At Shiloh Animal Hospital we happily work with all pet insurance providers. If you have pet insurance, please let us know so we can help you submit all documents needed for a speedy reimbursement to you of the fees paid.
HOW PET INSURANCE WORKS
Like human health insurance, pet insurance pays, partly or in total, for veterinary treatment of the insured person’s ill or injured pet. Some policies will also pay out when the pet dies, or if the pet is lost or stolen.
What makes pet insurance different is that it does not pay the veterinary provider directly, but rather reimburses the owner after the bill has been paid.
This does mean the pet parent will have to pay for services at the clinic on the day they are performed, which can be a challenge, but in our experience the insurance companies do reliably reimburse their clients for the out-of-pocket expenses covered by their plan.
As veterinary medicine is increasingly employing expensive medical techniques and drugs, and owners have higher expectations for their pet’s health care, the market for pet insurance has increased.
Pet insurance companies usually offer the pet owner options to customize their coverage, allowing them to choose their own level of deductible or co-insurance. This allows the pet owner to control their monthly premium and choose the level of coverage that suits them the best.
Some of the differences in insurance coverage are:
- Whether congenital and hereditary conditions (like hip dysplasia, heart defects, eye cataracts or diabetes) are covered;
- How the reimbursement is calculated (based on the actual vet bill, a benefit schedule or usual and customary rates);
- Whether the deductible is on a per-incident or an annual basis;
- Whether there are any limits or caps applied (per incident, per year, age or over the pet’s lifetime); and
- Whether there is an annual contract that determines anything diagnosed in the previous year of coverage is considered pre-existing the next year.