Pet Insurance Pitfalls - What To Look Out For

Insurance! I know, not the most interesting of subjects is it? It's one of those things that we are only ever grateful for if something pretty horrible happens. It gets worse if that horrible thing happens and you're not covered as you thought you were. So here are a few pieces of information you'll want to keep in mind when you're looking for pet insurance.

When you compare pet insurance it's worth remembering that price shouldn't be at the top of your list because when you come to claim you could find out you've got less cover than you thought.

Lifetime vs. Limited Time

There's something strange to pet insurance, which is somewhat hidden to the new pet insurance customer. It's called 'claims basis'. Depending on the policy you choose, you could have a timer ready to start from your first claim. That's right - if you make a claim on a policy with a 12 month time limit, you'll only have that amount of time to sort out that particular incident and if it recurs after that time, you're not covered. That's a 'per condition with a time limit' policy. As you can probably gather this type of cover is quite basic and there could be many occasions where you wouldn't be able to claim.

At the other end of the scale is lifetime pet insurance where your quoted vet fee cover renews every year as long as you renew your policy. This type of policy can be more expensive but does provide the more comprehensive cover.

Ageism is Rife

Like with humans, as your pet starts to age you might need to pay even closer attention to the small print. Some insurers can sting you with an additional percentage charge on top of your normal excess once your pet is a certain age (around 7+ years old). Take a look through the policy document to check where you stand on this - or ask the insurer.

Switchers & Twitchers

As a society we seem to be getting less loyal and more willing to 'jump ship'. With some products and services, changing from one to another is very straight forward. When it comes to pet insurance it's not all black and white. Switching companies has its pros and cons. If you switch when you've already had a claim, you will not be able to claim for that condition again at the new company. That's not a problem if you have a time limit on further claims which has run out (as mentioned earlier) but if you don't then it's worth thinking twice about a switch.

If you haven't claimed on your pet insurance yet and your pet is relatively young it might be worth switching, especially if you find a policy with more beneficial cover for your pet.

The Early Bird Catches The Worm Best Policy

It's best to know about these important parts of insurance so that you can be prepared when something does happen. Starting before you insure your pet is the best way to ensure you put yourself in the best position to care for your pet while keeping an eye on your wallet.

If you already have insurance I hope this has inspired you to check whether you have the right policy for you and your pet's needs.

Comparing the top insurers is a pretty good idea but comparing the right parts of a policy is crucial.

Article contributed by pet-insurance-comparison.net

Copyright © 2000-2020
Hints and Things
All Rights Reserved.



No portion of this site may be reproduced or redistributed without prior written permission from Hints and Things. All trademarks & copyrights throughout Hints and Things remain the property of their respective owners.

Hints and Things cannot be held responsible for any information given on this site nor do they necessarily agree with, or endorse, the views given by third parties.