Owning a pet is one of life’s biggest joys. They bring love and laughter into our homes and are part of the family. When a pet is injured or becomes ill, it can be highly distressing to have to make choices about their wellbeing based on costs. Unfortunately, these can be a lot more than you expected if you have a pet that is seriously ill. Luckily, pet insurance is widely available and helps cover much of the financial outlay that can be involved with helping to treat your beloved pet.
Pet insurance is based on the same principles as our own health insurance. Pet owners take out cover so they can have peace of mind that if something happens to their pet and they require medical care, any decisions made will not be influenced by finances. Pet insurance ensures that you can always opt for the best possible veterinary care for your pet, rather than having to compromise the level of care.
When The House Call Vet comes to treat your pet in the comfort of their own home, you can rest assured that our services are covered by pet insurance in the same way as any other veterinary practice. Of course, the services covered will depend on the insurer you use and the policy you choose. Most insurance companies will cover consultations, blood tests, x-rays, ultrasounds, surgeries and medications. Some policies will not allow you to claim for dental treatments and some breed-specific congenital problems (such as brachycephalic airway disease).
When it comes to choosing a policy, be sure to ask lots of questions and check what is and isn’t included for your pet’s breed. Living in Brisbane means you need pet insurance that covers tick paralysis and snake envenomation, so check to see how much the insurer will cover you for with these conditions. Many companies will only provide $500 of cover for tick paralysis, which is inadequate.
Recently, many insurance providers have changed underwriters, resulting in drastic increases in premiums. Ensure that you choose a policy that suits your budget and provides you with value for money. While some policies can be inexpensive, it may be worthwhile to pay a little more if you want added benefits. Also remember that most policies will have limits on what they can pay out each year.
Be sure to check for policies that cover critical treatments that are often the most expensive and read through your product disclosure statement to ensure you’re fully across what is included and excluded from your policy. It’s also a good idea to get insurance when your pets are young and healthy, as they may not be able to be covered when they’re older or develop a condition considered to be pre-existing. Just remember, premiums are calculated based on your pet’s age, breed, gender, type of animal and their desexed/spayed status.
Most importantly, talk to your vet about pet insurance. Our team has experienced first-hand which insurance companies can be good to deal with and which ones are difficult.
