Pet Insurance Benefits

When your children are born, you vow to protect them and keep them safe. Medical insurance is one of the ways we make sure that our children receive the proper medical care to keep them healthy and happy. In homes around the country pets are considered a part of the family, but what about when Fido gets sick?

Having pet insurance could cost you a lot less than you might think. Many companies offer this as a payroll deduction, often only a few dollars per pay period. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) is offered by the company I work for as a supplemental benefit option. I tried it a few years ago (so my fees may be out of date), and had satisfactory service with them. My cost per pay period ranged from $5-10.

Fees are generally based on the age of the pet when they start the plan and will normally increase with age. The younger the pet is upon enrollment, the better the premium rate schedule will be.

Some plans offer a routine care plan option, giving you partial reimbursement for check-ups, grooming, flea and tick control, teeth cleaning, and other pet specific annual routine care. With Veterinary Pet Insurance I paid $100 per year for this option which more than paid for itself with the generally required care given to one dog in a year;s time.

Most plans are a reimbursement type of plan that requires a vet's signature or explaination of services rendered, after which the insurance sends the policy owner a refund check. You are probably saying, "But, what's the use of having insurance when you have to pay upfront?" Simple, with the cost of upfront vet bills it's nice to have the security of knowing that you will be refunded later. Besides, most vet services expect payment at the time of service (you will have to pay before you leave the office anyway) so it could be worth the fee for premiums in order to receive the possible rewards later.

One personal example: My next door neighbor had a young bulldog that got parvo. She had to have emergency, weekend, veterinary care, a total bill of $457. Under the plan I was on I checked the coverage for the exact same medical emergency, my cost after reimbursement would have been $237.

Just as with our own medical insurance plans, most pet plans come with an information packet outlining your plans terms, coverage, and the amount of reimbursement you can expect to receive for common veterinary charges. There are a variety of pet insurance carriers that can be found online, also check with your employer to see if pet insurance is offered as part of your optional benefits plan.

Embrace Pet Insurance

1. Choose any vet worldwide.
2. Obtain claim form by e-mail, online, or by postal service.
3. Complete the claim form, and be sure that your vet fills out section #2 of the form and signs.
4. Attach copies of all invoices from your veterinary hospital or office, showing that you have already paid for the treatment or procedure.
5. Fax or mail form and invoices to Embrace to receive refund.

Embrace's calculation method uses a percentage of the usual, customary, and reasonable charges. For a full understanding of more of what they have to offer, visit their website.

Veterinary Pet Insurance

1. Choose any veterinarian across the country, pay for services up front.
2. Fax or mail form to VPI
3. Receive reimbursement.

• Chosen by 9 out of 10 veterinarians.
• Excellent reputation
• Prompt and timely reimbursements.
• Many vet's offices will fax the form with the correct information for you, all you have to do is sign the form.

Pet Care

• You may go to any licensed veterinarian in North America.
• For just under $20 extra per year you can purchase Emergency Care Insurance with Pet Care.
• Premiums do not increase with your pet's age.
• Chinese Shar-pei and Shar-pei cross-breeds are eligible for accident coverage only .

• Trupanion
• Pets Best Insurance
• Vetinsurance US
• AKC Pet HealthCare Plan
• PurinaCare
• Animal Friends Insurance (AFI)

Pet Assure

Pet Assure is not an insurance plan, yet is a pet care savings program offering nice discounts on pet supplies, services, routine health care and maintenance, and lost pet recovery service. Below are the highlights of some of their many great features.

• Participating veterinary practices provide a 25% savings on all treatments and/or procedures done in the office. You can check for
• No exclusions, enroll any pet regardless of age, breed, or health condition. Pets with hereditary or pre-existing conditions are also accepted.
• No deductibles or claim forms.
• Discounts are received instantly, no claim forms to process or paperwork to fill out and fax or mail in.
• Each new member is enrolled in the Lost Pet Recovery service plan along with a pet ID card or tag for each pet you enroll.