1) Not getting a quote or researching every pet insurance company.

How do you know you bought the best policy available for your pet if you don’t look at all of your options? There are about a dozen pet insurance companies in the United States, and while it will take time to get quotes and research them all, it’s still doable. While no option is 100% foolproof, you’ll make the right decision if you’re thorough in your research.

2) Select a policy with a minimum per incident and/or annual maximum.

It can be tempting to select such policies because the premium is often lower than policies with no limit per occurrence or with a higher annual maximum. A seriously injured or ill pet can end up with a bill of $5,000 to $10,000 and potentially even more. Studies show that most claims pet owners file are much lower than this, but pet insurance is all about risk management to protect you from higher bills. If you need to lower the premium on a policy with more comprehensive coverage, the best way to do this is by selecting a higher deductible if the company allows you to customize your policy.

3) Select a policy that does not cover chronic conditions.

These are problems, for example, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, etc. where the treatment is expected to last beyond the term of the current policy. Some pet owners have been surprised when they renew their policy and a chronic condition is not covered because it is considered a pre-existing condition for the next term of the policy. Ideally, you want to buy a policy from a company that will cover these conditions for years to come. Y up to full policy limits like any other condition. Some companies have lower limits for chronic conditions and/or offer it only as a rider for an additional premium.

4) Select a policy that does not cover hereditary or breed-specific conditions.

You may be surprised at how long the list can be when considering these conditions. Each company has its own list and it usually varies from company to company. Some companies make available the list of what they consider hereditary conditions, while others do not. As with chronic conditions, some companies cover hereditary conditions like any other condition and up to the full policy limits, while others have lower limits for these conditions, make coverage optional for an additional premium, or not at all. cover at all. .

5) Not reading a sample policy.

Never buy a pet insurance policy without reading a sample policy. You I have to read the fine print. Most companies have a sample policy available to view on their website. If not, call or email them for a copy. I’ve seen clients get upset when a claim is denied, but reading their policy, the exclusion was there in black and white. So read your new policy as soon as you get it in the mail, too. If it’s not what you thought you bought, you can usually cancel your policy within 30 days and get your premium refunded if you haven’t filed a claim yet.

6) Don’t read reviews.

I usually don’t buy anything major (even an Amazon headset) without reading a ton of reviews. Why pass up the opportunity to hear from people who have actually used the product and/or dealt with the company? Since some of the pet insurance companies have been around for many years, they may have over a thousand reviews. And since pet insurance companies change their policies from time to time to stay competitive, you should focus on reading the most recent reviews, say, the last few years.

7) Do not request review of medical records.

Unless you’re insuring a new puppy or kitten with no known prior medical issues and whose first examination with your vet has resulted in a clean bill of health, it’s wise to ask the company you’re purchasing a policy from to review the medical history your pet’s previous records and let you know in advance if there are pre-existing conditions that will be excluded from coverage. Usually, you will only need to send them the last year or two of your pet’s records.

This is usually done during or immediately after the underwriting process and waiting period for the policy to take effect. You may not think your pet has had a problem before, but you may have forgotten something you casually mentioned to your vet during a visit that he or she might have noted in the log, even if it wasn’t treated at the time. moment. that moment. What the company decides is pre-existing is what counts, regardless of whether you or your vet disagree with them. Most companies will eventually request your pet’s medical record anyway when you file a claim. It would be better to know early rather than find out later, after you’ve paid months or years in premiums, that something is considered pre-existing and not covered.