Where to Find the Cheapest Pet Insurance

Low Cost Health Insurance Policies for Cats, Dogs and Other Animals

Aug 10, 2009

A pet insurance comparison to find the best and cheapest option can mean that pet owners can cope with the crippling cost of vet fees.

Most pet owners want to have the very best health care options for their pets but also want to get low cost pet insurance. Vet/pet insurance does not have to be expensive and there are many options available to choose from.

Pet Insurance Comparison

Comparing online will give the pet owner an idea of what insurance is available, what exclusions there are and an idea of costs. As with any insurance, customers get what they pay for. The options range from accident only policies (which are less than $10 a month) to all inclusive policies which cover visits to specialists, surgery and other expensive procedures.

VIP Pet Insurance (Very Important Pet)

Not to be confused with the VPI Insurance company, pet owners can find a plan that makes sense for their VIP pets:

Customized plans: Some providers such as Embrace help customers get insurance without sacrificing coverage. For example, a way of keeping premiums low but getting maximum protection is to choose a policy with a high-deductible and a high annual maximum. So if a pet owner chooses a $500 deductible with a $10,000 maximum, he or she will have excellent catastrophic pet insurance cover that won't pay for small incidents but is there to protect pets against major events.

On the other hand, for students or seniors on a budget who want to minimize out-of-pocket costs, pet insurance coverage can be modified to have a lower deductible and a lower co-pay.

Savings Schemes: Companies such as Pet Assure offer an alternative to insurance. For a low monthly cost, discounts are offered should the need arise such as 25% savings on veterinary care, 5 – 50% savings on pet supplies and services and a lost pet recovery service. There are no exclusions, according to their website.

Affiliate Programs: Besides offering very competitive rates for pet insurance coverage (starting at $10.95), Quickcare offers affiliate programs where they will pay out $25 for every submitted application referred.

Choice of insurance options: Most pet insurance companies, such as VPI offer a range of options to suit all pockets, from basic plans to all-inclusive cover. They offer to insure not only cats and dogs but birds and exotic animals and a pet owner may take the animal to a vet anywhere in the world.

Cheap Pet Insurance – Exclusions

The coverage a pet owner finds may be low cost, but be careful of exclusions. Many pet insurance providers will not cover pre-existing conditions, prosthetic limbs, cremation and burial, injury caused by neglect or cruelty, procedures such as tail docking or claw removal among other exclusions.

As with all insurance, pet owners should investigate the options thoroughly, undertake a pet insurance comparison and read the policy carefully before making a decision.