Types of Pet Insurance Coverage

When you add a new puppy or kitten to your home, it can be a big and important decision. After all, you need to be ready to take on the responsibility of taking care of your new family member.

And with that responsibility, many questions come to mind from the type of food to buy to whether you need to train your new pet!

One of the bigger and more important questions is whether to purchase pet insurance. You want to make sure that whatever happens to your new family member that you have the means to pay for the medical bills.

The Different Types of Pet Insurance

• Comprehensive
• Accident Only
• Wellness Plans
• Dental Insurance

One of the most important decisions to make when you first enroll in a pet insurance policy is choosing the right coverage.

After all, you want to make sure to get the most extensive coverage so your dog or cat is covered for any accident or injury that might occur.

Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance

Comprehensive Pet Insurance

Comprehensive coverage, also known as accident and illness coverage, is also the most popular choice due to its breadth of coverage.

A solid comprehensive coverage policy includes coverage for almost any accident or illness and the treatment that is necessary to address that condition.

It will usually include all:

Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients

Luna

PetFirst saved his parents

$6,712

A happy energetic Luna one morning couldn’t hold her food down. After months of multiple costly vet visits to specialists and an endoscopy, the problem was discovered and fixed. Luna put 22 pounds back on in no time and her parents were grateful for having PetFirst by their side to pay the bills.

CHECK PET INSURANCE RATES

Every Reputable comprehensive coverage policy will include a minimum of the following:

Read more:

• Does pet insurance cover kidney disease?
• Does your pet insurance cover surgery when your pet is sick?

Accident Only Pet Insurance

For instance, if your pet swallows an object, injures his paw or gets a spider bite, these accidents are covered. However, if your dog or cat gets sick or any type of illness, you won’t be covered.

Whiles these plans are usually less expensive, they can be limiting. Accident only coverage can be a viable option for an older pet who is too old to be covered under a typical accident and illness plan.

Pet Wellness Plans

Some of the procedures that are usually covered are spays and neutering, vaccinations, insect bites, heartworm, and other routine procedures. (For more information, read our “Does pet insurance cover heartworm disease?“).

While this seems like a great option, it can get expensive because wellness plans are added on to your pet insurance policy and will, therefore, raise your premiums.  Further, these plans only pay part of the routine procedure and therefore you are not fully reimbursed.

While there is no deductible for a wellness plan, you are only reimbursed for a specified amount per procedure.  For example, if your dog or cat has their vaccinations and it costs $200, a pet insurance wellness plan will usually pay you back only $100 of the bill.

Wellness plans can be appealing if you have a young cat or dog that needs many of the routine procedures that are usually offered like vaccinations and spaying and neutering.  However, for a dog or cat that is older, these plans will just increase your monthly premiums. (For more information, read our Best Pet Insurance That Covers Spaying“).

Real Cost Savings from PetFirst Clients

Gidget

PetFirst saved his parents

$2,194

Artemis was a beautiful and friendly cat to all who were willing to pet him. Unfortunately, he developed feline diabetes which required regular vet visits and medications that his Mother could not otherwise afford on her fixed income. Having PetFirst insurance, she called and discussed the problem with a friendly PetFirst agent. To her surprise, she found out that Artemis’ ongoing required vet visits and medication would be covered by his PetFirst insurance. Artemis was able to live out the rest of his life with proper medical care and medicines thanks to PetFirst insurance.

CHECK PET INSURANCE RATES

Pet Dental Insurance

While this seems like a great deal because dental care can be expensive, the wellness packages, as we mentioned above, are an add-on to an existing policy that increases your monthly premium.

In fact, the wellness plans with dental only give you a certain allowance towards dental care and don’t pay even close to the full amount. Therefore, if you like a wellness plan for other routine procedures that it provides, it could be beneficial to offset some of the costs.

Read more:

• Best Pet Insurance That Covers Dental Cleaning
• Does pet insurance cover dental disease?

Pet Wellness Plans vs. Pet Insurance

Pet insurance and pet wellness plans are very different in what they cover. Most comprehensive pet insurance plans cover all accidents and illnesses.

They offer full comprehensive coverage from:

Wellness plans are really just an add-on to an existing pet insurance policy. They cover routine procedures such as vet visits, spaying and neutering, vaccinations and other preventative care treatment or procedure.

They are also not stand-alone policies and therefore are in addition to a pet insurance policy. Therefore, they raise the monthly premiums. Only Nationwide has a stand-alone wellness plan that is extremely comprehensive.

Why You Should Get Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can be a real lifesaver when your pet does need medical help as most policies will pay up to 90% of your bill.

And that can be a real saving and relief if your puppy, kitten or even older dog needs serious medical help.

Pet insurance is really the assurance that no matter what happens to your pet that you can afford to pay the bill.

Pet insurance can also be extremely complicated and confusing as there are so many companies to choose from as well as so many decisions to make on coverage, pricing and more.

Where do you even start? You can start by comparing plans and rates!

Other articles you may find helpful: 

Is Exotic Pet Insurance Necessary? 

The Best Pet Insurance By State 

What Is Pet Insurance?

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Cat Health Problems

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Pet insurance is similar to other insurances but does have some major differences as compared to your health insurance. Below you will find a definitive list of frequently asked pet insurance questions to help in your decision.

• What is Pet Insurance
• Types of Pet Insurance Coverage
• Comprehensive Pet Insurance Explained
• Accident Only Pet Insurance
• Pet Wellness Plans
• Insurance vs. Wellness Pet Insurance Plans
• Is Pet Dental Insurance Worth the Extra Cost
• How does Pet Insurance work
• Best Pet Insurance Plans with Shortest Waiting Periods
• Pet Insurance Deductibles
• Pet Insurance Coverage Exclusions and Limits
• Pet Insurance Reimbursements
• Pet Insurance Benefit Limits Explained
• How to Make a Claim on your Pet Insurance
• Is my Pet too Old for Pet Insurance Coverage
• Top Reasons to Purchase Pet Insurance
• How much does Pet Insurance Cost
• Is Pet Insurance Worth It
• Compare Pet Insurance
• Pet Insurance for Multiple Pets
• Pet Insurance that Covers Spaying and Neutering
• Does Pet Insurance Cover Shots
• Pet Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions
• Pet Insurance vs. Pet Wellness Plans