Cat Insurance
March 19, 2010 by Kat · Leave a Comment
Need for Cat Insurance
It is the soft and tranquil character of the cats that makes them lovable and adorable. However, their delicate nature calls for the need of extra care in order to keep them from falling sick. Pets can fall sick or injured due to accidents or illness, no matter how well you care for them. They need frequent checkup and medical treatments. Medical expenses can add up to thousands of dollars and each visit to the vet or pet care can cost you a considerable amount of treatment fee too. Pet insurance can help save money on the medical treatments and operating expense of your pet.
What is Cat Health Insurance Plan?
Just like human health insurance plans, a cat insurance plan helps you to seek the best medical and health care for your cat when sick or injured. Pet insurance plan gives you financial security by covering 50-70% of the medical expenses of a cat’s lifetime. Routine checkup fees and any other sudden medical emergencies required for the cat is also included in most of the cat insurance plans. These plans can help pet owners those who do not have enough funds to meet an emergency but are willing to spend for the health of their pets.
The Cost and working of the Insurance plans
Cost of a health insurance plan depends on the age and health of the cat. You can opt for a plan which covers the type of treatment your pet frequently needs and the amount of monthly premium you are willing to pay. Typical plans come in the range of $10 to $20 per month. In addition to this, co-pay and deductibles are to be paid.
The working of insurance plans is very simple. Once you take your pet to the vet, you have to pay the fee and amount for the treatment from your pocket. Then submit the claim form to the insurance company along with the invoice. The claim amount in the invoice is normally reimbursed within 15-30 days.
When and How to choose health insurance for your cat?
The first 8 weeks of a cat’s life time can determine the health of the cat. That may be the reason why insurance companies do not insure kittens younger than 8 weeks. It is better to insure your cat when it is young and healthy before it starts developing any kind of illness symptoms.
Indoor cats are more likely to suffer from certain disorders than outdoor cats. They tend to become obese and develop respiratory and intestinal problems. Cats in general are also vulnerable to many chronic illnesses such as kidney and bladder failure.
Some factors to keep in mind while choosing a health insurance plan for your cat.
- A better breed will require a better policy with a higher rate. Price of the plan determines the quality and coverage of the plan.
- Check for the type of diseases the plan covers and the monthly premium. Most of the insurance plans usually don’t cover pre-existing or congenital diseases.
- Choose a company that has been there for a while providing various pet insurance plans. Vets and friends can help you in this regard.
- Spend enough time to enquire about the positives and negatives of the insurance plans and their response time.
- Talk to the company about the type of plan you prefer and ensure that you get proper services and response from them.
A few reputable companies in Australia that offer pet insurance are:
For kittens, normally insurance plans cover treatments for
- Vaccinations
- Poisoning
- Spraying
- Foreign body ingestion
Adult and mature cats may need insurance for
- Accidents/Injuries
- Ear Infections
- Dental check up
- Urinary tract /Bladder infection
- Gastrointestinal Infections
- Heart disease
- Kidney and Bladder problem
- Respiratory disease/Arthritis
- Cancer
The conditions your insurance plan may not cover include:
- Hereditary /Genetic Disorders – Disease genetically transmitted from parent to offspring
- Pre-existing /Congenital disease – A disease which exists well before the insurance has begun.
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