When Should I Start My Pet's Insurance Plan?

For pet owners it is becoming increasingly important to get pet health insurance to avoid the costly veterinarian fees that are sure to come. It is understandable that you take a good period of time to consider the pros and cons of getting pet health insurance, but you should realize that some opportunities could pass you by. It is important that you know there are some times where you can't buy pet insurance or you can get it but it won't be covered in certain situations.

The first thing you should know about when to buy your pet's insurance plan is that you usually cannot purchase until they are a certain age. This period of time usually isn't too long, but generally you can't find a pet insurance company willing to start a policy for a pet that is under 8 weeks of age. In most cases companies won't start offering policies until even longer. Check around to see if someone offers this early enrollment for your pet.

Understand that the other end of the spectrum is also true of pet insurance, that being that your pet can be too old to purchase a policy. Dogs of around 8 years and cats around 10 years are generally not covered under pet insurance policies. If you start a policy before this age it will not be cancelled due to age later on, but you cannot start a new relationship with the insurance company with an older pet.

Most pet insurance companies also require a waiting period at the beginning of the insurance policy as well. This is usually a few weeks to a month that you are required to wait until the services begin after acceptance. The reason for this waiting period is to try to deter people from purchasing a policy after their pet has incurred an injury or illness. This can be very harmful to the premiums of all other policyholders.

Finally, it is important to realize that pet health insurance matches humans in one very powerful and upsetting way, pre-existing conditions are not covered. If your pet has a pre-existing condition it will not be covered in your insurance policy, but "ongoing" conditions could be. Check with your prospective pet insurance company to see the difference and if your pet will be covered.

Pet health insurance can be a great option for someone willing to put the time and effort in to finding the right company. With a little research before you buy, pet insurance could be a great bargain for you.