The Benefits of Pet Insurance
Did you know that if your diabetic pet is insured you can be reimbursed for diabetic supplies? Insulin, syringes and prescription food are covered…but did you know that supplements may be covered as well?
I had no idea that so much was covered because Lucy was not insured before she was diagnosed with diabetes and we did not look into insurance after diagnosis since diabetes wouldn’t be covered. I did not research much because I was able to successfully manage her diabetes on a budget but if I had insurance I would have saved more.
Since I never got insurance for my dogs I asked Tomer about pet insurance, he knows SO much about it that he is my go-to for anything pet insurance related. There is a lot of information so this blog is going to be about some basics of what may be covered for your diabetic dog or cat.
Grab a cup of your favorite caffeinated beverage and let’s get into it.
I am going to start by breaking down the most common legal terms used in the insurance industry.
Accidents and illness: maximum annual coverage can range from $3,000 to unlimited. Accidents and illness covers injuries and illnesses that are not excluded from the policy, permanently or temporarily. Some companies will not cover exams fees for accidents and illnesses so make sure they are covered.
Deductible: can be annual (most of the time) or lifetime per condition. Ranges from $100 to $1,000. Deductible is the amount of money the client pays before the insurance company starts reimbursing.
Reimbursement: Percentage that is paid by pet insurance. Reimbursement range starts with 70% and can go up to 100%. There is one pet insurance company that has 100% reimbursement, Figo. The majority of insurance companies offer 70, 80 or 90% reimbursement.
Pre-existing conditions: medical conditions that were present at the time of insurance purchase. Some insurance companies, like Embrace Pet Insurance distinguishes between curable pre-existing conditions and non-curable pre-existing conditions. Usually a curable condition is excluded but will be covered as long as the pet was cured and free from this condition for a specified period (usually 12 months). Non-curable or permanent conditions will never be covered. Diabetes is considered a non-curable condition.
Premium: premium is paid monthly and will be determined by the coverage purchase (reimbursement percentage, deductible and accidents and illness coverage). It would also be determined by age upon joining. The older the pet, the higher the premium. Some companies have a fixed rate; most companies will adjust the premium at certain ages. Ask the company for the premium table by age. There are multiple pets discounts, usually 5 – 10%.
Wellness plans: some companies have wellness plans that cover non-injury or non-illness things like vaccinations, supplements, routine vet visits, bloodwork, prescription food, etc. You pay for a pre-specified amount that once depleted you can no longer claim routine treatment any longer. Amounts vary across companies.
Dental: some companies cover routine dental in their wellness plans. Injury or illness dental related treatments are covered. For example, a fractured tooth would be covered under injury or illness. For some companies, dental illness has a different maximum coverage. For instance, Embrace Pet Insurance covers dental illness up to $1,000 regardless of the maximum coverage. Dental injuries are not subject to the $1,000 limit.
Waiting periods: some companies have waiting periods for coverage to start. Some start immediately. Some conditions waive the waiting period for illnesses once medical clearance is supplied from the vet, especially for orthopedic issues. Accidents usually have no waiting period.
Note: Relationship with the Vet - some insurance companies will pay directly to the vet. Others will ask the client to submit a claim with the invoice for reimbursement. Usually there are no restrictions on which vet you go to as long as the vet and clinic are licensed.
What is covered and what isn’t?
To quickly sum up pet insurance coverage:
Each pet is covered for accidents and illness up to an annual maximum coverage. Most policies set a limit on coverage for dental illness that is lower than the maximum coverage. The maximum coverage can vary depending on the company and the premium the owner pays. For example, if an owner purchased a policy with an annual maximum coverage of $10,000, during this year they can get reimbursed up to this amount for all accidents and illnesses, other than dental illness who is subject to a lower limit of $1,000 a year.
Whether the owner reached the maximum or not, in the following year they will have again $10,000 maximum coverage.
As you can see from the tables above, diabetic supplies are covered if your pet was insured before diagnosis; this is so helpful when managing diabetes. I also love the fact that supplements are covered under wellness coverage.
Pet insurance definitely is worth looking into! If you have any questions about pet insurance please ask here or tag one of us in our Facebook group and we will help with what we can.
I need to give a big shout out to Tomer! He did a lot of research and contacted his pet insurance company, Embrace Pet Insurance for any questions we had. He also took the time to break it down in simple terms, which really helped my non-legal jargon brain! Thank you so much Tomer!
If you need supplies for your diabetic pet:
PetTest USA link: https://shoppettest.com/
Link to PetTest Canada: https://pettest.ca/
If you live in Australia, Wantsa Medical offers PetTest products.
UK residents can purchase PetTest Supplies from Home Health UK .
New Zealand now has PetTest products through VetPost.
Don’t forget to check your email for the latest PetTest promo codes and if you aren’t subscribed to receive PetTest emails sign up now. You can also go to PetTest on Facebook or Instagram for current promo code info.
For a printable version of this blog click here.
Until next week stay comfy, don’t stress and you got this!
Michelle Miller-Matlock
AAHA Certified Diabetes Educator
Founder/Administrator of DDO: Diabetic Dog Owners University
Administrator of Diabetic Dog Owners on Facebook
Want to learn all you can in a simple and easy to follow format? Please join DDO-U: Diabetic Dog Owners University , graciously sponsored by PetTest.
Be sure to join the PetTest family on Facebook and Instagram. PetTest has fun, interactive posts AND they have fabulous giveaways every week!
Do you need a blood glucose meter kit for your diabetes arsenal? Click here to purchase one if you live in the USA. Click here to purchase a meter kit if you live in Canada.