The post Pet Owner\u2019s Guide to Modern Pet Insurance<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Many dog owners wonder if it\u2019s worth buying pet insurance. If your dog ever experiences a serious illness or injury, pet insurance is clearly invaluable. But non-emergency veterinary care is costly, too, and pet insurance helps you pay those bills. \u201cWhen you look at the frequency of the claims that we see every day, the stuff that\u2019s not as traumatic can have as equally big an impact on a pet\u2019s health and owner\u2019s finances,\u201d says Dr. Jules Benson, chief veterinary officer for Nationwide. \u201cOur most frequent claims are for skin allergies and ear infections, and anyone who has lived with a pet that has [those conditions] knows that they can get really expensive really quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n Pet insurance offers peace of mind that you will be able to care for your pet in the event he becomes sick or injured.<\/p>\n \u201cPet insurance is not about a return on investment,\u201d says Kristen Lynch, executive director of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. \u201cIt\u2019s about knowing that I\u2019m going to spend a certain amount on my pet no matter what, and I know my pet is likely to become ill or have an accident or both, and I\u2019m protecting my financial ability to be a good, responsible pet owner.\u201d<\/p>\n The number of North American pet owners who have pet insurance grows every year as people learn more about the value of insuring their pets.<\/p>\n \u201cPet insurance has become a lot more common, especially for younger consumers such as millennials and Gen Y,\u201d says Rob Jackson, chief pet protector at Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. \u201cThe cost of veterinary care continues to rise, which makes pet insurance even more necessary for people who consider pets part of their family. Every year, we see new treatments, prescriptions and high-tech advancements in veterinary science, which is great for our pets, but it means increased costs per incident.\u201d<\/p>\n Believe it or not, pet insurance has been around for more than 130 years. Swedish businessman Claes Virgin, the founder of Lansforsakrings (which is now Agria Pet Insurance), wrote the first pet insurance policies in 1890. As a result, buying pet insurance is a fairly common practice internationally, with about 50% of Swedish pet owners and 25% of U.K. pet owners estimated to have it.<\/p>\n Pet insurance is a growing industry in the United States and Canada, with many more providers, policies and options available today compared to a few decades ago. The first U.S. pet insurance company, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) came on the scene in the 1980s. Back then, most people didn\u2019t even know you could buy pet insurance, but the concept slowly caught on. For a time, VPI (now Nationwide) was the only option if you wanted to insure your pet. These days, pet owners have many more options.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we have more than 20 members at the industry level,\u201d Kristen says. \u201cI know that there are between 20 and 25 companies in the market right now, and some of those represent multiple brands.\u201d In the beginning, pet insurance policies were mostly one-size-fits-all, but today\u2019s offerings are much more robust, offering variety and flexibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s product for everyone,\u201d Kristen says. \u201cAs the market is maturing, I think we\u2019ll start to see more innovation in the kinds of products that are available to people, depending on what they can afford, what kind of coverage they want, how they want to use their coverage \u2014 they can make choices. If they want to add something on or take something off, they can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Embrace Pet Insurance Communications Manager Sara Radak adds, \u201cIt\u2019s all about making the product better for the pet parent. We\u2019ve ditched the paper claim form and made it easier to submit claims online. Auto adjudication is speeding up the claims process so pet parents get their reimbursement faster. \u201c<\/p>\n And of course, we can\u2019t forget how apps have changed the market. She explains, \u201cApps will continue to make it easier for pet parents to access and update their policy, submit and view claims, and take advantage of perks like Embrace\u2019s PawSupport 24\/7 health line.\u201d<\/p>\n Lastly, Sara says to expect more pet insurance companies to look for new ways to differentiate themselves via pet health resources to make them not just a pet insurance provider but a partner in managing your pet\u2019s health.<\/p>\n Think you are ready to buy but still unsure which company or policy to go with?<\/p>\n \u201cDo your research!\u201d Sara says. \u201cEach company is different, and it\u2019s not always easy to make an apples to apples comparison. Understanding what\u2019s covered by the policy you purchase is critical to having a good experience when your pet is sick or injured.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are three things you should know about today\u2019s policies to help you choose the best one for you and your pet.<\/p>\n Regular pet insurance policies cover accidents and injuries, not well-pet services like annual physical exams, vaccines, annual blood work, dental cleanings, or flea and tick preventives. However, many insurance companies offer wellness \u201criders\u201d that you can add on to your policy. Such wellness add-ons generally reimburse you a specific dollar amount for expected preventive care costs throughout the year.<\/p>\n Rather than provide a small co-pay at the time your pet is seen, you typically pay your veterinarian in full for all services, then submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. (At least one company, Trupanion, can pay the veterinarian directly \u2014 you only need to pay the co-insurance. Your vet must be signed up with this service through Trupanion.)<\/p>\n Your annual premium typically is based on three key considerations: your dog\u2019s age, his breed and where you live. Some companies also factor in whether your dog is spayed or neutered, offering slightly lower premiums for dogs that are fixed.