The Puppy Blog! » Pet Insurance

Do You Need Pet Liability Insurance?

Teri — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:21:23 +0000

Do You Need Pet Liability Insurance?

What is pet liability insurance, and do you need it? The answer depends on what animals you keep as pets, and how much of a risk you are prepared to accept.

Pet liability insurance normally covers you for compensation awarded against you if you are held responsible for any damage, injury or loss caused to other people by your pet. Examples might be: if your pet runs into the road and causes a car accident; if your horse kicks somebody when you should have been in control of it; if your dog bites a human or another dog causing an injury that requires medical treatment.

Liability cover is included in most health insurance plans for dogs. It may not be included in plans for cats and smaller animals, partly because owners are not expected to control them in the same way, and partly because they are less likely to cause damage.

But even if your pets do not have health insurance, it is possible that you may already have insurance that will cover you for any liability related to the actions of your pets. It is worth taking a look at the insurance for your home along with any other types of insurance that you have, to see if it is covered there.

But do not make assumptions. If you think that your home insurance or other policy may cover you, give the company a call to check it out. Many plans specifically exclude certain breeds of dog. There are around 4.5 million dog bites reported every year. Around 1,000 Americans every day are treated in emergency rooms for dog bites. Many of those will expect compensation from the dog’s owner. Dog-related damage and injuries cause more claims on home insurance policies than any other single event.

Therefore, home insurance companies are tightening their rules and many now exclude all pet liability from their home insurance plans. In fact, some companies will not accept you for home insurance at all if you have a dog of certain breeds that they consider dangerous. You may even think that you are insured and find out later, when you make a claim, that your insurance is not valid because you did not tell them that you had a dog.

If pet-related damage and injury liability is not covered in your home insurance or any pet health insurance that you may have, the simplest solution is to sign up for a pet liability insurance plan. You can find specialist plans that offer just this, without any health care cover. XInsurance is one example of a company that offers plans for dog bite and other pet-related liabilities.

There would be nothing worse than having your pet cause a lawsuit and then finding out that your insurance did not cover that situation for some reason that was hidden in the fine print. It is better to pay a few dollars for pet liability insurance than to end up having to cover a massive compensation payout from your personal assets.

Enjoy the new article Do You Need Pet Liability Insurance? from The Puppy Blog and here are some of the other pet and dog sites that I currently operate. Hope you can find all of the information about dogs and caring for dogs that you are looking for through these sites.

Teri’s Dogs
TC Pet Stop
All About Dogs
Because You Love Your Dog

Technorati Tags: pet liability insurance, do you need it, animals, pet, liability insurance, liability, insurance, veterinarian, lawsuit, insurance company

Bookmark This:

Choosing a Pet Insurance Policy for Your Dog

Teri — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:14:51 +0000

As people pay attention to their own healthcare, they should not overlook the well-being and health of their pets, too. Dogs are men’s best friends. In this regard, they also deserve the kind of care and affection that most people do. Thus, what do you do when your dog needs to undergo a $5,000 hip surgical procedure during its senior years? Some pet owners are right to assert that most of the time, veterinary costs for dogs, and other pets, are much higher than actual healthcare costs of their owners. This is not surprising because dog treatment and surgical operations could be more complicated, tedious, and demanding.

Your canine companion would not be young and in the pink of health forever. During times of financial difficulties like today, overall dog care is also compromised. Veterinary clinics in the United States have revealed that overall dog checkups and treatment procedures have been declining since the onset of the current economic crunch. Would you find it alright to know that your best friend would be suffering from an illness or an accident and you would not be able to give him proper treatment because it is just too expensive to do so? Your pet’s overall protection would be a pet insurance policy.

Experts assert that the best time to buy a pet insurance for your dog is the moment you purchase it. It would be cheaper if you would secure an insurance product while the dog is still a puppy than to secure one when the dog is already several years old. Premium costs would also be comparatively more affordable. Make sure the insurance policy you buy is something that would be best and most appropriate for the dog. For example, some insurance programs do not cover several pedigrees or cross breeds due to scientific reasons. But there certainly would be insurance products that fit those dogs.

Aside from the costs and the type of insurance, it is also important that you check the terms and conditions of the product. Is there an expiration period? What is the method of filing for claims? Are there additional charges? Find an insurance product that would cover third-party damages your dog could incur to other people.

For instance, if your dog accidentally bites an individual, you must cover the medical expenses. If your pet has incurred damages to properties, it would also be your responsibility to cover the damage costs. Some insurance products are extensive to also cover such provisions. Find such products and prefer them over others as much as possible.

Check the overall coverage of the pet insurance. In most cases, pet insurance policies only cover illness and accident recoveries. Some include coverage for hospitalization, while others until death. Usually, regular and periodic checkups of the dog are not covered. Basic health and physical care is not also covered like fur trimming or nail clipping. Vaccination against viral infections and diseases are also not usually included in the pet insurance coverage as well as food supplementation.

However, medicines and other treatment materials that are prescribed for recovery against ailment or accident could very well be included in your filing for claims. It is important that you know which items and health actions are covered and which are not.

