Dear Spring Oaks’ Family,
We have decided to update the Spring Oaks website with a rotating column on topics we feel are important for you to be aware of. Please check back regularly for the next column in the series.
With all the news about the economy right now, everyone is concerned about money. Because of this, I thought I would write this column on pet health insurance. We share a common goal to do what is best for your pets. To do that, we start with a thorough medical history and a comprehensive physical examination. We get a lot of information from the history and physical but sometimes we may need to do additional diagnostic tests to find out what is wrong or to rule out certain conditions as possibilities. These tests can be expensive but we don’t want money to be the limiting factor for your pets to get the care they need. Pet health insurance can be an affordable way to take the money out of the decision making process.
My own personal experience with pet health insurance has been a good one. It started when I was in veterinary school. The Veterinary Pet Insurance company had a contest that gave the winner free registration to the North American Veterinary Conference for comparing how much we spent on a major medical condition for one of our pets versus if we had insurance. My cat, Tiger, had just been treated at Affiliated Veterinary Specialists for hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine. If I had insurance for him at the time, I would have saved $500. Based on that experience and the fact that my dog Spirit has chronic heart valve disease requiring ultrasounds of his heart every six months with a specialist, I chose to purchase insurance for our new puppy Miles when we got him in 2007.
Pet Health Insurance is a bit different than human health insurance. It is more like property insurance. Most companies have you pay us as you normally would and then reimburse you part of the cost. There is usually a deductible (mine is $50 per illness) and then the company will cover a percentage of the remaining costs (usually between 80-90%). There are quite a few companies to choose from and a number of different plans as well. Some cover only accidents and illness, some exclude preexisting or genetic conditions, some have an option for wellness coverage (annual exam, vaccination, dental cleanings, spays and neuters, screening bloodwork).
The annual insurance premium for an animal in good health is usually less than the cost of bloodwork and x-rays if your pet becomes sick. It is a win, win situation. We can run the diagnostic tests needed and treat your pet for the illness and you save money!
Frequently Asked Questions about Pet Health Insurance:
Which veterinarian can I use? You can visit any general practitioner, specialist, or emergency clinic. There are no networks or pre-approvals.
What does pet health insurance cover? This depends on the plan. Most plans cover diagnosis and treatment of accidents, illness, and disease including surgery and hospitalizations. You need to evaluate the plan you are considering to see if they cover genetic or preexisting conditions and what their policies are regarding chronic conditions like allergies, arthritis, and endocrine diseases. Generally, basic plans do not cover preventative care such as vaccinations, spay/neuter, and dental cleanings but some companies have extra coverage available for purchase. It is best to get health insurance for your pet when your pet is healthy and hasn’t developed any chronic health problems yet.
How do I compare pet insurance companies? Check out www.petinsurancereview.com to see how people rate their insurance plans. This site is not affiliated with any of the companies. Other considerations: How long has the company been in business? How many policies have they issued? Are they licensed to provide insurance in Florida? How many days does it take to process your claim and get you a check? What is the deductible? What is the co-pay? Are the premiums raised over time? Is their a multiple pet discount? Is there a less expensive indoor cat policy? Is there a cap on coverage?
We hope this has been helpful and hope you will seriously consider pet health insurance for your family member. We definitely feel it helps us help your pet!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jim Jackson
Here are some companies we are aware of that provide health insurance:
AKC Pet Partners Inc: www.akcphp.com
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance: www.aspcapetinsurance.com
Embrace Pet Insurance: www.embraceyourpet.com
PetFirst Healthcare: www.petfirst.com
Pets Best Insurance: www.petsbestins.com
Veterinary Pet Insurance: www.petinsurance.com
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