Your pets are going to require healthcare attention at some point in their lives, especially as they grow older. The veterinary costs will vary depending on the treatments they need, and, while you could budget for these, you never know when an emergency might arise, bringing unexpected expenses with it. By having the best health insurance for pets, however, you won’t have to worry about not being able to afford any necessary procedures.

Here’s what you need to know about getting the best health insurance for pets:

You must understand the different insurance terms

Insurance terminology can seem baffling, but you must understand it if you are to find the best plans for your pets. The most commonly bandied terms are deductibles, limits, and reimbursements.

A deductible is the cost of the veterinary treatment up to a specified limit that you must pay from your pocket. If your deductible is $500, you must pay $500 upfront, and the insurer is responsible for the expenses above that. That is, the insurance company will pay you a reimbursement for the costs above the deductible. They may cover 60% to 100% of the total costs of the treatment.

It is essential to consider limits before buying pet insurance. Ask the insurance provider what their annual reimbursement limits are. If you go over that, you will have to pay the veterinary treatment costs thereafter. So, if your limits are $2000 and the expenses are $2500, the company will only reimburse you up to $2000, and you will have to shoulder the burden of paying $500.

You can buy pet insurance in three different ways

You can buy the plans directly from insurance providers, as part of employer benefits, and through insurance marketplaces. Some providers also sell add-on wellness plans when you buy pet insurance coverage, but they may not offer separate stand-alone wellness plans. In-depth research is crucial before selecting insurance and wellness plans, which means comparing multiple plans and their features and costs carefully.

Don’t be swayed too much by positive and negative reviews as these are more of individual user experiences. The plans that worked for them might not work for you and vice versa.

You can personalize pet insurance plans

While the pet insurance plans are most commonly available for cats and dogs, you can also get coverage for birds, reptiles, and other animals. You can personalize plans according to your pet’s type, age, breed-specific health conditions, and existing health needs. You can also get coverage for accidents, and buy add-on wellness plans to cover routine care like vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick prevention, grooming, and spaying.

If you have multiple pets, you can get separate plans for each of them. Some pet insurance companies may offer you discounts on these.

You must pay an insurance premium

The premium amount will depend on the health conditions covered and other factors such as your pet’s size, age, breed, location, and area risks. For instance, you may be able to get lower premiums if you buy insurance while your pet is still young, and there are no pre-existing health issues. It will also make a difference if you pay an annual premium, instead of a monthly one. Some providers even offer discounts on that, so you should ask beforehand.

While pet insurance premiums are generally affordable, you can cut costs further by buying plans with higher deductibles or lower reimbursements. Keep in mind, though, that that can mean having to pay more out of pocket or receiving limited coverage.

The coverage you generally get is a fixed percentage of what the treatment will cost. You must pay the veterinarian, and the insurance company will later reimburse you. The plus point of such an arrangement is that you don’t have to worry about finding a veterinary clinic in the insurance company’s network. You can get your pet treated with any licensed veterinarian nationwide.

After purchasing the best health insurance for pets, there may be a waiting period of about 14 days before the coverage starts. It is a straightforward matter. Following your pet’s treatment, you pay the veterinarian and submit the receipt to the insurance company. They will reimburse you as per your policy.