If you live in California, you know
that California is a beautiful state with the perfect weather
to have pets. For this reason, the amount of money that is spent
on veterinary services for pets in California can really get
up there in price, so California pet insurance is a vital industry
in the state of California. In California, pet insurance policies
can cover more than your run of the mill dogs and cats; snakes,
birds, and other reptiles are also an important part of many
a California pet owners’ life and for that reason.
When choosing a pet health insurance policy in California, there
are a few things you should keep in mind.
Does Your Pet Have a Pre-Existing Condition?
California pet insurance policies normally do not cover pre-existing
conditions. Pre-existing conditions are conditions that are already
in place at the time the policy is issued, like upper respiratory
infections, mange, or other conditions. Pet insurance is not
a way to escape a vet bill; it is insurance against those big
whoppers that can really put a dent in your pocket. If Fluffy
has a bad ear infection that has been getting worse since September,
getting pet insurance is not going to cover the costs of Fluffy’s
ear infection treatment.
Does The Policy Cover Routine Check-Ups and Maintenance?
Depending on the type of insurance policy that you have, routine
check-ups (every six months or so) and other preventative care
may not be included in your policy. If you feel like your policy
isn’t costing you hardly anything every month, chances
are that they don’t cover everything you need it to. Paying
a set monthly fee that is affordable may seem unjustifiable but
when it comes time to take Fido to the vet to have everything
checked out and you get a bill with three figures on it, you
will be happy that you paid the extra money for a good policy.
As far as routine maintenance goes,
things like nail trimming and clipping, wing clipping and beak
trimming (for birds and other exotic pets) and even flea preventative
and heartworm preventative are included in that. Whether or not
these things are taken care of can have an adverse effect on
your pet’s health, and rather
than pay a hefty claim later on most insurance companies will cover
the routine things--or so you would think. Read your policy carefully
to be sure.
If You Have An
Exotic Pet…
Just because you have an exotic pet does not mean that you are
not eligible for pet insurance, but it does mean that you are
not eligible with some companies. California is infamous for
their exotic pets; parrots, lizards, ferrets and other birds
and reptiles are a way of life in this western state, but the
nature of their illnesses has discouraged some pet insurance
companies from granting insurance policies on them. If you need
veterinary pet insurance for your parrot or snake, look out specifically
for a pet health insurance provider who specializes in exotic
pets for the best deal and the best coverage.
