Does Coronavirus Have You Worried about Pet Insurance? Learn the Most Current Facts and Find the Coverage Options That Are Best for You.

Veterinary technology is more advanced than ever before. Today's pets receive complex medical treatment like chemotherapy, physical therapy, and heart surgery. While these services can help extend or even save a pet's life, they often come at a steep price. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), Americans spent $16.62 billion on veterinary care in 2017. As such, many families are faced with making life-or-death decisions based on how much care they can afford. To help ease the financial burden of caring for a sick or injured pet, some families decide to invest in pet insurance.

Top Considerations

PET INSURANCE OPTIONS

There are several types of pet insurance policies:

• A pet health insurance policy reimburses the pet owner for specified veterinary care. These policies typically itemize covered treatments, deductibles (the amount you're responsible to pay) and lifetime or per illness maximums. The cost of the policy may vary based on the amount and type of coverage, as well as the breed or species.
• Pet injury coverage may be part of your auto insurance policy. It covers the treatment of a pet injured in a car accident up to a set limit. Check with your insurance agent or company to determine if your auto policy includes coverage for a pet traveling in your car.
• A pet life insurance policy covers end-of-life costs for your animal. This can include burial or cremation expenses and even bereavement counseling for you and your family.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A POLICY

• Covered Conditions: Some pet health insurance policies may reimburse covered medical expenses for accidents, illnesses, surgeries, X-rays, prescriptions, hospitalizations, emergencies or cancer treatments. Other plans may only cover accident and illness after a waiting period.
• Pre-existing Conditions: Hereditary conditions and certain medical conditions are considered pre-existing. For pre-existing conditions considered curable, the company may choose to enforce a waiting period before coverage can begin. Conditions considered incurable such as diabetes or cancer may be excluded or may be covered on a limited basis. A veterinarian may need to conduct an examination to certify your pet's health.
• Renewable Benefits: If your pet is treated for a covered condition during the policy term, some companies may consider the condition to be pre-existing and will exclude coverage for the condition when the policy is renewed.
• Exclusions: Treatments not covered by pet insurance can vary by type of pet or breed. Not all pet insurance plans cover preventative care, dental care not associated with an accident or injury, treatment of behavioral problems, breed-specific hereditary conditions or elective procedures. Treatment of conditions your pet is born with or hereditary conditions may have a limited benefit.
• Reimbursement: What the insurance company will pay per treatment is explained in a benefits schedule. This list outlines how much — by percentage of cost or dollar amount — the company will pay for treatments. You may be responsible for co-pays or deductibles. Some companies will pay the veterinarian for services, but often you'll be responsible for the full amount at the time of treatment and then be reimbursed by the insurer for covered expenses.
• Veterinarian Networks: Some pet health insurance policies will require you to use a specific network of veterinarians. Check to see which providers are in your network.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Make sure the agent selling pet insurance is licensed in your state, or if you have questions about pet insurance, contact your state insurance department.
• Estimate the health costs for your animal's expected life. Take into consideration how much you could afford for emergency treatment or a long illness.
• Shop around! Compare policy benefits, deductibles, limits and exclusions. If you choose to purchase pet insurance, make time to read the terms and conditions including co-pays, deductibles, limits and exclusions. Double-check the amount of coverage shown in your insurance policy.
• Familiarize yourself with pet risk management tools that are not pet insurance. Some veterinary offices offer wellness programs for vaccinations and exams. There are some national discount programs that offer veterinary service discounts for a monthly fee. Typically, you must use veterinarians who are part of the network to receive the discount. Many pharmacies, like those at discount stores, carry pet prescriptions.
• Homeowners and renter's policies can sometimes assist with covering pet-related expenses on your property. If pets are harmed at home when owners are following the laws of their jurisdiction (such as leash laws), offending parties may be liable for your pets' medical bills. Additionally, arrangements such as boarding may be covered for pets when a homeowner incurs additional living expenses while the home is being repaired for a covered loss. However, homeowners need to know whether their animal is excluded by their insurance carrier due to the animal breed or aggressive history. There may be an option for additional or specific liability coverage to cover these risks.
• Make a checklist of questions to ask your insurance agent or company.
  • Can I choose any veterinarian?
  • What is the deductible and copay?
  • Does the policy cover annual wellness exams?
  • Is there a dollar limit for office fees?
  • Are prescription drugs covered?
  • What about spaying or neutering charges?
  • Does the policy have renewable benefits?
  • Is there a waiting period before coverage becomes effective?
  • Does my pet need a health exam to qualify for the policy?
  • If my pet has a pre-existing condition or chronic condition, how is it covered or excluded?
  • How long do you take to pay claims?
  • Does this plan cover advertising costs and rewards if my pet is lost or stolen?
  • Does this plan have end-of-life benefits?

Pet Insurance and COVID-19

• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. The novel Coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spreads mostly from person to person through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and talking. In the United States, a tiger with a respiratory illness at the Bronx Zoo, was the first instance of an animal testing positive for the virus. At this time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.
• The CDC and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) do not recommend routine testing of animals currently. If you suspect your pet has the virus, call your veterinarian. If the veterinarian thinks a pet or animal should be tested, they will contact state animal health officials to decide whether samples should be collected and tested.
• Some pet insurance policies may cover testing and/or treatment if clinically necessary. However, it is unlikely pet insurance policies would cover elective testing of domestic pets for COVID-19 if the pet does not have symptoms.
• Review your specific policy or contact your pet insurance company to determine what coverage your policy may provide. For additional information, review the USDA’s FAQ on Companion Animal Coronavirus Testing (PDF).
• If a pet or animal owner is sick with COVID-19, they should follow the CDC recommendations about limiting contact with pets.

Top Three Things to Consider

1. Consider whether you need pet insurance. Estimate the health costs for your animal's expected life. Take into consideration how much you could afford for emergency treatment or a long illness.
2. Know your options. Compare policy benefits, deductibles, limits and exclusions. Take time to read the terms and conditions including co-pays, deductibles, amount of coverage, and limits and exclusions.
3. Know which questions to ask. Before you buy a policy, know what is and is not covered. Is there a waiting period? Will you get to choose your pet’s veterinarian?