Insurance

Does Your Cat Need Health Insurance?

Just like humans, cats sometimes get very sick or injured and need extensive medical
attention. When this happens, vet bills can be extremely expensive, and you will be
responsible for these bills. However, don't forget that pet health insurance is available to
help you car for your cat if your funds are limited. Just like health insurance for humans,
pet health insurance is always a gamble, and there are many things you must consider in
order to determine if you need to purchase an insurance plan for your feline friend.

First, look at the companies offering the health insurance. If you love your current vet,
you have to make sure that the health insurance company doesn't have a provider
network that doesn't include your vet. Many pet insurance plans are available where you
have full choice of your vet.

Also look at the health insurance offered. Many will not include coverage for a cats' per-
existing condition. That means that if your cat has already been diagnoses with a chronic
condition, it will not be covered. It also may not be covered if your pet has complications
due to an injury that happened before getting the insurance. Other exclusions may be
things like vaccinations, spaying and neutering, flea control, and dental care. Make sure
you read all of the fine print before you purchase a policy.

If you've decided to purchase a health insurance plan for your cat, check out the different
plans available. Look at deductibles and the co-pays to find out how much you'll have to
pay in case you cat gets ill. This should even out with the price of the insurance plan per
month. Deductibles are a flat rate that you have to pay before the insurance takes over.
Co-payments are a percentage of the bill instead. There also may be a cap on how much a
company will pay per year or how much they will pay on a single procedure. Again, read
the fine print.

The bottom line is that you have to take everything into consideration before you
purchase a policy. If your cat is healthy and young, you might want to consider going
without a policy at all. Your vet can talk to you about your options when it comes to pet
health insurance. Consider all of the information carefully so that you can be sure you are
doing the best thing possible for your pet and your family's financial situation.