Pet Insurance

Pet insurance, also known as pet health insurance, is a type of plan an owner purchases in order to cover medical expenses for their pets. The owner often will pay a monthly or annual fee and then get reimbursed for paid medical expenses incurred during a vet visit.

Most pet insurance plans are based on a reimbursement method, where you pay the veterinarian directly and then submit your claim, then the insurance provider pays you back. Because it works this way, you can choose any veterinarian, specialist or emergency hospital you want.

The coverage you get for pet insurance depends on the type of plan you choose. You could opt for a policy that covers you in case of an emergency, or you could add on optional coverage that covers some or all of the costs of maintenance and wellness care for your pet.

The pet insurance quotes you receive will depend on a variety of factors, including the pet's type, breed and age and the type of coverage requested. You can upgrade or downgrade your coverage at any time.

The deductible is the amount you're responsible for before reimbursements start. Like most other types of insurance, you're responsible for part of the cost. Some pet insurance deductibles are annual, including our provider's, which means you only have to meet your deductible once per policy term—not every vet visit, or once for every different type of condition, which is how other pet insurance deductibles are sometimes structured.

Items that can be reimbursed through Wellness Rewards include but aren't limited to:

• Wellness exams
• Vaccinations and titers
• Flea, tick and heartworm medication
• Spay and neuter surgery
• Fecal exams
• Routine blood tests
• Microchipping
• Umbilical hernia repair
• Gastropexy
• Toenail trimming
• Routine anal gland expression
• Routine chiropractic care, reiki, massage therapy and acupuncture
• Teeth cleaning and dental illness
• Prescription diet food purchased at your veterinarian
• OFA and PennHIP exams, as well as X-rays
• Nutritional supplements
• Medicated shampoos
• Behavioral, obedience and specialty training
• Pet activity monitors
• Grooming
• Cremation and burial

Unlike human health insurance, pet insurance has no networks. Because it works based on a reimbursement method, you pay the vet directly and submit your claim, then the provider will pay you back. You can visit any veterinarian, specialist or emergency hospital you want.

You can downgrade your coverage at any time. Downgrading your coverage means anything that gives you less coverage. This could include lowering your annual maximum, lowering your reimbursement rate or increasing your deductible. You can also upgrade your coverage at any time. However, your policy would be subject to re-underwriting, which is basically like getting a new policy.