Insurance for Dogs: Flexible Coverage for Any Budget
Insurance for dogs is a smart move. 1 out of 3 dogs get hurt or sick before they turn 3. And trust us, you don’t want to be hit with a $3,000 bill for your dog’s emergency room visit.
In this article, we’re here to break down the jargon and make it super easy for you. After reading this, you’ll know exactly what your dog’s insurance covers and what it doesn’t. Plus, we’ll let you in on a little secret: dog health insurance is flexible and can fit any budget to keep your furry buddy in top shape.
Understanding What's Covered and Not Covered in Insurance for dogs
What’s Covered:
- Illnesses, Injuries, Accidents – With dog health insurance, your dog will be covered for treatment of new accidents, illnesses and injuries after your enrollment. You may have a 2 week waiting period for dog insurance companies to check out your dog’s medical records and notes from your veterinarian that would show pre-existing conditions which could prevent approval of insurance coverage.
- Hereditary and Congenital Conditions – Some dog health insurance companies cover your dog for hereditary and congenital conditions like eye disorders or knee issues. This means that your dog could qualify for insurance coverage even if you may have thought these conditions were considered pre-existing.
3. Unlimited Lifetime Benefits – Look for insurance for dogs with no annual or per incident limits. Shop around for a plan with no incident caps or maximum limits.
4. Customized Reimbursement – You can create a flexible plan that fits your budget with deductibles and reimbursement levels you can change as needed.
5. Veterinarians, Hospitals, Specialists – You can select a dog insurance company that allows you to use any licensed veterinarian including animal emergency hospitals and specialists. Your dog’s coverage includes: diagnostic testing, x-rays, hospitalization and treatments, surgeries and prescriptions.
6. Hip Dysplasia – You can get lifetime coverage for your dog’s hip dysplasia, however you need to enroll your dog before she turns 6 years old. Maryland and New Hampshire are the only states in the U.S. that don’t have a 12 month waiting period before hip dysplasia coverage takes effect. This means you need to sign up for insurance for dogs with hip dysplasia before your dog is 5 years old for this coverage which requires a complete physical hip exam.
What’s Not Covered:
1. Pre-existing conditions – Your dog may have a pre-existing condition like allergies or diabetes that has been treated by your veterinarian before your dog’s health insurance coverage starts. No dog insurance company covers pre-existing conditions.
2. Veterinarian exams – Annual veterinarian visits are not covered because this is part of the responsibility of dog ownership.
4. Preventative care – Insurance for dogs does not cover vaccinations or a titer test, heart-worm medication, de-worming, grooming and nail trim.
5. Dental care – Your dog’s dental cleanings and care are not covered. The only exceptions are when your dog’s teeth are injured in an accident which requires extractions or reconstruction.
6. Behavioral treatments – Training, medications for behavioral conditions and therapy for behavioral modification is not covered by dog health insurance.
7. Parasite control – Prophylactic treatments for internal and external parasites are not covered by dog insurance companies.
8. Housing, Exercise and Food – Dog health insurance does not cover the cost of your dog’s housing, exercise, toys, treats and food.
This news brief gives you all the information you need to know about what’s covered and not covered by insurance for dogs. You can use these points to find flexible insurance coverage for your dog that fits any budget.
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