How do I choose pet insurance for my cats?
August 18, 2010 by
Filed under pet insurance
I am adopting a male kitten, and a young adult female cat. Both are already fixed, have current shots, neither have current special needs, and both will be indoor cats. What types of things should I consider when choosing pet insurance? In general, what is covered by insurance and what is not? Or does it really depend on the plan?
Or should I just ask the vet for advice when I take them in for an initial checkup?
Most people will tell you that pet insurance is a waste of money. The insurance company probably has a hundred reasons to convince you that you do need it but that’s more in their best interest than in yours.
If you are comfortable with your vet, ask for advice. But remember, insurance companies are not in the business of losing money. So you need to ask a lot of questions. What exactly is covered, and any deductibles? Is the payment based on the bill, or a flat rate? Can I use any vet? Are there limits or exclusions? Plans vary greatly. Once you find a plan you think you might like, do some on-line searching. People that are both happy and unhappy with a company probably have a site already.
Many plans cover your cat only if you start when you have a tiny kitten. Then, they may drop the cat when the cat reaches 10 years of age. Gosh, that is often when there is a possibility of expensive bills.
Yes, they will always put for the specter of serious illnesses. And those can be costly. But those can also be rare, and payments may be capped well below the cost of treatment.
My oldest cat is now over 14 1/2. She gets her routine check ups, and often those are not covered. But they may, depending on the plan. She has had two expensive dental problems in all those years, but the cost of those are still far less then the cost of insurance coverage.
Most people are well advised to put aside an amount monthly comparable to insurance payments, and they will find themselves coming out far ahead.
But, if you feel you cannot do that, or fear your cat may come down with a problem that you simply cannot have the money to pay for, insurance can give some peace of mind.
a few things to consider:
-does the company increase your rates each year just because your pet is getting older?
-what type of payout limits do they have/benefit schedules?
-is it an ongoing policy? (some companies will only pay for a condition the first year it happens, but if it continues into the second policy year, it will not be covered)
i have trupanion for my dog and its great– i foudn this article they wrote that has some good tips (see link below)