Acquiring a pet is a big responsibility. Financial responsibilities, as well as personal time are maximized to be able to take care of a pet freely. Registration of the pet to the owner, as well as loads of paperwork are also a part of owning a pet. One also needs to think about the well-being of his/her pet, such as providing for food, vaccinations, and the maintenance of the overall health care of a pet.
Pet owners get pets for different reasons, as aids for blind and deaf people, and therapy for the sick. The most common reason is companionship. Having a pet is a very positive experience to both the pet and the owner. To provide maximum responsibility for these pets, owners have opted to get pet health insurance.
The owner needs to look at the needs of his pet, and find a health insurance that is fit for the demands of his pet. Breeding, type of pet, and age are the usual considerations in looking for a pet health insurance.
Studies conducted in the past two years revealed that 75% of pet owners were forced to make unscheduled appointments with their veterinarians. What’s more disturbing is the fact that most of these pet owners did have pet health insurance and they were forced to bear the burden of costly medical bills. Unlike in UK and most of Europe, pet insurance is rare in the US, as most pet owners are wary of the possible costs.
A basic pet health insurance policy consists of primary veterinary services while an upgraded policy includes pet psychologists or provisions on major surgeries, for example.
More comprehensive policies even cover charges of a pet psychologist or cancellations fees for a paid vacation if the pet needs immediate medical care. One just needs to coordinate with the insurance company to customize the policy on the needs of one’s pet. However, almost all insurance companies have a policy on liability. This will cover incidents as ones pet biting another person.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has partnered with PET Partners, Inc. which led to the design of a health insurance dedicated to pet health care. The AKC Health insurance is a plan designed to provide services for pets, regardless of breed. It is a plan to help out pet owners regarding veterinary expenses and basic tests related to the welfare of ones pet.
AKC Health Insurance FYI
In AKC Health Insurance, the owner must get the policy before the pet reaches nine years of age. The coverage can be maintained provided that that the policy is continuously renewed.
Also, one good thing about the AKC Health Insurance is that age is not a consideration when premium’s change. The premiums to be paid are also the same regardless of the breed of the pet. Moreover, the state where the owner lives and the breed of the pet are not considerations in AKC Health Insurance.
Like any other health insurance companies, there are exclusions. The AKC Health Insurance has the following restrictions in their policies:
- Congenital problems
- Any illness acquired by the pet before or within 30 days from inception of the insurance
- Chronic kidney failure
- Spondylosis
- Congenital shunts
- Stenoic nares
- Soft palate resection
- H emophilia
- Von Willebrands’ disease
The AKC Health insurance is underwritten by the National Specialty Insurance Company.
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