Hello Dog Owner,
If you're reading this, it's because you've decided that perhaps pet insurance is the right way to go for you and your dog. So far you're on the right track to keep your pet healthy!
Now, the time has come to really do a comparison of different pet insurance companies and the plans they have available. It is very important to always make sure you know exactly what is covered, what limitations there might be, and what is available to you at what cost.
Direct Line Pet Insurance is one of the better known UK based pet insurance companies around. It is one of many types of insurance policies (car, home, etc.) that they offer. For pet insurance, they offer things like:
Discounts if you have more than one covered pet
Introductory rates of 12 months but pay for only 9 months
Covered per each condition so no limit on how many times you can file a claim
Direct Line pays your vet directly rather than reimbursing you
If you're hospitalized, they will even pay for your dog's boarding (up to a certain limit)
V.I.P Pet Insurance really stands for 'Very Important Pet' insurance policy. All of the pet insurance companies offer more than one package. Most offer at least 2 or 3 packages for you to select from. Some of these companies also offer additional add on benefits that you can purchase to upgrade your policy.
VIP insurance is the top-notch level of insurance. While it is more expensive initially per month than the standard policy, it normally covers at least twice as many things and at a higher level. This gives more leeway in terms of what will be covered on a regular vet visit as well as what will be covered during an emergency.
The best insurance policies are the ones that offer you a variety of coverage with fewer limitations. Be sure to consider these things when looking at the policies and comparing them:
How much will the company pay per condition?
How long will the company pay for each condition? Most set limits on how long they will pay such as 12 months.
Can your policy be cancelled?
How old is the oldest they will insure? Most stop insuring when a dog reaches senior status.
What extras do you get with a standard policy?
Does the company pay your vet directly or do you have to pay and be reimbursed?
You want to make sure all of your needs will be met so I suggest adding up the costs you have for normal yearly medical maintenance and factor in possibilities of illness or emergency. Will the plan cover it?
The RSPCA is second to none when it comes to pet care and welfare, and they offer pet insurance to help care for your pet too. Plus, a percentage of the money, 20%, goes back into the RSCPA to help fund their causes.
The RSPCA offers two levels of plans, Gold and Silver. The Gold Plan covers about twice as many things as Silver, but some of the things covered in both plans include:
Veterinary fees up to a limit per condition
Dental treatment
Emergency boarding fees
Personal liability per incident
Death caused by injury
The Gold package increases the amounts per item plus includes many additional benefits worth considering.
Many of us hear the name Virgin and think of music and records. This is the same Virgin, Richard Branson's company, but it now also includes a pet insurance division.
Virgin Pet Insurance offers three levels of coverage and will insure a dog from 8 weeks of age up to 8 years of age. The packages are standard, but you can purchase optional add on benefits such as traveling coverage, recovery costs for stolen pets, and coverage if your dog damages a 3rd party person or property.
There are limitations on how long and how much Virgin will pay towards each expense so be sure to take that into account.
Pet Pals offers one of the cheaper premiums per month for dog insurance. Pet Pals only deals in pet insurance so prides itself on being a specialist in the field. Simple plans are offered to avoid the confusion that sometimes happens when buying insurance.
Some of the things that come with Pet Pals:
Payment goes directly to your vet or you
There is no time limit on filing claims
There is no waiting period
Claims are processed quickly
There is NO age limit on insuring pets
Keep in mind that cheaper premiums do mean that there is a lower limit on what will be paid per condition.
The Dog Lovers' Team
TrainPetDog.com