Dog insurance is not the easiest thing to come across, but if you are willing to put in some research you should easily be able to find and purchase a good policy for your pet. Pet insurance pays for veterinarian treatment of the owner’s sick or damaged pet, partly or wholly. Some policies will even pay out if your pet is stolen or when the dog dies. The kind of policy that you choose will depend on several factors including your budget, what type of pet you have, what environment your dog lives in and your dog’s age.
You should take into consideration the kind of care your dog will need if you decide on this kind of insurance. It is more expensive to buy a policy that will cover regular vet care, as opposed to coverage that will also cover illnesses or accidents. The kind of coverage that you get will also depend on how healthy your dog is. A policy that only covers accidents or illnesses will cost you more money than one that will cover both.
The cost of dog insurance will be affected by how much you pay as the deductible. The deductible is the amount that you must pay first for any vet bills before the insurance will start paying the rest. The higher the deductible the lower the monthly premium. In addition, if you have a long sick or injury-free life with your dog then the monthly premium will be lower. If you have a short history of dog accidents or illnesses then the monthly premium will be higher.
Most dog insurance companies base their premiums on the dog’s age, breed and activity level. Dog premiums for younger dogs are usually cheaper because they are less likely to become injured or sick and older dogs are considered a higher risk. Insurance companies also consider how active your dog is, how big it is and whether it has been trained to be obedient. Older dogs may be more likely to get into trouble, may not be obedient and can become unruly.
Another factor that will affect your monthly premium is the level of deductible you choose. A higher deductible will mean that you will be responsible for a smaller percentage of the total costs. You can choose a higher deductible to protect yourself in the event of an accident or illness. A higher annual max will mean that your insurance policy will cover your dog fully in the event of an accident or illness.
When shopping for a dog insurance policy it is important to know what coverage you need and how much coverage is required. If your dog is very young, it may not be necessary to have medical care coverage. As your dog ages the level of coverage needed will increase. A good rule of thumb is to choose a policy that has the level of coverage you feel you need at the least expense.