What about (Common Pet Healthcare Policy Questions and Concerns)?

C. D. Bennett Agency Insurance is a Retirement and Insurance Broker located in Illinois and serving clients in the states that border Illinois. Because so many of our retirees have and love their pets, we also broker the insurance products of several pet insurance providers. While each provider is somewhat different, there are several questions that tend to arise when customers begin to shop insurance for their dog or cat. Below, we have attempted to answer many of the most common concerns regarding what is covered, generally speaking, by pet insurance, and which type of plan is best for each situation.

• Surgeries: Pet parents often ask, “Does pet insurance cover surgery? And which plan is best for this?”

An Accident-Only plan will cover necessary surgeries that are a result of an accident (if your pet eats a toy and needs it removed, for instance).

An Accident & Illness plan will cover surgeries needed from accidents and surgeries that are the result of an illness (if your pet needs a fatty lump or tumor removed, for example).

In short, surgeries are generlly covered by pet insurers under their appropriate plans unless they are the result of a pre-existing condition or otherwise not eligible for coverage.

• Dental disease: Generally, an Accident and Illness plan will cover oral surgery related to an accident or illness.

• Behavior issues: Treatment for behavioral issues are often covered by an Accident and illness plan.

• Routine check-ups: These are often covered for certain scheduled exams offered by companies that offer Wellness coverage as an add-on.

• Hip dysplasia: Several pet insurance carriers cover hip dysplasia under their Accident & Illness pet insurance coverage.

• Microchip Implantation: This is generally covered under either Accident-Only or Accident & Illness Plans. Policies will cover microchip implantation by a veterinarian, but may not cover other associated fees for registration, monitoring, or renewal.

• Euthanasia: Covered under most pet health policies. 

As stated, the amount of coverage depends on if you choose an Accident-Only or Accident & Illness plan, and whether you include a Wellness Coverage add-on. Add-ons will cost more.

Illness Benefits

• Expenses listed under Accident Benefits, when applicable to an illness

• Cancer treatment (including, but not limited to, chemotherapy and radiation treatment)

• Behavioral problems treatment (if performed by a veterinarian or through written referral by a vet to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist)

If you are looking for pet insurance that does cover preventive treatments like shots, consider adding optional coverage to your policy.

Optional Coverage: Wellness

Several carriers offer the option to increase your coverage by adding on Wellness at a later date.

This is an optional add-on that can be included for extra wellness coverage not included on your policy; for example, if you need pet insurance that covers vaccinations.

Wellness coverage must be added on with an Accident-Only or Accident & Illness plan. Wellness cannot be purchased individually as a stand-alone plan.

You will be reimbursed up to a specific dollar amount, not percentage, for Wellness coverage. Note that prices of wellness care from your veterinarian vary based on location.

Common Coverage:

• Dental cleaning or Spay/Neuter

• Annual exam

• Heartworm/flea prevention

• Deworming

• Health certificate

• Canine heartworm or Feline FELV

• Urinalysis

• Blood test

• Fecal test

• Canine Bordetella or Feline FELV

• Canine DHLPP or Feline FVRCP

• Canine Rabies and/or Canine Lyme, or Feline FIP

Note: There is no waiting period for Wellness Coverage, and you do not need to meet your deductible to be reimbursed for these treatments.

What Pet Insurance Does Not Cover

Like other types of insurance, certain conditions and situations are excluded and therefore will not be covered by your pet insurance policy.

Often, pet coverage carriers do not cover the cost of:

• Boarding

• Breeding, pregnancy, whelping, or nursing.

• Conditions that occur during a waiting period.

• Cosmetic/elective prostheses or procedures (e.g., claw removal, ear cropping, tail docking)

• Funeral services, urns, or burial plots/fees.

• Grooming or grooming supplies.

• House call fees or time and travel expenses to and from the veterinarian or hospital.

• Non-medical supplies intended to prevent injury or illness (e.g., toys, leashes, ramps, bedding).

• Non-veterinary services such as administrative fees, membership fees, and tax.

• Training or training devices.