What Does Pet Insurance Cover
What Does Pet Insurance Cover
On some days, I think my dog has more energy than an outlet! I was trying to get some work done, and he decided it was playtime. But seriously, what if he gets hurt? That’s where having pet insurance can truly help.
Pet insurance typically covers vet bills resulting from covered accidents, injuries, and illnesses. Our coverage and exclusions page provides a detailed breakdown of what you can get with a MetLife Pet dog insurance policy (from $15 a month) or cat insurance policy (from $9 a month). 2 Our Sample Policy provides additional detail (more info). Still, there are a few standard items that a MetLife pet insurance policy may cover.
While pet insurance doesn’t apply to everything (like pre-existing conditions or some breed-specific problems), it does bring peace of mind, knowing that surprise veterinary bills don’t have to be so overwhelming. Ultimately, the right policy will depend on your pet’s needs, health history, and budget. Buying pet insurance means the best care for your pet is available without the added financial burden ensuring a longer, healthier life.
What Is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance can pay for your dog’s medical care like human health insurance. If your dog gets very sick or injured, for example, the vet bills to address it could be staggering. A pet insurance policy can help you pay them.
As pet insurance is intended to cover unforeseen costs, it may not cover your pet’s routine treatment or conditions before purchasing the policy. In addition, it is not mandatory coverage; some people may choose to fund all of their pet’s medical expenditures themselves rather than buying insurance they are unsure they would use.
With the advent of technology, veterinary medical research has also advanced. Many sophisticated medical procedures that were previously only available to humans are now available to animals. Hence, having insurance coverage for your dog can be one of your most significant decisions and form of affection towards your pet. By investing in pet insurance, you’re not only safeguarding your pet’s health but also providing peace of mind knowing that financial constraints will not stand in the way of giving your dog the care it deserves.
What Is Covered With Pet insurance?
Pet insurance covers treatment costs for various illnesses or injuries, surgeries, hospitalization fees, death due to certain diseases, loss, theft or straying of pets, accidents during transport, pet disability or accidental poisoning.
If third party insurance is included third party is also covered for legal liability. Private pet insurance typically covers all breeds of dogs, from domestic to exotic and from eight weeks to eight years.
Most pet insurance policies come with a month-long waiting period. If your pet develops any diseases or illnesses over this month, it won’t be covered. However, once the waiting period has passed, your pet will be covered for new conditions, which are unrelated to pre-existing health issues. It’s essential to carefully review the terms and conditions of your pet insurance policy to fully understand the waiting period and any exceptions that may apply.
Insurance Coverage For Types Of Pets
Not every provider will offer the same coverage for these services and conditions, so it’s worth checking the fine print. Most pet insurance plans fall into one of two main coverage types. Full coverage will typically cover your animal for both injury and illness. Accident-only coverage is generally more restricted, primarily covering injury and accident. The trade-off is often a smaller monthly premium.
Also note that with MetLife Pet, the plans are customizable so that you can adjust to your budget and needs, along with making it more robust with add-ons like preventive care and dental coverage. No exams or vaccines are needed to start a policy, so it is easy for pet owners to get started, whichever of these plans they choose.
So, how do you choose the best pet health insurance policy? You can start by evaluating your pet’s needs, and your budget, to determine whether pet insurance is worth it for you. Next, you would want to get a free MetLife Pet Insurance Quote for your dog or cat.
What Is Not Covered By Pet Insurance?
MetLife Pet strives to minimize our exclusions. But like with all pet insurance providers, there are some exclusions. No MetLife Pet policy covers the following:
- Any pre-existing conditions that existed before your pet’s policy effective date (no matter how long ago it was or if your pet was never diagnosed or treated) or any waiting period will not be covered under MetLife Pet Insurance. Coverage of previously excluded pre-existing conditions – a pre-existing condition may be excluded when switching providers; however, coverage of the pre-existing condition at the time of coverage may be allowed if the pre-existing condition is covered under a previous policy of another provider from where you switch to MetLife Pet.
- Cosmetic procedures — such as declawing, tail docking or ear cropping — that do not affect your pet’s health. Injuries from racing, coursing, commercial guarding or unlawful fighting.
- Review what events and conditions are included when evaluating a plan so that you can be sure that it’s the right insurance product for you and the pet(s). You can also glance at our competitor comparison tables that will help you in the process of quickly seeing
How Do I Make A Claim On My Pet Insurance?
Here is a walk-through of how to navigate the process:
- Review your policy documents: Before engaging in a claim process, you must understand the level of coverage you possess. Pull out your insurance paperwork and start reading up on what is covered and what is not under your policy and that should help you figure out whether you can file a claim.
- Contact your insurer: Call your pet insurers’ claims line and provide them with information on what has happened to your pet and all the costs involved that you’re aware of.
- Step 5: Claim form — Make sure that you have retained all documentation from your vet including diagnosis, treatment and medication. This paperwork can help justify your claim.
Conclusion
Pet insurance can be a huge financial help since it can cover various medical costs for your furry family members. Coverage usually offers coverage at the vet’s office, emergency car, insurance for surgeries, medicines, treatment of illness and accidents. Depending on the plan, it can also cover services like vaccinations, wellness exams and preventive care, helping to keep your pet healthy and manage the costs. It’s important to read over the details of the policies because coverage can vary, and coverage for alternative therapies, behavioral treatment or even end-of-life care may be included with some plans.
Although pet insurance can’t cover everything from pre-existing conditions to certain breed-specific issues, it can offer peace of mind in that any unexpected veterinary bills are more manageable. Ultimately, the right policy will come down to your pet’s needs and health history and to your budget. Investing in pet insurance means that your pet would get the best possible care when they need it most and without the accompanying financial burden, enabling them to live a longer and healthier life.
FAQ
If your dog or cat is sick or injured, pet insurance can cover your eligible veterinary bills and certain medications, according to what’s covered by your policy. With pet insurance, you can typically use any licensed vet, including specialty and emergency clinics.
It’s usually not too difficult to know when you should claim, and you can always check your policy documents or speak to your insurance provider if you’re not sure. The only time it might not be worth claiming is if your policy excess – that’s the amount you pay to make a claim – is more than the cost of the treatment.
Highest Payout Limits
Pets Best Pet Insurance, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, FIGO, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Spot Pet Insurance, Pumpkin Pet Insurance, and Trupanion all offer unlimited payouts on their policies, which means there’s no ceiling on how much money you can receive in reimbursement.
Pet insurance pays you back for unexpected vet bills related to accidents, injuries, and illnesses. With the best insurance companies , you get reimbursed for 80%, 90%, or even 100% of the vet bill (after your deductible is met). Like most insurance options, you’ll pay a monthly premium to keep your coverage active.
What Is The Policy Period For Pet Insurance?
A pet insurance waiting period is the time between when you buy a plan and when coverage starts. Accident coverage usually begins after two to five days. Illness coverage may begin after 14 to 30 days.
