Routine Exclusions From Pet Health Insurance Policies by Nicholas Hunt

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Routine Exclusions From Pet Health Insurance Policies by Nicholas Hunt
in Insurance (submitted 2010-06-24)

A good pet insurance policy can be a literal lifesaver if your pet requires medical attention that you couldn't otherwise afford. Whether it's because of an accident or disease, the huge vet bills could easily force you to have your pet put down if it wasn't for the financial support that insurance provides.

However, as with all matters financial, things aren't always so simple. Pet insurance policies can vary widely in what exactly they'll pay out for, and so it makes sense to read the small print before taking out a policy to make sure that all you need to be covered is so. It's a good idea to pay attention to what's specifically excluded from cover as well as what's covered, and some examples of common exclusions are described below.

Routine Care: The costs of grooming, teeth cleaning, flea control and standard examinations are not usually covered by insurance.

Vaccinations: Although it is very important to vaccinate your pet against major diseases, the cost will usually have to be borne by you and not the insurer.

Small Bills: Most policies have an 'excess' amount under which claims can not be made. Smaller excess levels usually mean higher premiums.

Existing Conditions: Costs resulting from conditions or illnesses which were present when the policy was taken out will not normally be paid.

Long Term Treatments: Some policies will only pay out for the first 12 months of a long term treatment such as that for arthritis.

These are only some of the more common exclusions present in pet insurance policies, and of course each policy will have its own small print to read. However tedious it may be, it's vital to read this before signing the agreement if you want to be sure your policy won't end up being worthless when you need to claim on it.
About the Author

Nicholas writes on pet insurance and other related topics such as horse insurance.