Say you just welcomed a new furry friend to your household. Upon taking a trip to the nearest pet store, you buy items like puppy/kitten food, toys, housetraining material, and a name tag. You head home feeling like you’re prepared for this new adventure. Unfortunately, you’re wrong. Similar to humans, health insurance for pets exists, and has become a crucial aspect of bringing a new animal into your home; the caveat is that providers urge that pets be insured when they’re young, as most providers do not cover pre-existing or hereditary issues.
Pet care is a multi-billion dollar industry, and specialty surgeries can cost thousands of dollars. By getting insured or discounted, pet insurance becomes the gift that keeps on giving, especially as the pet becomes older. The Associated Press found that 41 percent of pet owners were actively worried about affording vet bills, and some owners even asked vet clinics to euthanize their pets instead of going further into debt. If the pet was insured prior to the issue, treatment may have been easily accessible. For a generally healthy pet, insurance may not be in the conversation, but pets get sick as easily as humans, and human health insurance is a trillion-dollar industry in America.
What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is a way to have a back-up in the event that a pet gets seriously injured or has to be rushed to emergency medical care. Most providers cover issues such as wellness checks, dental cleanings and exams, cancer care, diabetes management, spays and neuters, vaccines, and routine care. Although the majority of pet insurance providers exclude pre-existing conditions and hereditary problems, some, like Pet Assure, have no exclusions. Pet Assure covers 179 issues, not including those specific to certain breeds. Regardless of pet age, breed, or type of animal, every in-house medical service is at a 25 percent discount.
What do I show at the clinic check-out?
Upon online registration, a digital card will be linked, and a tangible card will arrive at your address in 1-10 business days. There is no “waiting period”. An issue with larger pet insurance providers is that the reimbursement plan is a common route. The vet visit is scheduled, attended, paid for, and then reimbursed at a later date after the co-pay and deductible have been paid. Although this works for those with ample account balances, it presents a serious issue for those owners paying for numerous issues or significant bills. Instead of having to worry about adding to mounting credit card debt, a Pet Assure ID applies an instant discount to the bill while still in the clinic. It’s akin to having a permanent discount code on a store you frequent.
Participating veterinary clinics are also easily organized by state, so Pet Assure users can trust their pet’s healthcare provider.
Why discount when pet insurance covers 70 to 90 percent of the bill?
The difference is that widely-utilized pet insurers only cover certain issues. This means that the coverage deliberately excludes hundreds of services, including those specific to certain breeds. In addition, many plans have a month of waiting period for the policy to take effect, and during that time, pet issues are not covered; if a problem presents during that time, it could end up costing more than the policy itself, and even potentially the animal’s life.
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