When an animal is part of your family, it is essential for you to know they are well, safe and protected. If you are considering taking out pet insurance for your dog, these are some of the most important criteria you should pay attention to in order to choose your veterinary insurance well.
1. Freedom to choose your professional
Having the freedom to choose your vet will not only give you the convenience of not having to travel more than you would like, but will also let you keep relying on your trusted specialist. It is also advisable for the insurance to cover a wide geographical area. Think about holidays or trips and the peace of mind of knowing you will be able to go to the vet any time, anywhere.
2. Coverage
Before choosing, carefully review the policy’s list of coverages:
Some policies only cover you if your dog has an accident. They are much cheaper, since you almost always go to the vet for an illness. The ideal is to take out those that cover all kinds of accidents and illnesses. And all treatments: from the consultation to diagnostic tests, surgery, post-operative care, physiotherapy and the medicines your vet prescribes.
A significant part of the financial outlay you have to make when your dog falls ill comes from the medication prescribed to your pet. That is why having your insurance cover these pharmacy costs is a big point in favour of the policy you take out.
And it should also have no exclusions in the small print, since almost all policies exclude numerous illnesses your dog may develop as it gets older. Better to be prepared to avoid unpleasant surprises.
3. Maximum annual reimbursement and reimbursement percentage
All policies have an annual limit on vet-bill spending. Some companies offer up to €1,000 and the highest, up to €3,100, as is the case with Petplan.
On this point, we recommend not falling short. To give you just one example, a fracture of the tibia and fibula or a ligament tear can cost more than €1,500.
The reimbursement percentage is very important. Some insurers only reimburse you 80%, meaning that on a €2,000 operation you would pay €400. The best policies are those that reimburse you 100%.
4. Complementary health services
It is possible that, at some point in your dog’s life, they may need physiotherapy or simply to be treated for some kind of behavioural problem. If your insurance also covers these services, your dog’s health will be perfectly covered.
5. By your side, even in the worst moments
It is always appreciated to receive help in the most difficult moments. That is why, although you may not like to think about it too much, you should check that your insurance will also be there. For example, if you have to spend a period admitted to hospital, if you suffer a theft, or even when the time comes to say goodbye to your dog. Having these kinds of situations provided for can be an enormous relief later on.
6. Simple, fast procedures
Once you have made sure the coverages the insurance offers are the ones you need, it is important to find out about the bureaucratic procedures for taking out your policy – both the most basic ones for receiving reimbursements for vet expenses and the process for reporting a claim. The fewer steps you need and the more communication channels they offer, the less complicated it will be to contact them, even in a moment of stress.
7. Experience in the sector
You are not going to leave your dog’s health in just anyone’s hands, that much is clear. So, before deciding on a policy, it does not hurt to take a look at the experience the company has in the veterinary insurance sector and the opinions other users have of it.
As you can see, choosing a good veterinary insurance for your dog will give you peace of mind. Your dog’s health will always be covered by the best professionals if you choose the right policy.
