Article Title: The Importance Of Pet Insurance
Author: Jason Hulott1
While most of us never think twice about getting home contents
insurance – after all, it is not compulsory – it is surprising
how many pet owners do not take out pet insurance.
Yet, you are three times more likely to need to make a claim on
your pet insurance (if you have it) compared to your contents
insurance!
Many cat and dog owners see pet insurance as unnecessary, yet
every year, one in three pets make an unexpected trip to the
vet, meaning their owner will need to find the money to pay for
their treatment. These costs can literally run into hundreds –
sometimes even thousands – of pounds.
As example, when 12 year old Timmy - a Bombay cat - was adopted
from a local rescue by the Ashcroft family, they immediately got
him checked over by their vet and then took out pet insurance at
a cost of £10.85 a month.
Mrs Ashcroft says: "Having been a cat owner for many years, and
knowing how vets bills can mount up, it seemed the natural thing
to insure Timmy. We are so glad we did now. Just four months
after we took out the insurance, a routine check up showed up a
heart murmur. Diagnostic tests to discover just how the bad the
problem was, plus ongoing medication and visits to the vet cost
us well over £700 in just a year.
"After that, further tests revealed a thyroid problem.
Medication, tests and a operation the following year cost us
another £700-odd. Thankfully, our insurance covered most of
these costs - we only had an £80 excess to pay. Timmy will be on
medication for the rest of his life and will need twice-yearly
check ups, and the insurance policy will pay for this. It's
comforting to know that we can afford to give him the best
medical treatment and attention for the rest of his life".
There are many specialist insurance companies offering pet
insurance for your pet, from rats, rabbits and reptiles through
to cats, dogs and horses, at affordable prices. And while cover
varies from provider to provider and depends on the type of pet
you are insuring, as a basic rule, injuries and illnesses are
covered. (You should note that preventative treatment, such as
vaccinations or dentals are not covered).
Each time you claim for a separate injury or illness, you will
be expected to pay an excess - rather like your car or home
insurance.
When choosing the right policy for you and your pet, bear in
mind that while the concept is the same for all the insurers,
each has its own terms, conditions and criteria. The following
should be taken into consideration:
• Check that there is no limit on how long you can claim for
each illness. For example, if your cat need tablets to control
heart problems, or your dog has arthritis, the problem will need
to be controlled for the rest of their life, not just a year or
24 months
• Check that the limit per illness is realistic - over time
treatment for a single illness can cost hundreds of pounds
• Check that your pet will still be covered in later life when
they will need it most. Some insurers terminate policies when a
pet reaches a certain age
• Look out for special discounts, such as those offered in
multi-pet households and for pensioners
About The Author: Jason Hulott is Business Development Director
of Protection Insurance (http://www.protecti
an internet based insurance business dedicated to getting
consumers the best rates and the best products.
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