How are you providing for your pets health care cost?
Could pet insurance be your answer?

by Beth Siess, BulldogSmarts.com

Are you like the majority of todays pet owners? Unprepared for emergency care for your pet.

In 2004, pet owners spent upwards of $12 billion on veterinary care. That number is expected to grow between 25%-30% per year. As the American pet population continues to increase, that trend isn't likely to change any time soon.

I don’t mean to scare you but do you know how expensive health care is for pets these days? For example surgery and care for cancer is estimated to cost $3500 on up. And the most common surgery done on a dog is a fractured leg, which could cost as much as $2300. Hip dysphasia is becoming a more common surgery costing an estimated $3000 per leg.

These are some common surgeries for all dogs. As for Bulldogs you could encounter health problems such as dry eye and skin allergies which most of the time are treated with routine visits to the vet and medication.

The quality of care available today for your pet has increased over the years. Along with the quality care and knowledge to treat your pet comes a higher prices tag. Nowadays, veterinarians can do almost anything your doctor can do. There are veterinary ophthalmologists, oncologists, dentists, even dieticians. You name it; it's pretty much the same in veterinary medicine today as it is in human medicine.

You can give your dog preventative health care by visiting your veterinarian on regular checkups. Immunizations along with purchasing pet insurance to manage the risk associated with future health care needs.

It just makes sense to do what you can now to make things
easier for yourself and your dog.

Most pet insurance providers have several levels of insurance. An entry level program can cost as little as $10 a month. The enrollment age of your pet is important also. If you wait to purchase coverage until your pet has reached its senior level there are restrictions to the coverage.

To keep premiums low, most pet insurance companies will not cover things like elective and cosmetic surgery, behavioral problems, pet foods, grooming, etc. Routine health care like vaccinations, routine teeth cleaning, and annual physicals may be covered, particularly if you have chosen a pet insurance plan that allows routine checkups.

So how do most of these pet insurance policies work?
Here's what you need to know:

• Most of the policies come with some sort of deductible, either per year or per medical event.
• Most have a co-payment, meaning the company and you each pay part of the bill.
• Most have a maximum they will pay for a particular incident, and you are responsible for the balance.
• In most cases, you have to pay the veterinarian in full, and then submit the insurance papers for reimbursement (most reimburse within 30 days and often within 15 days).

  
  Insurance is not for everyone, some think it is great and others will not consider it.
  Remember that, like all insurance, you want to have it, but you hope you don't have to use it. If you never get your money's worth, it means you never had a major crisis with your pet.
  That's good news.

Here are some resources for you to check out that come recommended to me.

VPI Vet Insurance -
http://www.petinsurance.com

PetCare Insurance
http://www.petcareinsurance.com

Pet Assure – The complete Pet Care Program
http://www.petassure.com

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This article cannot be used without full right given to
Bulldog Smarts Editor, Beth Siess  © BulldogSmarts.com

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