More and more people are moving away from the “dog owner” label and are embracing the pet parent role instead. We realize that dogs are not just objects to own, but members of our family and should therefore be treated with the same care and respect as your own children. Birthdays, holidays, family vacations, and even the occasional spa day or restaurant outing are some of the events where including the family dog is not so unheard of anymore.
As a beloved member of the family, it’s important to keep your dog happy, healthy and well-adjusted. Proper obedience training, biologically appropriate nutrition and regular visits to your vet are all important ways we can ensure our dogs have the best chance at living a long and happy life.
When it comes to your dog’s health, it’s always a good idea to be prepared for anything; because you never know when an accident will happen or you or your pet will end up in a medical emergency.
Make sure you have a well-stocked first aid kit with all the items needed to keep both you and your family safe… including your dog!
You should have a first aid kit handy in your home, in the car, at work and even when traveling with your pets.
Health insurance is no longer just for people
Another way to be prepared in case your dog is injured in an accident or suffers an illness is to purchase pet insurance. Health insurance is no longer just for people. Pet parents now have the option of purchasing insurance for their dogs to help offset health care costs later on.
Similar to human health insurance, pet insurance can cover anything from routine checkups, emergency procedures, alternative therapies, and even genetic disorders (depending on the plan).
Pros and cons of pet insurance
So why would you want health insurance for your dog? The benefits of pet insurance are many:
• Pet insurance can help cover costs associated with routine care, accidents, illness, medications, and vaccinations (depending on the plan).
• Some policies cover prescription nutrition or alternative therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy or hydrotherapy.
• Many plans are customizable so you can add or remove coverage as needed.
• Most companies offer a 30% money back guarantee if you decide to cancel and do not use the insurance within 30 days.
While there are many people who swear by having insurance for their pets, there are some critics who are not so convinced. The main arguments against pet insurance are:
• Some policies do not cover pre-existing conditions and have strict guidelines on what is considered a “pre-existing condition”.
• Some companies have age limits in their plans. This means older pets may be less covered or worse, they may not even qualify for coverage.
• Some plans require you to seek care from an in-network veterinarian to qualify for insurance reimbursement.
• Some subscriptions charge a penalty if you cancel your subscription early, so keep this in mind.
Questions to ask while looking around
There are many different companies that offer pet insurance today. Before making a decision, it’s a good idea to do some homework to make sure the plan is right for you and your dog.
Here are some questions to ask:
1. “Can I choose my own vet or do they have to be part of your own network?”
2. “Cover up:”
Genetic disorders (hereditary/congenital)?
Alternative therapies (chiropractic, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, etc.)?
Pre-existing conditions?
Breeding, throwing, gestation?
Prescription drugs or food?
3. “How is the fee calculated?” (Actual vet bill vs. average rate for service)
4. “Can I customize my plan, such as choosing my deductible or adding/removing benefits?”
5. “Are there policy payout limits? If so, what are they and are they on a per-incident, annual or lifetime basis?”
6. “Do you exclude dogs fed raw food diets from your coverage?”
7. “Are there multi-pet rates, military discounts, or other offers available?”
Recommended
- Health insurance plan for parents and children Health insurance that covers not just you, but your entire family is a solid deal. With a single premium you cover a maximum of 15 members of your family. Such a comprehensive health insurance plan is called a family floater plan. As it is a single policy that takes care…
- Money for cars: choose the best car salvage professionals OK, I know you understand. It is very easy to get a "cash for cars" service. That miserable car can actually be exchanged for cash. But there are a number of service providers in this industry. What criteria should we take into account to say that it is the best…
- Family fun on the water Today's family is generally reduced to almost "no time." Parents are working longer hours, children and teens' attention is consumed by social media, television and even texting entire conversations. The distractions are all around us. Heck, I remember when I was younger we actually had to get on our bikes…
- When to choose life insurance annuity insurance? A life insurance annuity contract requires you to pay an agreed amount to a company in exchange for the promise of regular income for the rest of the beneficiaries' lives once the investment matures. However, one caveat that sets them apart from other annuities is that the holder of the…
- Are you buying the right health insurance? read this It is rightly said that necessity is the mother of invention. This also applies to health insurance. Deteriorating lifestyle patterns and rising health care costs in India have paved the way for health insurance. This need is compounded by the fact that, unlike in the West, social security systems in…
- Understanding package holidays A marketing strategy in which products or services are grouped and sold together to make more profit is called product bundling. For example, package holidays or package holidays may include transportation and accommodation services offered together to vacation seekers, tourists or travelers. Independently or dependently functioning travel agencies work by…
- How Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts Protect Against Taxes… Many people don't realize that the proceeds of a South Florida life insurance policy will be added to your estate for estate taxes if the policy has been owned by the deceased during their last 3 years of life. This is the case for more than 90 percent of all…
- Place your trust in insurance and your insurance in trust While life insurance benefits are not treated as income for tax purposes, the deceased's estate is taxed on any amount of insurance proceeds if the life insurance policy was owned by the deceased within three years of his death. above the inheritance tax limit. Okay, now in plain English. If…
- Life Insurance for Federal Employees: Advantages and… Many US federal employees assume that Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) is the best plan available to them because they are automatically enrolled in the basic plan as soon as they are hired. Many even choose to add one of three additional coverage options (Option A, B or C).…
- Things to consider when buying life insurance Life insurance is the insurance of protected life in financial terms. This generally requires you to pay a premium on a monthly or annual basis for a specified term, depending on the policy you choose. It can be for a period of time or for a lifetime. Life insurance policies…
- Five things you should know about liability insurance 1. In today's litigious society, 1 in 12 Americans are sued each year, making liability insurance crucial to protect yourself and your loved ones. While many people think it won't happen to them, the frightening reality is that anyone can be sued. Could your otherwise friendly dog feel fear and…
- Life insurance for children Each patent has to decide whether or not to take out life insurance for their children. Since buying life insurance may not be an easy decision, the fear of not having it with your child can really worry you. As a parent of a baby boy or girl, you may…
- Something you would like to know about your life insurance… Life insurance is designed to make life easier for your family members in the event of your death. When you pass away, your children, grandchildren and other members of your family receive a financial benefit that helps them get on with life, even when you are not around.Types of life…
- Basic guidelines for health insurance Healthcare providers like laboratories, hospitals and x-rays, the house of storage that shares and consults your health information with the doctors and the use of computers and other electronic devices makes your job easy for you. Using computers in this interesting way in today's fast paced life is called health…
- Know about different life insurance plans Today, almost everyone has life insurance. It could be for various reasons such as investment purposes or tax benefits, but the main point is that it offers complete peace of mind. With insurance plans, one does not have to worry about the future safety of their family during their absence.…
- Disadvantages of Private Health Insurance Depending on your medical needs, you need to get health insurance and you need to choose a suitable plan for that. A number of factors must be taken into account when obtaining such a policy. Your gender, your health condition, your occupation, your medical history, habits, etc. are some of…
- Term life insurance or cash value insurance - which is… America is currently in the middle of one of the worst economic crises since the Great Depression. That's why families try to find ways to save some extra money. Experts agree that many families make mistakes by reducing or canceling their life insurance policies at a time when protection is…
- The benefits of traveling in groups Group travel is becoming more and more popular these days. There are several advantages to group travel that many of us may not have noticed. Such travel facilities are available in almost all cities around the world. The groups can be smaller or larger and both have their own advantages.…
- Wondering if health insurance would have helped? The best thing in America is free health care. Health insurance is one option that can provide you with this. Given the way health care costs have risen; many families have gone bankrupt paying the bills for a sick member of the family. Some are lucky enough to have health…
- Find the marriage counselor who will save your marriage It can be difficult to find a skilled marriage counselor who really cares about you and your marriage. When considering couples therapy, your self-esteem is often at an all-time low, and when you experience constant bickering and fighting, you may fear divorce is in your future.You may also feel terrified…