Nowadays, health insurance for pets is very common as most people have or have had a pet and it is no secret that a pet is a member of the family, which also has medical needs that must be covered. In this way, health insurance cannot only relieve you in case of an emergency, but it can also help you improve the quality of life of your pet by making medical consultations, preventive treatments and medicines much more affordable.
Health insurance for pets
Before contracting a medical insurance for pets, you should talk with the veterinarian and, depending on the species and breed of your pet, you will know about the possible diseases and complications that your pet may suffer at a certain time. Having this information, you should focus your attention on those pet insurance companies that offer coverage to those possible cases that your pet may need.
On the other hand, keep in mind that pet health insurance coverage may vary from country to country, so we will show you below the general characteristics of this type of services according to specific geographic areas.
Health insurance for pets in the USA
In the USA, you will have no problem with getting health insurance for pets, but if you want to have the best option, we will show you the most popular ones:
- Figo: currently considered the best insurance all over USA, in fact it won the award for best pet insurance mainly because it offers a 100% reimbursement option. Based in Chicago, Illinois, it offers an excellent and fast assistance, where it highlights a 24/7 live chat with veterinarians through its own mobile app. But this is not all, as it also offers several levels of protection so that you can customize the insurance according to your budget and needs. It has a fast response time regarding the payment of claims, as well as the fact that it also has coverage for hereditary and congenital conditions. In short, this is an ideal option to take care of your pet. However, you should consider that among their exclusions they clarify that they do not cover prescription food, sterilization or dental cleaning.
- AKC: an excellent option for those who have several pets, since it has a 5% discount when insuring 2 or more pets at the same time, which makes it really worthwhile. But beyond a discount, it offers good service, and although preventive items are not covered, they may be added in some health plans by paying an additional cost.
- Nationwide: the perfect choice if you have exotic pets. It has a program for small mammals (ferrets, rabbits, rats, mini pigs, hedgehog, hamsters, goats, gerbils, chinchillas), reptiles (water dragons, turtles, tegu, varanus, iguanas, geckos, frilly dragons, chameleons, pogons, toads and other amphibians) and birds (toucans, parrots, parakeets, macaws, lories, cockatoos, canaries, and so on).
Health insurance for pets in Mexico
In Mexico, pet insurance usually covers expenses such as vaccinations, veterinary consultations, hospitalization, medications, tests, compensation for theft or kidnapping, and in case, your pet needs to be put down. Here, we will show you the main pet insurance companies in Mexico:
- Mapfre: has several packages to fit your budget, so you can choose between its basic, premium or plus plan; you can have coverage that includes medical expenses of third parties for dog attack, dog boarding in case the owner is hospitalized, non-preventable diseases, accidents, in the event of the pet being put down, among other benefits.
- BBVA: in addition to the typical coverages, it also covers a dog or cat grooming service, one vaccination per year, and damages that the pet may cause to third parties, property or other pets. It also offers veterinary guidance by telephone, legal guidance, home consultation, discounts in veterinary stores, among other options. So, it is definitely a very attractive alternative.
- HDI: This particular insurer considers the fact that many people travel with their pets in their car, so they have included protection in case the dog or cat is injured in a road accident. In addition, it also includes a sum of up to 15 thousand pesos for veterinary care and funeral expenses.
What you should keep in mind when choosing a pet health insurance policy
You must keep in mind that, in most of the pet health insurance policies, the pet owner must cover the expenses and then fill the required documentation to request a reimbursement from the insurance company; therefore, despite having a pet health insurance policy, you must also have the liquid funds to cover the expenses when you need it.
In addition, it is very important to be clear about the exclusions or expenses not covered by the insurance company. In most cases, esthetic expenses or preventive medicines are not covered, so this is a very important point to consider in order to avoid misunderstandings. Likewise, you must be clear about the coverage limit, which is usually annual, because there will be no reimbursement if you have a medical emergency that may be covered by the insurer, but the limit has already been reached.
On the other hand, you must keep in mind that not all treatments are covered, so you must be clear about what is included and excluded. As mentioned at the beginning, first, it is best to talk to the veterinarian and, depending on the species and breed of your pet, you will have a list of possible diseases and treatments needed. Then based on that, choose the alternative that can cover possible medical expenses.
