A pet brings the owner lots of happiness and acts as the best stress reliever possible. However, it is also the responsibility of the pet owner to provide for the much required care and treatment for the pets, in return of their selfless devotion. Even if most pet owners are aware of their responsibilities and manage to keep aside a separate fund each month, to provide for pet care, unforeseen circumstances can put a spoke in their wheels. A sudden illness or disease can place a substantial financial burden on any pet owner, if he or she does not have the necessary provisions to get instant access to cash as and when required. As a result, many pets are suffering due to ‘economic euthanasia’ where a pet has to be put to sleep due to lack of funds for its treatment. A feasible way to prevent such acts of unintended cruelty or helplessness can be through a timely pet insurance investment.

Many companies have various plans for pet insurance and hence, offer a wide variety of choice to the pet owner. So, be it your pet dog or cat or any other exotic animal for that matter, you can find a suitable plan that meets your requirements and fits your budget with ease. A suitable pet insurance plan should be selected by judging your pet’s age, gender, breed (if applicable) and its current physical condition and health. Even young animals, which are just a few months old, can be categorized under favorable insurance plans, right from the moment you bring it home, if you are prepared in advance and have planned ahead.

The common categories for which a pet insurance plan might provide the requisite coverage are accidents, injuries and illness. Some plans also go that extra mile and cover even expenses like cancellation charges for your travel plans in case you have to return home early due to a pet’s illness. In case, a pet is lost, then the insurance plan may even cover the cost of placing an advertisement for your pet, in case you have carefully selected such a coverage program. Hence, while deciding upon a plan for your pet’s welfare, make sure that you have done your homework well and the research is extensive. The best source of information for selecting any insurance company would be the internet or yellow pages and you could utilize these same sources when searching for a suitable company providing insurance to pets.

A reliable pet insurance company would have very competitive rates for all plans which they offer and it might be advisable to compare a few plans, before settling for the one that seems most suitable. The premium, which you will be required to pay for the plan will undoubtedly be much less than the actual cost of treatment or care for your pet, thereby, providing you with a definite financial advantage and benefit. So act in the best interest of yourself and your pet and opt for a suitable insurance plan for your beloved pet as soon as possible.

Currently there are two types of pet insurance plans, each insurance plan is geared towards a specific need of the pet owner, the animal and the financial capacity of the owner.

A full breed dog might need more medical attention than another breed, especially at an older age and with the annual check up and injections. Pet medical insurance plans can provide several different insurance options and will ensure you will be able to provide the best medical care for your pet, for a monthly fee.

The two major USA pet insurance plans that are called the Superior VPI and the Standard VPI plan, both plans you can take your animal or pet to any veterinarian in any part of the world. Remember to keep the original bill and send it off to the insurance company, then the costs occurred will be repaid.

The Differences Between Pet Insurance Plans

There are some differences with the types of pet insurance plans as follows

1. The VPI Superior Insurance Plan.

This pet insurance plan offers coverage for any medical costs that you might have to pay for during the life of your pet such as annual check ups, vets visits, prescription medication, diagnostic testing and lab tests and X-rays. Basically, the insurance will repay anything that your vet might find necessary to keep your pet healthy. This insurance is available for both cats and dogs and will cost approx. $200 on an annual basis.

2. The VPI Standard Plan

The standard Pet insurance plan will covers all the basic procedures and costs for your pet, but you are expected to pay a higher portion of the amount of money yourself for every treatment that you can claim though your pet insurance.

Who Should Opt For These Pet Insurance Plans?

Any animal loving responsible pet owner should at least consider taking out a pet insurance plan for their cat or dog. og owners will be more interested in these type of plans as dogs are expectted to run up costs due to medical problems and need more visits to the vet during their life.

Reasons why you might need a pet insurance plan:

1. You don’t have to worry about not being able to pay the high medical bills that your pet could incur when it falls ill or has an accident.

2. You pay in monthly small amounts instead of a huge sum in one go, great for budgeting.

3. There is no need to worry if you leave your animal in the care of someone else when you go on holiday as they can take the pet to the vet and the bills will be covered still.

4. Owners of full breed dogs that see their dogs as an investment should consider insuring their animal as full breed dogs usually will need more trips to the vet.

Pet insurance is something that every pet owner must consider. Veterinarian visits cost as much as physicianâ??s visits today!

Insurance for pets works in many of the same ways that human insurance works. There are many things to consider, such as monthly or weekly payments, co-payments, and deductibles. Each plan will have a set structure of what procedures and office visits will be covered. Most types of insurance offer prescription drug coverage. There are now many insurance companies available that provide these types of services.

Why You Need to Get Pet Insurance

You may be thinking that with todayâ??s tough times, getting pet insurance is not on top of your To Do list. But you really should consider this. After all, your pets are getting old too, making them susceptible to age-related illnesses and diseases. And of course, what if your beloved pet figures in an accident? Do you have any idea how much pet care costs these days?!?

The key to make pet insurance work for you is to get it early; i.e., the minute you get your pet. This is especially the case if you got your pet in its â??youthâ??. This way, you can really take advantage of the cost benefits as you take care of your animal friend through the years.

Donâ??t worry if you have an exotic pet. Although most pet insurance covers only the â??basic breedsâ??, there are many providers out there now today that cater to the more unusual breeds. All you have to do is look for them.

Regardless of the type of pet you have, you need to do your homework when selecting the right animal insurance provider. This ensures that you will have a problem-free experience when trying to make claims.

To guide you, hereâ??s a list of potential questions you can ask the animal insurance provider.

- What are the different pet plans available?
- Given the current age of your pet, which plan do they recommend and why?
- Are claim payments based on the bill of a veterinarian or the providerâ??s benefit list?
- Are the dental needs of your pet covered?
- When you file a claim, will they increase the premium afterwards?
- As your pet gets older, will you need to pay higher premiums?
- How are pet insurance claims handled exactly?
- What is the exact coverage of the pet insurance theyâ??re offering?
- What are the LIMITS of the pet insurance theyâ??re offering?

If you love your pet, ensuring that you can properly care for him is a must. And having pet insurance not only ensures you can provide the best care but itâ??s a financial safety net for you too should you find yourself needing to spend a big sum of money for your beloved petâ??s care.

To most people the decision to buy a pet is akin to adding another member to their family, and for those living alone the chance to acquire an invaluable and loving companion.

However, unlike human members of the family pets don’t have access to a free National Health Service, so if they become ill or get injured in an accident and require round the clock care from a vet, their healthcare could end up being astronomically expensive. Furthermore, extreme distress for the pet owner may be compounded by having to make the decision about whether to continue treatment of the pet based purely on financial grounds. That is why many pet owners choose to take out pet insurance for their beloved animals; to ensure that their pet has the best chance of survival should anything serious befall them.

Pet insurers offer a significant amount of cover for injury or illness, typically in any potential vets’ fees that may occur. That is in addition to covering the costs of providing advertising should a pet go missing; and an additional reward to the person who finds and returns the animal. Also, especially handy for those who own boisterous dogs, many pet insurance policies offer third party liability for canines.

But even though standard pet insurance cover offers all those benefits, many pet owners choose to take out enhanced pet insurance, especially those who wish to travel abroad with their pets. Premium pet insurance offers higher amounts of cover and also includes many additional features not available under a standard pet insurance policy.

Under enhanced cover, additional vets’ fees including those for prescription food, referral to a behaviourist and complementary treatment are offered as part of the policy. Holiday cancellation, loss of pet passport, repeat tick and worming treatment are covered up to various amounts, as are emergency expenses incurred abroad.

However, should the absolute worst happen and the pet become too ill to continue, then the costs of ensuring that their end is as painless and dignified as possible are also covered under the majority of enhanced covers.

Premiums for standard pet insurance will vary widely according to the breed (in cases of cats and dogs), its age and whether there are any hereditary conditions attached to the pet. However, most mainstream pet insurance policies apply only to cats and dogs. Furthermore, exotic pet insurance and coverage for other smaller pets may be available from a number of specialist pet insurers, depending upon the animal.

Of course, there is much to consider before taking out the appropriate pet insurance, but as you can see there is much to be gained from doing so.

Ensuring you get the right insurance cover for your pet depends upon how much time you are willing to invest in looking for the right deal – and also whether you ask the right questions.

Many insurers offer varying levels of cover for pet insurance and some even offer a choice between standard and enhanced cover. Premiums will of course vary too, so if you are thinking of buying pet insurance make sure you ask all the pertinent questions at the time of getting a quote; not only will you get the best policy for your pet, but you will personally receive the best financial deal.

Some important questions you may consider asking when you request a pet insurance quotation include:

Is your pet covered? If you have a cat or dog you will find that most pet insurance policies will be available to you, but if you have a smaller or even an exotic pet, for example, you may need to find specialist pet insurance. Does the cover come with a guarantee for the lifetime of the pet? Some policies are reviewed annually and others are fixed for the lifetime of the pet. Make sure that you find out which is being offered before you commit to buying or you could find premiums escalate rapidly as your pet gets older. What is the annual limit in the case of vets’ fees and does that annual limit apply to just one condition? Find out what the absolute limit of vets’ fees per year applies for the policy and also whether that absolute limit covers a number of conditions or just one. They vary according to insurer, so make sure you opt for one that offers sufficient cover for any likely problems. At what age does the coverage start? Many pet insurance policies specify a minimum age before coverage commences. Make sure you are aware of this before agreeing to buy a policy for a new-born pet, as you may not be covered for any incidents or illnesses before the pet reaches that age. Does the insurer offer a 24-hour vet helpline? If you discover a problem with your pet late at night or on a weekend – or any other time when it is inconvenient for you to get to a vet – you will welcome access to a 24-hour vet helpline who can give you immediate advice relating to your pet’s condition. Some policies offer this as standard, for others you may have to pay an extra premium. For many pet owners having access to such a vet helpline is an essential part of their pet policy.

Of course, you may wish to ask other questions relevant to your particular pet, but those stated above will help you focus on exactly what you want from your pet insurance cover, and ensure that you get the most appropriate deal.

Want to consider the following pointers as to why you should consider pet insurance for your family pet:

- 1 in every 3 family pets will visit a vet this year for treatment
-  40 percent of all vet fees are caused by ‘unforeseen’ illnesses or accidents
- less than 15 percent of family pets in the UK are covered by pet insurance
- the average vet bill for care and attention needed following a road accident involving a cat or dog last year was circa. £750 – £1,000
- 2 out of every 3 pet owners in the UK have admitted to having gone overdrawn at some time during their lives in order to pay for their pet’s vet bills.

All of these are fairly scary statistics.  They’re event more scary when you consider that will a simple family pet insurance policy, paying a minimum premium of somewhere between £25 and £75 (depending on the size of the pet), all of these are totally unnecessary.

If you want to get you pet insured and avoid any of these statistics happening to you, you can choose from:

Pet Accident Insurance

As the name suggests, with a pet accident insurance you are getting the basic minimum in pet insurance – accident coverage.  Under this policy the insurance company will reimburse you for all costs and expenses you incur caused as a result of your pet having been involved in an accident (unfortunately, more often than not, this means a road accident).

Pet Accident and Illness Insurance

With pet accident and illness insurance you get full coverage insurance; namely, your insurance company will agree to pay for all the costs and expenses incurred as a result of your family pet having suffered any illness or accident.

Excess Amount

One thing you do need to keep in mind when arranging your family pet insurance is the excess amount.  As with all insurance policies, the excess amount is the amount you and the insurance company agree you’ll pay before you are entitled to claim against the insurance policy.  While it is always a good idea to set an excess amount that would cover you for any mundane visits to the vet, so as to keep the premium down if nothing else, you don’t want to se the excess too high that you end up having to pay for care and attention you thought would be covered by the pet insurance policy.  It is, therefore, advisable that you have a look at some of your more recent vet bills and try and mind a medium between these sums so you have some idea of the excess before you set off arranging your family pet insurance

Joseph Kenny is the webmaster of the insurance site http://www.insure121.com/ where you will find information, news and links to the leading providers of pet insurance in the UK.

Pet insurance has allowed me to make emergency medical decisions for my pets with little thought about the costs involved.

Veterinary costs are constantly rising like everything else.

Yet last year, when my cat Bonzo suddenly became dehydrated and diagnosed with early onset kidney failure, he was treated immediately. The last thing on my mind was the thousands of dollars in vet charges about to be incurred.

Today Bonzo continues to be happy and healthy because of pet insurance.

Pet emergencies can cost thousands of dollars.

Several years ago my sister’s dog ran out into traffic, fracturing several bones. It was a very traumatic experience for everyone involved. The kids were crying, the dog was crying, bystanders were crying.

Making sure the dog wasn’t suffering was everyone’s type priority. Like me, my sister had pet insurance and so the issue of the thousands of dollars likely needed for treatment wasn’t even discussed.

He was rushed to the vet hospital, where he was treated for several days. When he came home, the smile on my nephew’s face as he ran up and welcomed his best friend home was truly priceless.

What is pet insurance?

Pet Insurance is a policy that covers your household pets such as cats and dogs as long as they’re healthy. Whether your dog or cat is mixed breed or pedigree most insurers will cover the animal for the whole of its life.

That means if an emergency medical situation arises, I can make the best choices for the comfort and health of my friend, rather than what best suits my pocketbook of the day.

What does pet insurance cover?

Pet insurance usually covers more than just the vet bills. It can also cover emergency kenneling costs, theft and travel.

Vaccinations and routine treatments such as worming and flea treatments are also excluded.

Millions of pet owners treat their animals like family.

I have four cats, who are members of my family. I have had pets my entire life. I cannot imagine the distress of being in a situation where my pet’s problem is curable but the cost is too high and I put my animal to sleep.

Or, I opt for less than ideal treatment again because of cost constraints.

I would never do that to my own children so why would I do that to my pets?

Pet insurance can give you the piece of mind that you are covered against unexpected bills.

Pet insurance can take away the financial worries when a pet is seriously ill.

Knowing this, when I first discovered pet insurance in the late 1980’s (while renewing my life insurance) I jumped all over it. At that time, $25 per month to cover three cats seemed like peanuts. Today, I pay $60 for 4 cats.

When should I get pet insurance?

I have insured all of my cats within the first six months of life.

It is often difficult to get insurance for older pets. Usually pre-existing illnesses will not be covered. That’s why it is important to think about insurance as soon as possible.

It is now possible to pay a monthly premium to insure your pet against veterinary fees.

Are there different levels of pet insurance?

Just like the different coverages on your life insurance policy, pet insurance plans are the same.

There are usually different levels of coverages available where different values or events are covered. Usually the higher the monthly payment, the greater the value of coverages.

Different aspects of coverages you need to review include: Vet’s Fees, Coverage for Life, Accidental Damage, Death from Illness, Death from Accident, Advertising & Reward, Theft or Straying, Third Party Liability & Legal Expenses, Boarding Kennel Fees, Holiday Cancellation Costs and Overseas Travel.

Since pets are very vulnerable to diseases of several kinds, the expenses for treatment have been on a steady increase all the time. When the pets are insured properly, the expenses related to the medicine can be met easily without any problems with the costs. Pet insurance is available from various sources with lot of coverage plans and options. Pet insurance is available for injury treatments or sickness, while some plans that come under the category of deluxe plans are devised in such a way that it covers all type of illness. Some plans also offer routine care and examination of the pets. The pet insurance market has grown and become popular to the extent that they even cover dental care, acupuncture treatments and chiropractic care for the pets. Most of the insurance companies cover dogs and cats under the pet insurance plans. Now, a few companies are also offering pet insurance coverage for birds and exotic pets. When insuring pets like iguana, parrots, or potbellied pigs suitable plan and insurance company should be chosen to suit the needs of the pets.

Pet insurance policies or plans are also very similar to the health insurance coverage of human beings. There are limits for coverage, exceptions for pre existing illnesses, deductibles, co-pays etc. Normally pet insurance plans make the owners of the pets to pay the veterinarian bills and care taker bills before receiving any reimbursement. It is advised to avoid insurance companies, which have limited benefits on the pet insurance plans. When the price is set for a certain maximum level, the policy will only allow the pet owner to spend till the set limit regardless of the amount to be paid towards the medical expenses. This plan may entitle the pet owner with a low deductible, but calls for high co-pay, which will be more costly affair in the long run than the high deductibles with low co-pay charges.

Pet insurance information sources:

The best information about pet insurance can be got from the veterinarians. Either they may have the right plan or may recommend a right plan for the pet owner. Internet also can be a good source of information. While researching care needs to be taken to go through the policy of the insurance company regarding exclusion terms and conditions, benefits which can be got out of the insurance policy, their reputation, financial standing, history of disbursing money time taken for processing claims, etc.

There should not be any kind of fixed benefit schedule in the pet insurance policy as it may come with a low deductible and higher co pay costs, which will not be suitable for the pet owner. The policies should cover the diagnostic testing, MRI, Cat scans, X-rays, specialists, cancer treatments, hospitalizations, cost of medicines etc, after hour treatments, etc.

With all of the new treatment options available for your pets now days and with these treatments continuing to push veterinarian bills through the roof, pet insurance is an option that more and more pet owning are considering and are using to save significant amounts of money.

It seems like it was just a few years ago that pet insurance would have been ranked with taking policies out on children and having dreaded disease coverage. It just didn’t seem important enough to buy. However, now the trend seems to be reversing itself.

There are some thoughts out there that people would be better off foregoing pet insurance and putting the money they would spend on those dreaded premiums into a savings account. You are looking at spending from $2,000 to $6,000 on pet insurance when you consider the average age of a pet these days. Chances are very slim that you would ever have to spend that kind of money on veterinarian bills over the life of your pet.

Or would you, over a pet lifespan that is probably 10 years or more?

However, there are many people out there who treat their pets just like family. They would do anything to save their pet, and that would include spending big bucks on medical treatments. In this instance, then, pet insurance would likely be the better alternative rather than going into debt.

What have changed in the last several years are the new tests and treatment options that are available today in the field of veterinary science. Vets today can offer treatments that were never heard of a few years ago and at prices that go through the roof! Consider these following therapies that are now available for pets:

* Treatments that were once only reserved for humans, to everything from radiation therapy to kidney transplants, are now available for your pets. These conditions which were once regarded as fatal are now treatable at costs ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 and more.

* Veterinarians now have access to costly diagnostic and sophisticated tools such as MRIs. These screenings can not only boost the cost of the medical exam, but they can often find problems that would have once gone untreated.

* These expensive procedures and tools have created health-care inflation in regards to the pet doctor world.

This inflation has seen a very significant rise in those people that are now taking out pet insurance. It is now estimated that approximately 5% of pet owners in the United Sates have pet insurance. This has risen from less than 1% in 1995. Pet insurers have joined forces with the American Kennel Club and with Petco Animal Supplies to offer pet insurance. Some major employers now provide pet insurance as one of their optional employee benefits.

Veterinary Pet Insurance, which is the oldest pet insurance company, has seen a steady increase in its revenues by a 40% annual rate since 1997. This is the year it finally broke even after about 15 straight years in the red.

You will still have to consider the following if you want to take out pet insurance:

* Most of the pet insurance policies have co-pays, deductibles and caps that will put a limit on how much will be paid out in the course of a year.

* Some pre-existing problems and conditions that are hereditary such as hip dysplasia in retrievers and German shepherds are normally excluded.

* The older your animal gets, the more you will have to pay in premiums. Some pet insurance companies will not insure a pet older than 9 years old, while other companies levy a hefty surcharge.

Pet insurance was front and centre during my last visit to the vet.

As we were standing in a line, a woman came screaming into the lobby, carrying her bleeding and crushed dog in her arms. He had been hit by a car and was near death.

The dog was dying and she didn’t have pet insurance.

The woman was hysterical. The retriever had been in their family for 10 years and she was frantic about what would she tell the kids if she didn’t bring their best friend home.

The vets came running out and assessed the dog quickly on the spot. He needed emergency surgery, blood transfusions, x-rays and fluids. What did she want to do, they asked her.

The cost to save her dog’s life could be as high as $5000.

They asked her again what she wanted to do. This just added to the woman’s tears. I’ll find a way, she said, do you what you have to do.

They asked her if she had pet insurance and she said no.

My goodness, I thought. Where would I come up with $5000 to save my pet if my credit cards were charged up?

In that moment, I realized that the $15 per month I spent on pet insurance for each of my cats was not option. In fact, the pet insurance was vital to our financial and emotional health.

What is pet insurance?

Pet Insurance is a policy that covers your household pets such as cats and dogs as long as they’re healthy. That means if an emergency medical situation arises like the dog above, I can make the best choices for the comfort and health of my pet.

Pet insurance usually covers more than just the vet bills. It can also cover emergency kenneling costs, theft and travel.

Piece of mind and emotional health for pet owners.

Millions of dog and cat owners treat their pets like members of the family. My four cats are members of our family.

I cannot imagine the trauma and distress of trying to make a life or death decision based solely on our ability to pay.

Pet insurance means I never have to make that decision. That gives me great comfort similar to what I feel knowing my kids are looked after through my life insurance if something happens to me.

Pet insurance means unexpected bills won’t cause you financial hardship.

Pet insurance can take away the financial worries when a pet is seriously ill.

Knowing this, when I first discovered pet insurance in the late 1980’s (while renewing my life insurance) I jumped all over it. At that time, $25 per month to cover three cats seemed like peanuts. Today, I pay $60 for 4 cats.

Are there different levels of pet insurance?

Just like the different coverages on your life insurance policy, pet insurance plans are the same.

There are usually different levels of coverages available where different values or events are covered. Usually the higher the monthly payment, the greater the value of coverages.

Different aspects of coverages you need to review include Vet’s Fees, Coverage for Life, Accidental Damage, Death from Illness, Death from Accident, Advertising & Reward, Theft or Straying, Third Party Liability & Legal Expenses, Boarding Kennel Fees, Holiday Cancellation Costs and Overseas Travel.

When should you get pet insurance?

I have insured all of my cats within the first six months of life.

It is often difficult to get insurance for older pets. Usually pre-existing illnesses will not be covered. That’s why it is important to think about insurance as soon as possible.