulty paying a $1000+ surgery if your dog ever gets ill, or into an accident, then having insurance will be a good idea. Keep in mind that a lot of companies have policies for senior dogs, where the last time you can upgrade their policy is when they're 7 years old. This is the account for the fact that senior dogs are more prone to illness than a young puppy let's say. Also, if you upgrade after you find out your dog has a long term illness, it likely won't be covered under that new upgrade because it's "pre-existing" to the upgrade. This includes any symptoms your vet notes during your wellness visits, and the underwriters will be looking at those kind of details to see if your dog had pre-existing conditions.

I would definitely recommend having some kind of pet insurance, and to increase to a better package once your dog hits the 6-7 years of age as old age is likely to bring more illnesses for your dog.

Hope this helps!

 

[hamandeggs]

Also, research the company's policy on preexisting conditions. A lot of companies exclude them (and define them broadly, so more things than just the specific issue are excluded).

 

[GottaLuvMutts]

In general I think it's probably a good idea to insure very active dogs, and particularly those that are accident prone. If I owned a lap dog that spent its days indoors or on a leash, I'd skip the insurance.

 

[upfromtheashes]

In general I think it's probably a good idea to insure very active dogs, and particularly those that are accident prone. If I owned a lap dog that spent its days indoors or on a leash, I'd skip the insurance.

This is how I feel as well. I'm considering getting insurance on my 10 month old malamute who has already made 3 unscheduled vet visits in her young life. I don't think I've ever had to bring my golden to the vet for anything other than a hot spot, which is a cheap visit anyway since all they do is give him some antibiotics.

 

[stacey101]

Hi Stacey,

Pet Insurance is basically a way to prepare for any future accidents or illnesses that your dog may experience. The reason people opt for it is because many treatments and surgeries can be very expensive, and having an Insurer who will carry some of that cost (after you pay a deductible, let's say if the deductible is $100 a year, that means the first claim you make, you will have to pay $100 of it, and the insurer will pay the rest). There are different levels of coverage that each Insurance company will provide. Some insurance companies will cover a greater variety of accidents and illnesses, where others will only cover some. For sure, you need to research which accidents and illnesses are not covered, so you can choose a good provider. Generally, the higher premium accounts for greater coverage, so for example, if you're paying $20 a month, you may only be covered $1000 a year, which does not carry forward unused amounts. If you choose a higher level package at $60 a month, your coverage may be $5000 a year or more. Moreover, some insurers will give you that option to pay lower premiums if you are willing to pay a higher deductible.

Generally, if you foresee having difficulty paying a $1000+ surgery if your dog ever gets ill, or into an accident, then having insurance will be a good idea. Keep in mind that a lot of companies have policies for senior dogs, where the last time you can upgrade their policy is when they're 7 years old. This is the account for the fact that senior dogs are more prone to illness than a young puppy let's say. Also, if you upgrade after you find out your dog has a long term illness, it likely won't be covered under that new upgrade because it's "pre-existing" to the upgrade. This includes any symptoms your vet notes during your wellness visits, and the underwriters will be looking at those kind of details to see if your dog had pre-existing conditions.

I would definitely recommend having some kind of pet insurance, and to increase to a better package once your dog hits the 6-7 years of age as old age is likely to bring more illnesses for your dog.

Hope this helps!

Thanks everyone! If I have anymore questions when I finally find a company im seriously interested in I hope you wont mind answering a few more questions ?

And on that note, the BIG reason im asking this is due to Koda's vet app. tomorrow. Im getting him tested for diabetes

Keep him in your thoughts please

 

[chubby]

You need to have insurance before you get those tests done, because if they come back positive, and you sign up for pet insurance after, it will be considered "pre existing", and they won't cover it. Even if it's just symptomatic notes in your dog's file, the underwriters look into that to determine if it will be covered...

 

[hamandeggs]

There is probably a waiting period once you sign up, too, of at least a couple weeks...so whatever this medical issue you're dealing with now is, would almost certainly not be covered, since he's already seen the vet for it.