1 ALWAYS READ THE EXCLUSIONS. IF IT’S NOT EXCLUDED, IT’S COVERED.
2 CHECK WITH THE INSURER IF A CLAIM IS MADE ON A PARTICULAR INJURY OR ILLNESS. WILL THE ISSUE BE EXCLUDED UPON RENEWAL OR WILL THE POLICY BE DECLINED?
3 ONCE A POLICY HAS BEEN DECLINED IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INSURANCE WITH OTHER INSURERS.
4 ALWAYS READ THE PDS (PRODUCT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT). BORING, WE KNOW. BUT INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
5 IF YOU ARE INSURING AN OLDER DOG, YOU WILL REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE INSURANCE COMPANY WITH A VETERINARY HISTORY. FURTHERMORE, IF YOU HAVE HAD A RECORDED CONSULTATION REGARDING A PRIOR BACK INJURY CHANCES ARE IT WILL BE EXCLUDED.
6 IF YOU DECIDE TO CHANGE INSURERS YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A VETERINARY HISTORY TO THE NEW PROVIDER.
7 ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES SUCH AS PHYSIO AND ACUPUNCTURE ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS. SOME INSURANCE COMPANIES NOW COVER THESE, HOWEVER IF YOUR COMPANY DOES NOT, YOU SHOULD MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR THESE COSTS.
8 THINKING OF TAKING OUT A NEW POLICY OR REINSURING WITH A NEW COMPANY?
- any pre-existing won’t be covered by any insurer.
- any previous history is an automatic disqualification and there is no waiting period whatsoever.
- only new issues can be covered.
Why should I consider pet insurance?
Statistics now show that 1:4 dachshunds will experience some form of disc episode during their lifetime and with the costs associated with spinal surgery and alternative therapies being around $10,000, can you afford not to?
Which insurance company?
We are often asked which insurance provider is the best. As we aren’t insurance brokers we can’t answer this question, however we can provide some simple guidelines based on personal experiences to help you make a correct and informed choice.
Insurance –v- Piggy Bank
Popping a set amount away each week/month sounds great in theory but let’s break it down –
- Not everyone is so committed to the cause
- The cost of IVDD surgery plus rehab is around $10,000
- The average age for a dog to go down is 5
- With an average premium of $600 pa, it would take 16.5 years to bank $10,000 and this doesn’t include any other possible health issues that may occur during a dog’s lifetime
- Do you have a lazy $10,000 lying around, should heaven forbid, your dog require emergency specialist treatment?
Ok, so I have been convinced, what’s next?
Pet insurance isn’t for everyone, we understand that, but not having your dachshund’s back with a good policy, is the equivalent of owning an expensive car with the expectation of never having an accident.
Here is a list of questions to ask when obtaining Pet Insurance quotes:
- What is the annual benefit limit?
- What % of the vet bill will they cover?
- Will they pay the vet directly?
- Do they have sub-limits for any conditions?
- Do they have any lifetime benefit limits for any conditions?
- Do they cover chronic conditions for the life of the pet?
- Do they cover snake bites?
- Do they cover foreign body ingestion?
- Do they have any waiting periods?
- Do they cover illness after the age of 8?
- Do they cover tick paralysis?
- Do they cover complimentary/alternative treatments (eg, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, behavioural therapy)?
- Do they cover oral and gum disease and extractions?
- Do they have any breed specific, hereditary or congenital exclusions?
- Do they offer Third Party Liability?
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