Dog health insurance is exactly what it sounds like – health insurance for your dog. However, where many people often get confused is that they think dog health insurance is akin to human health insurance, which it isn’t. Dog health insurance is more like property insurance, since your dog is your property. Because your dog is your property, you need to be protected from unexpected risks to your pocket book.
Pet health insurance originally covered livestock in the UK during the early 1900s, but due to increased breakthroughs with dog medications, surgery and preventative procedures, pet health insurance has evolved heavily in favor of dog owners who come across unexpected veterinary bills, which can be quite expensive.
The way pet insurance usually works in the United States is, after your dog has received care you will submit a claim to the insurance company. Policies in the United States usually pay anywhere from 80 to 90% of the veterinary costs minus a deductible depending, of course, on the company and the specific policy. This means that you will usually pay the amount due to the Vet and, afterwards you will send in a claim form to receive reimbursement for that payment. Some companies will actually limit this according to their own schedule of necessary charges.
When there is an incredibly high Veterinary bill concerned, many Vets will allow you to put off payment until the dog insurance claim is processed and some insurers pay Veterinarians directly on behalf of you as the customer. Although most United States policies require you as the dog owner to submit a request for incurred fees, every company is different and every policy is not the same, so it’s incredibly important that you shop around if you’re considering getting dog health insurance.
Traditionally, most dog health insurance plans in the United States do not pay for preventative care, which is usually characterized by vaccinations or spaying and neutering. However, there are a few U.S.-based dog health insurance companies that are now offering routine care coverage, which is sometimes referred to as comprehensive coverage.
The most important thing you can do as a dog owner is insure your dog at a young age as a puppy because most dog health insurance companies limit coverage for pre-existing conditions in order to eliminate fraudulent consumers.
Some dog health insurance companies allow coverage outside of the realm of health. For example, if your are hospitalized, then there are policies available that cover boarding costs for your dog while you’re are out of the house.
When it comes to dog health insurance it’s incredibly important to not jump the proverbial gun – shop around and ask questions and do your research. Some companies will use a “benefit schedule”, which means they will only cover what they think a given procedure is worth. Other companies won’t cover hereditary conditions, which is not good, especially if you have a dog breed prone to certain cancers and other hereditary conditions. Some companies won’t even renew your policy at the end of the term or may consider a condition pre-existing after renewal of your yearly contract refusing to cover the illness.
When it comes to the health of your dog, dog health insurance can really provide you a lot of peace of mind, but you needn’t stop there. Your dog’s health is greatly improved by the correct diet, exercise and plenty of love and attention from you as the owner. I recommend using dog health supplements to help keep your dog living a long, healthy life.
Proud Dog Complete Wellness is an all-in-one health supplement ideal for all breeds and ages of dogs. Together with a good diet and added support from dog health insurance, Proud Dog Complete Wellness supplement adds extra support for joint health, boosts immune system, enhances skin and coat, boosts digestive system, provides your dog with essential fatty acids as well as 24 other vitamins and minerals essential to your dog’s health and continued growth.