Looking for Cheap Pet Insurance? Key Questions You Should Ask Before You Buy

Looking for cheap pet insurance can be a big job if you don’t know what to look for. There are a number of choices and finding the best pet insurance is easy if you know the right questions to ask. Without pet health insurance you won’t be protected if something unforeseen happens to your precious pet.

Key Questions to Help You Find the Best Pet Insurance for Your Pet

Why do I need pet insurance when my pet is healthy?
Insurance is one of those things you need but hope you never have to use. Your pet may be fine today but there is no way to know what might happen in the future. Looking for pet insurance after your pet becomes sick or develops a condition will limit the coverage you can receive. Many other unexpected things can happen that you wouldn’t expect and being insured will make sure your pet get the best care possible without the need to make heart-breaking choices based on what you can afford.

When is my pet able to enroll?
Most pet insurance programs are available to any healthy pet that is 8 weeks old or more. Be sure to know how old any new-born pets need to be before they are covered for any accidents or sickness.

Is there a discount if I insure more than one pet?
Some policies will offer a discount for each additional pet that you insure. If you have many pets most pet insurance companies will offer you a multi-pet discount.

Is this a comprehensive insurance program or a discount program?
It’s important to know the difference between the two. An insurance program would be similar to insurance programs for people. A discount program works on an annual fee and provides discounts for vet services and other pet related costs. Be sure to get full detail for the plan you’re interested in.

Is my pet covered if they travel with us?
Some policies will cover your pet while traveling with. Check the program type and see if your pet has travel coverage and in what areas of the world they are covered.

When does the plan go into effect?
Some plans (especially illness coverage) will have a waiting period of 1 day to 2 weeks starting from the time you sign up until the plan actually takes effect. A Veterinary’s examination may need to be submitted before you’re pet is accepted. Other programs will begin as soon as they have received your payment and enrollment. Make you know when your plan starts and finishes.

How is a claim processed?
Most pet insurance companies will have a claims form available online or a phone number you can call to make a claim. Typically, you would pay your vets and then your pet insurance company would reimburse you. Check your policy to make sure you know the options you have available.

Is there a deductible on services?
The deductible is what you pay before the insurance kicks-in and pays the balance. It works the same way as car insurance, the smaller the deductible the higher the premium. Each program has a different deductible so look for a program that is affordable.

How do I cancel my policy?
If you change your mind, most programs will allow you to cancel within the first 2 weeks providing you have not made a claim. Be sure you know the details for cancellation for whatever reason you may have later on down the road so you’re aware of any possible refunds, etc.

Does the company have good customer support?
This is not really a question to ask. It’s something you should keep in mind. Using a company that is helpful and answers your questions to your satisfaction will make dealing with them much more enjoyable during the life of your policy.

Asking the right questions helped us to narrow down our search for the best pet insurance company for us and our pets. Be sure to check with your states insurance commissioner to review the performance record of the company you are considering.

Make sure you understand all the details of your pet insurance policy and ask as many questions as you need to before filling out the application and going through the required check-ups. You’ll be glad you did.