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Most pet owners consider their pets as beloved family members and will do anything and everything to keep them safe and healthy. That’s why you should consider purchasing health insurance for your pets, just like you have healthcare coverage for yourself and the rest of your family.
How to Select Pet Insurance
There are many options available for pet health insurance that you can research online – or you can ask our front staff for suggestions.
At Westfield Veterinary Group, we work closely with Trupanion and Petplan pet insurance plans, as well as Wells Fargo as a financing and payment option.
It’s important to know that Petplan has partnered with American Animal Hospital Association to provide clients of AAHA Accredited hospitals (like you!) with special discounts on their policy at enrollment. Be sure to let a Petplan representative know that you entrust your pet’s care to an AAHA Accredited hospital when enrolling!
At this time, Wells Fargo is offering approved clients with six months of 0% interest, which is a wonderful option for pet parents with larger veterinary expenses due at the time of treatment. With this option, you can use your Wells Fargo credit card for the upfront payment so nothing comes out of pocket, and then pay it off when you get the reimbursement from the pet insurance company, which usually only takes a few weeks from submitting the claim.
Just like in human health insurance, there are many coverage options you can choose from. There are policies that cover everything from routine examinations and vaccinations to catastrophic events that require emergency veterinary care.
However, unlike health insurance for humans, a veterinarian doesn’t “accept insurance” and file claims on the client’s behalf. Typically, with pet insurance coverage, you pay a premium and then submit your paid invoices for reimbursement (up to a certain percentage) to the insurance company.
The good news is that many insurance plans have affordable deductibles and don’t restrict pets based on their age, breed, or genetic disposition.
Please note: Pet insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. The best time to get a policy is when your pet is healthy, not when they are sick. If they do have a chronic condition or illness, they can still be insured, but that condition will likely be excluded from coverage. While pet medical insurance plans will not cover chronic pre-existing conditions, each insurance provider is a little bit different with their policies. If you have any questions or concerns about a pre-existing condition, we encourage you to call the insurance company directly to discuss their options.
Benefits of Pet Insurance
Pet health insurance is beneficial for many reasons. In certain situations, pet owners won’t seek routine and preventive care services simply because they can’t afford it at the time. On the flip side, veterinarians can detect potentially serious problems early on that can be treated when pets receive regular wellness care examinations and all required vaccinations.
Pet insurance is also very beneficial in the event of a traumatic accident. Emergency veterinary service, much like a human emergency room, can be quite expensive, and many times, pet owners are put in the difficult and heart wrenching situation of making the choice about what measures they can afford to save their pets. With pet health insurance, you can put financial worries out of mind and focus on the care of your pet – and you won’t have to dip into savings or put other expenses aside in order to pay vet bills.
Patients also have more treatment options with pet health insurance. Oftentimes, money is the deciding factor as to whether a beloved pet can get life-saving treatments for chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurologic disorders. With a pet insurance policy, you can put your pet first, no matter the health condition.
So, if you are a pet owner and want peace of mind knowing that you can afford the best possible care for your beloved pet, we encourage you to look into pet insurance. It’s a wise investment and can help you budget for future veterinary expenses.
Trust us – you (and your furry family member!) will be glad that you have pet insurance!
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