<\/p>\n Pet insurance is less expensive for puppies and young adults, compared to older dogs. Boisterous puppies and adolescent dogs can also get into quite a lot of trouble. It\u2019s good to know you\u2019re covered if your pup swallows something he shouldn\u2019t or breaks a leg while rough housing.<\/p>\n Since most policies don\u2019t cover pre-existing conditions, you\u2019ll want to sign up before your dog ever has a health issue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe earlier, the better,\u201d Kristen says. \u201cThat\u2019s not to say that there aren\u2019t still reasons to have it when your pet is a little older, you just may not be able to get as robust coverage, and your premium is going to be higher.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that insuring an older dog is more costly, but older dogs also often have more health issues. Arthritis, heart conditions, kidney issues and cancer are expensive to treat, so insurance can be a valuable investment.<\/p>\n If you know you want pet insurance but you\u2019re not sure which company or policy to go with, Kristen says to talk to your vet and ask what conditions your dog is likely to get in his lifetime and what it costs to treat them.<\/p>\n \u201cIs luxating patella or Cushing\u2019s disease fairly common in the breed?\u201d she says. \u201cWhat\u2019s the average cost to treat something like that? Is it usually an emergency? Could it be $5,000 or $10,000? That\u2019s going to tell you what kind of benefits you need.\u201d<\/p>\n Want even more information? Today, pet owners have access to pet DNA companies that do much more than tell you what breed your dog is but will do a health screening that lets you know possible genetic health risks for your dog. (Just a few examples are DNA My Dog, Embark and Wisdom Panel.)<\/p>\n \u201cIt never hurts to be informed about the risks your pet may face as they age,\u201d Sara says. \u201cSadly, we don\u2019t have a magic ball that will tell us what to expect from our pets\u2019 health, but any insights into what could be down the road help us prepare to give our pets the best care.\u201d<\/p>\n At the end of the day, pet insurance is a way to ensure you won\u2019t be put in a scary financial position due to a large vet bill.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople who have a preparedness mindset don\u2019t want to leave anything to chance when it comes to their pets,\u201d Dr. Benson says. \u201cThey see pet health insurance as a great way of making sure they\u2019re prepared for anything that can happen to their pet.<\/p>\n Want pet insurance? For a list of companies that are members of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, visit naphia.org\/find-pet-insurance<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Pet Owner\u2019s Guide to Modern Pet Insurance<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Pet Owner\u2019s Guide to Modern Pet Insurance<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Many dog owners wonder if it\u2019s worth buying pet insurance. If your dog ever experiences a serious illness or injury, pet insurance is clearly invaluable. But non-emergency veterinary care is costly, too, and pet insurance helps you pay those bills. \u201cWhen you look at the frequency of the claims that we see every day, the stuff that\u2019s not as traumatic can have as equally big an impact on a pet\u2019s health and owner\u2019s finances,\u201d says Dr. Jules Benson, chief veterinary officer for Nationwide. \u201cOur most frequent claims are for skin allergies and ear infections, and anyone who has lived with a pet that has [those conditions] knows that they can get really expensive really quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n Pet insurance offers peace of mind that you will be able to care for your pet in the event he becomes sick or injured.<\/p>\n \u201cPet insurance is not about a return on investment,\u201d says Kristen Lynch, executive director of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. \u201cIt\u2019s about knowing that I\u2019m going to spend a certain amount on my pet no matter what, and I know my pet is likely to become ill or have an accident or both, and I\u2019m protecting my financial ability to be a good, responsible pet owner.\u201d<\/p>\n The number of North American pet owners who have pet insurance grows every year as people learn more about the value of insuring their pets.<\/p>\n \u201cPet insurance has become a lot more common, especially for younger consumers such as millennials and Gen Y,\u201d says Rob Jackson, chief pet protector at Healthy Paws Pet Insurance. \u201cThe cost of veterinary care continues to rise, which makes pet insurance even more necessary for people who consider pets part of their family. Every year, we see new treatments, prescriptions and high-tech advancements in veterinary science, which is great for our pets, but it means increased costs per incident.\u201d<\/p>\n Believe it or not, pet insurance has been around for more than 130 years. Swedish businessman Claes Virgin, the founder of Lansforsakrings (which is now Agria Pet Insurance), wrote the first pet insurance policies in 1890. As a result, buying pet insurance is a fairly common practice internationally, with about 50% of Swedish pet owners and 25% of U.K. pet owners estimated to have it.<\/p>\n Pet insurance is a growing industry in the United States and Canada, with many more providers, policies and options available today compared to a few decades ago. The first U.S. pet insurance company, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) came on the scene in the 1980s. Back then, most people didn\u2019t even know you could buy pet insurance, but the concept slowly caught on. For a time, VPI (now Nationwide) was the only option if you wanted to insure your pet. These days, pet owners have many more options.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we have more than 20 members at the industry level,\u201d Kristen says. \u201cI know that there are between 20 and 25 companies in the market right now, and some of those represent multiple brands.