Funding Fido抯 Healthcare

Health insurance, car insurance, vacation insurance ?why not pet insurance?

If you think about it ?pet insurance makes sense. Whether your dog (or cat) is a purebred or a mutt, he抯 bound to feel a little under the weather or have an accident (not on the carpet ?one that抯 a little more health related). And if you have health insurance, it抣l make paying for that emergency surgery or treating your pet抯 chronic illness a little more palatable.

The cost of fishing a foreign body out of Fluffy抯 stomach or correcting Fido抯 hip dysplasia alone can run into the thousands ?so if you can afford the monthly cost of health insurance, it抯 definitely worth the nominal expense.

If you抮e thinking about getting healthcare coverage for your pets, be sure to ask these questions of the insurance provider:

1. Are there age restrictions for coverage?
2. Will the premiums rise as my pet ages or when the benefits are used?
3. What is the deductible?
4. How much of the claim will the insurer pay (less the deductible, of course)?
5. Are there limitations on which veterinarian I can use?
6. Is there a restrictive schedule of benefits?
7. What is the term of the policy?
8. Does the policy cover chronic and hereditary conditions?
9. What is the cost?

When you抮e finally ready to do a little research, check PETCO抯 site (http://www.petco.com/Content/Article.aspx?PC=article&Nav=153&PetTypeID=1&TopicID=12&id=2556) ?that抯 where I found some of the most valuable information on the topic. But your vet抯 office and your local Humane Society should also be able to offer some information to help you in your quest.

Of course, you should also do plenty of shopping around to find the right coverage for your pet ?at the right price for your household budget. But instead of wasting time calling the insurance companies, check them out online. Most of them offer quotes in a matter of minutes