Technorati Tags: pet insurance, pet insurance policies, pet insurance policy, dog, medical expenses, veterinarian, veterinarian expenses

Bookmark This:

Chips And Bits Of Pet Insurance

Teri — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:31:35 +0000

Man has come a long way from his humble beginnings. The time when he had first encounter with fire has been buried deep down beyond history pages. There have been a lot of innovations brought about by his genius and determination to make life easier, safer, and well longer. Needs are not the only ones flooding the market because luxuries and other miscellaneous aspects have gradually become a way of life. Cable television is continually challenged by satellite TV. Mobile phones are always showcased in better and more advanced models. Nowadays pets have even matched the quality of life man has. Insurance policies have been allotted to ensure that their welfare is safeguarded.

There are a lot of concepts revolving around pet insurance so if you plan to avail one for your beloved buddy make sure that no stones are left unturned. There are some technical and legal terms that you have to be familiar with. Come on and take some time to bag a few.

There is a document known as the benefit schedule which is made by the pet insurance companies. This contains the list of allowances that are to be paid for after a known and certified diagnosis and treatment. A deductible is an amount wherein payment rests on the policy holder’s shoulder. This covers the charge for the veterinary services accessed. An exclusion is a condition that is not part or is excluded from the plan or insurance policy.

These are just the basic elements of your pet insurance policy so let’s start going deeper. There are policy limits like annual, per-incident, and lifetime which when used up to the brink no longer allows payment of claims. Pre-certification is executed when a certain pet owner gives a request regarding the treatment needed by his pet in order to know if such treatment will be covered and to what extent will it be implemented. There are health conditions that are labeled as pre-existing meaning they have happened or have been incurred way before the pet insurance policy came into being. There are some pre-existing conditions that are given eligibility for coverage as long as it has been cured or a specific time frame elapses. Coinsurance is the portion of your claim which you are tasked to pay for before established deductibles are applied.

Pet insurance is a sure fire move to ensure the welfare of your pet but you must also have an idea of other options that you can tap on. You can check with your reliable Vet as some health facilities can help you avail discounted wellness and preventive packages such as neuters and vaccinations. You can also take advantage of discounted programs that may include 50 percent on animal supplies and 25 percent for diagnostic and treatment services.

Another thing you can rely on is the existence of humane and non-profit organizations which are ready to lend a financial boost for owners who are in need. Although there are affiliations that engage in such activities it is the responsibility of the pet owner to have savings to rely on when their pets are placed in emergency life-threatening situations.

Pet insurance just like other insurance programs need proper deciphering and evaluation. If you see it fit that in the present condition of your pet such health plan is needed and you have the necessary resources then go for it. Your pets are part of the family so treat them as one.

Technorati Tags: pets, pet insurance, insurance, safeguarding, policies, pet insurance policy

Bookmark This:

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Getting Pet Insurance

Teri — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:00:16 +0000

When our pets get sick, we want to provide the best health care possible. But how do we do that if hospitalization, treatment and medication would cost about $3000? Pet insurance enables pet owners to have options on how they could provide better for their pets, after all our pets are not just animals around the house. They are our companions.

In the United States, only 3% of Americans got their pet friends insurance. This is lower compared to other countries like Canada which has 19 % of pets insured and with Sweden with an outstanding 49%.

There are undecided pet owners on whether getting pet insurance would be able to benefit them and their animal companions. Let’s understand the advantages and disadvantages of getting pet insurance, to be able to guide us in making the best decisions.

Advantages

The gist of having a pet insurance policy is to make sure that in terms of medical emergencies and accidents, your pets are well provided for. When unforeseen circumstances happen, it would be difficult for the pet owner to come up with a big amount immediately. How many pet owners were forced to touch their personal funds for the sake of their pets.

Depending on the kind of insurance plan, coverage could also include vaccinations, spray, neuter and even flea medications. Veterinary costs are increasing fast. There are already sophisticated medications that could deal with your pet’s sickness. Having a pet insurance could actually save your beloved animal from euthanasia.

Aside from medical reasons, there are also insurances that could cover rewards, posters, advertising and financial assistance for pet owners whose pets have been stolen. In these cases, insurance companies could even provide assistance in acquiring a new pet.

Another kind of insurance will be for kennels and boarding, which will answer to the question when something bad happens to the owner and nobody could take the pets in. A pet insurance policy could help with the cost of kennels and boarding.

Disadvantages

Some pet insurance tend to be overly expensive. However, there are pet insurance companies offering lower plans. You just have to know what kind of coverage you would like to be in your plan so you can choose an appropriate insurance for your pet. The prices also tend to be different based on the animal and its breed. There are some animal breeds that would require expensive medical treatments. For example, when a big dog like a German Shepherd injured his hip, the procedure tends to be expensive.

Pet insurances are also very particular with pre-existing conditions. If you dog is sick and old, then definitely you would have problems getting them and insurance plan. Most insurance companies does not pay the bill upfront. What happens is that the pet owner would have to pay for it and then will have to reimburse if after.

There are times when the pet owner does not have the money yet, there are vet clinic who would allow the pet owner to pay part of the bill and the insurance company will be fixing the balance directly. Before a pet owner could take advantage or use the insurance, it would need a two-week or a few days of wait before the coverage would start.

Thinking about it, getting a pet insurance policy definitely would have its pros and cons. It would definitely be your call as a pet owner if you would like to get one for you pet, but it is important to always keep in mind our responsibility as pet owners and our pets’ welfare.

Technorati Tags: pet insurance, breeds, medical treatments, pet, insurance, vet bills, medications, insurance coverage, pet insurance coverage, coverage

Bookmark This: