Pet Insurance

PET INSURANCE INFORMATION

Courtesy of Scotts Valley Veterinary Clinic

WHAT IS PET INSURANCE?

Pet insurance helps to cover costs associated with any veterinary care.  It is most often used to help cover costs due to illness or accidents. Pet insurance can allow you and your veterinarian to make medical decisions for your pet without having cost influence your decisions as much. Most insurance policies cover only accidents or illness, although some companies offer routine and wellness coverage.  The monthly cost (premium) and deductible (amount you owe at each invoice) can vary greatly from company to company, and are influenced by factors such as your pet’s age at sign up, breed, pre-existing conditions, etc.  Most companies offer a “Request a Quote” option on their website to give you a more accurate example of the costs for your particular pet.

HOW PET INSURANCE WORKS

1.       Pet insurance is a reimbursement program. You pay the veterinary clinic directly for services, submit a claim to the insurance company, and are reimbursed directly.  After your selected deductible if the issue is covered by your insurance they will reimburse you up to a certain percentage of the total.  Most companies have a mobile phone app or website to make it as convenient as possible.   We accept all pet insurance companies as they all work through a reimbursement system. 

2.       There is often a waiting period which defines when coverage starts after you sign up. These periods may vary depending on the illness or concern. Don’t wait for your pet to be sick to sign up for coverage.

3.       Pet insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions (any condition or concern that have previously been diagnosed by a veterinarian). There are also conditions and treatments that are excluded from coverage (general or based on breed). Please contact the company for a full list of any exclusions or limits.

4.       Historically most plans cover only accidents and illness. Things like wellness exams, vaccines, preventatives, and dental cleanings are not usually covered. However, more and more companies have started to offer wellness coverage.  Most clients tend to be most satisfied with a combination wellness and illness/injury plan. 

Below is a list of some of the most common available companies. Please contact the company directly for any costs/ coverage questions.  This is not an exhaustive list; contact information should be up to date as of 11/2022.