\u201d In the beginning, pet insurance policies were mostly one-size-fits-all, but today\u2019s offerings are much more robust, offering variety and flexibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s product for everyone,\u201d Kristen says. \u201cAs the market is maturing, I think we\u2019ll start to see more innovation in the kinds of products that are available to people, depending on what they can afford, what kind of coverage they want, how they want to use their coverage \u2014 they can make choices. If they want to add something on or take something off, they can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Embrace Pet Insurance Communications Manager Sara Radak adds, \u201cIt\u2019s all about making the product better for the pet parent. We\u2019ve ditched the paper claim form and made it easier to submit claims online. Auto adjudication is speeding up the claims process so pet parents get their reimbursement faster. \u201c<\/p>\n And of course, we can\u2019t forget how apps have changed the market. She explains, \u201cApps will continue to make it easier for pet parents to access and update their policy, submit and view claims, and take advantage of perks like Embrace\u2019s PawSupport 24\/7 health line.\u201d<\/p>\n Lastly, Sara says to expect more pet insurance companies to look for new ways to differentiate themselves via pet health resources to make them not just a pet insurance provider but a partner in managing your pet\u2019s health.<\/p>\n Think you are ready to buy but still unsure which company or policy to go with?<\/p>\n \u201cDo your research!\u201d Sara says. \u201cEach company is different, and it\u2019s not always easy to make an apples to apples comparison. Understanding what\u2019s covered by the policy you purchase is critical to having a good experience when your pet is sick or injured.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are three things you should know about today\u2019s policies to help you choose the best one for you and your pet.<\/p>\n Regular pet insurance policies cover accidents and injuries, not well-pet services like annual physical exams, vaccines, annual blood work, dental cleanings, or flea and tick preventives. However, many insurance companies offer wellness \u201criders\u201d that you can add on to your policy. Such wellness add-ons generally reimburse you a specific dollar amount for expected preventive care costs throughout the year.<\/p>\n Rather than provide a small co-pay at the time your pet is seen, you typically pay your veterinarian in full for all services, then submit a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. (At least one company, Trupanion, can pay the veterinarian directly \u2014 you only need to pay the co-insurance. Your vet must be signed up with this service through Trupanion.)<\/p>\n Your annual premium typically is based on three key considerations: your dog\u2019s age, his breed and where you live. Some companies also factor in whether your dog is spayed or neutered, offering slightly lower premiums for dogs that are fixed.<\/p>\n Pet insurance is less expensive for puppies and young adults, compared to older dogs. Boisterous puppies and adolescent dogs can also get into quite a lot of trouble. It\u2019s good to know you\u2019re covered if your pup swallows something he shouldn\u2019t or breaks a leg while rough housing.<\/p>\n Since most policies don\u2019t cover pre-existing conditions, you\u2019ll want to sign up before your dog ever has a health issue.<\/p>\n \u201cThe earlier, the better,\u201d Kristen says. \u201cThat\u2019s not to say that there aren\u2019t still reasons to have it when your pet is a little older, you just may not be able to get as robust coverage, and your premium is going to be higher.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s true that insuring an older dog is more costly, but older dogs also often have more health issues. Arthritis, heart conditions, kidney issues and cancer are expensive to treat, so insurance can be a valuable investment.<\/p>\n If you know you want pet insurance but you\u2019re not sure which company or policy to go with, Kristen says to talk to your vet and ask what conditions your dog is likely to get in his lifetime and what it costs to treat them.<\/p>\n \u201cIs luxating patella or Cushing\u2019s disease fairly common in the breed?\u201d she says. \u201cWhat\u2019s the average cost to treat something like that? Is it usually an emergency? Could it be $5,000 or $10,000? That\u2019s going to tell you what kind of benefits you need.\u201d<\/p>\n Want even more information? Today, pet owners have access to pet DNA companies that do much more than tell you what breed your dog is but will do a health screening that lets you know possible genetic health risks for your dog. (Just a few examples are DNA My Dog, Embark and Wisdom Panel.)<\/p>\n \u201cIt never hurts to be informed about the risks your pet may face as they age,\u201d Sara says. \u201cSadly, we don\u2019t have a magic ball that will tell us what to expect from our pets\u2019 health, but any insights into what could be down the road help us prepare to give our pets the best care.\u201d<\/p>\n At the end of the day, pet insurance is a way to ensure you won\u2019t be put in a scary financial position due to a large vet bill.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople who have a preparedness mindset don\u2019t want to leave anything to chance when it comes to their pets,\u201d Dr. Benson says. \u201cThey see pet health insurance as a great way of making sure they\u2019re prepared for anything that can happen to their pet.<\/p>\n Want pet insurance? For a list of companies that are members of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, visit naphia.org\/find-pet-insurance<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Pet Owner\u2019s Guide to Modern Pet Insurance<\/a> by Jackie Brown<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nThen and Now<\/h3>\n
When It\u2019s Time to Buy<\/h3>\n
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\nThen and Now<\/h3>\n
When It\u2019s Time to Buy<\/h3>\n
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