Pet Insurance? Is it worth it?
- So is it worth it?
I think it all depends on your situation. If you feel secure enough that you could cover whatever expense may arise then I would say no.
However, as no-one can predict a broken leg or a long term illness that will require treatment and medication leading to a hefty bill, it is that security blanket of insurance that can cushion the blow and allow the owner to concentrate solely on the animal.
There is another option that is available, save for a rainy day. It is an idea, which I know several follow. It is based on a monthly premium, not to an insurance company but to your savings account.
Budget how much you can afford to put aside a month and place it in a savings account or safe place and if the worst happens it is there to fall back on.
The downside to this is the cash payout will be nowhere near what an insurance company will offer.
- How much is it?
There is no one set fee, a number of factors are taken into consideration, age, dog breed, location, medical history etc. The lowest premium I came across in my search was 7.50 for a pedigree dog on a basic package.
- Where from?
Do your research, contact friends and family first, ask for examples of claims that may have been made, customer service when taking the policy out or on any calls they may have made. This will give you a general idea of customer service skills or lack of.
Next would be internet search, input the companies name and words such as complaints, delays, refusal, claim issues etc., these tend to bring up forums that alert you of possible situation.
Asking a vet is always an option, however it may not always result in a neutral answer, my vet group promote a particular insurance company which I am not fond of due to my dealings with them in the past, so you can ask for advice, but again do your research on them first before taking out a policy.
- What age?
If you do decide insurance is for you, many people have conflicting views on age to take out policies, some see it as younger dogs are less prone to illness or breakage’s, however the elder ones are more susceptible.
I would say, if you are willing to take the insurance policy, take it a.s.a.p. You can never tell when your pet will require it, and the smaller and younger the animal the more likely it is to be hurt.
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at 5:47 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
