After you adopt a cat, you should always look into cat insurance. Pet insurance plans are well worth the cost. You pay a monthly premium in order to receive coverage in three different areas, accident, illness, and wellness. The coverage you receive will vary based on the plan you select. Here are 5 tips to help you choose the best insurance for your furry friend.
1. Compare Pet Insurance Providers
The first thing you should do is compare different pet insurance providers. It’s overwhelming to look at different plans from each provider, so pick the company you want to go with first, that way, you can narrow it down from there. Look at their track record, how they reimburse their clients, and what people say about them online.
Once you’ve decided on a company, you can delve further into the different types of plans that they offer and make a decision from there.
2. Check What’s Covered
You should look at what they cover for each of their different types of plans. What will you be responsible for paying for out of pocket (without getting reimbursed)? It’s also a good idea to jot down a list of things that are important to you. That way, you can compare your list to what different plans offer and make a decision based on that.
If you’re looking to cut down the costs of annual wellness exams, an accident-only protection plan probably isn’t going to be what you’re looking for.
You also want to keep in mind what your pets are like. Would they get into an accident easily? Do they bolt for the door whenever you open it? Are they likely to get hit by a car? If you have a relatively tame cat, you may want to skip the accident coverage and opt for more comprehensive illness and wellness coverage.
3. Choose Coverage That Works for You
Based on your needs and what the coverage allows, make a decision on the kind of plan that you want. Do you want your annual exams to be covered? Are you looking for accident only or illness only covered?
Most companies don’t allow for illness-only coverage and only cover illnesses when it’s bundled with another policy, so that’s something you’ll have to keep in mind when making a decision.
With most companies, you’re also free to change your mind at any point. If you chose the wrong plan and you want to make a change or switch around your coverage, you can do so at any point. With some companies, you may have to wait a waiting period for your changes to kick in.
4. Percentage vs. Allowance
There are two different types of reimbursement, percentage, and allowance. For percentage reimbursement, you’ll be reimbursed a set percent of all applicable and covered charges. This number will always be the same.
With an allowance, you get a certain amount of 100% reimbursement before you have to start paying for services yourself. You can choose this number when you sign up.
It may be a smart idea to use an allowance when your pets are younger, as they may not have as much expensive care, and then switch to a percentage when they get older.
5. Enroll When They’re Young
When you enroll them is also important, as some pet insurance companies won’t cover any pre-existing conditions. For example, if your cat had an issue before you enrolled them in pet insurance, that issue now won’t be covered for the rest of their life.
That’s why it’s so important to enroll them when they’re young. That way, there’s no chance of their injuries and illnesses not being covered for this reason.
Plus, if you start when they’re young, you can start saving money early, too.