Pet insurance in California pays, partly or in total, for veterinary treatment of the insured persons ill or injured pet. Some policies will pay out when the pet dies, or if the pet is lost or stolen. Pet insurance in California is an insurance policy bought by a pet owner which helps to lessen the overall costs of expensive veterinary bills. Pet insurance will cover, either entirely or in part, the often expensive veterinary procedures.
Cost of Veterinary Care
The connection between humanity and animals stretches back into the dawn of history as humans have taken them into their homes and their hearts. Progress in Veterinary Science allows owners to seek out many procedures for their animals which were previously for humans only. These procedures can be expensive. The average cost of an emergency veterinary treatment runs between $800 and $1,500 for cats and dogs.
The Cost of Pet Insurance
To help with yearly costs and unexpected emergencies, a pet owner can buy a policy which will save some out-of-pocket expenses. As with human healthcare insurance, a pet owner will pay a yearly or monthly fee known as the premium. Some of the factors impacting the cost of pet insurance include:
- Age of the animal
- Geographical location of the pet
- Associated indoor and outdoor risks
Pet insurance doesn't cover:
Insurance will not cover the full amount of all medical treatment, but most companies advertise that they offer up to 90% coverage on many procedures. However, should an emergency arise, the cost of veterinary care could surpass the insurance premium
Pet insurance covers
Also, since senior pets needing more procedures, the coverage could save money, whether there is an emergency or not. Policies will vary by provider, but most cover necessary veterinary surgeries, medication, diagnostic tests, dental care, prescription foods and supplements as well as hospitalization.
Main categories of insurance policies for pets:
There are two categories of insurance policies for pets: non-lifetime and lifetime.
The first covers buyers for most conditions suffered by their pet during the course of a policy year but, on renewal in a following year, a condition that has been claimed for will be excluded. If that condition needs further treatment the pet owner will have to pay for that him/herself.
The second category covers a pet for ongoing conditions throughout the pets lifetime so that, if a condition is claimed for in the first year, it will not be excluded in subsequent years. However, lifetime policies also have limits: some have limits “per condition”, others have limits “per condition, per year”, and others have limits “per year.