When you buy comprehensive pet health insurance you expect it to be comprehensive. That seems pretty straight forward. In reality, it appears that there are different interpretations of what comprehensive actually means. Let me give you a couple of examples.
Wellness care. Most of us would probably define this as the things we need to do on a regular basis to keep our pets healthy. We call this Preventive care and it is covered in our PurinaCare Plus Preventive Care policy. You can see what we cover here and what we will pay towards those procedures.
Some insurers don't have wellness coverage at all and some others offer it but exclude certain important components. And some that do offer wellness plans don't pay out much for the given procedure.
For instance, one company I looked at this morning offers a wellness package as an add-on to their accident and illness policy. They will reimburse between $70 and $95 annually for a wellness exam and vaccinations, depending on which plan you choose.
PurinaCare would provide up to $150 annually for dogs and cats over nine months of age and up to $250 for a puppy or kitten less than 9 months of age. If you've been in recently for an exam and vaccinations you know how much they cost.
How about behavior issues? I've written several posts on behavior and behavior modification. The number one reason pets are given up for adoption in this county is due to a behavior issue that the owner can't deal with. That's a shame, because most of these problems can be dealt with by behavior modification or pharmaceutical intervention. Behavior modification often involves a veterinary specialist and several visits or consultations.
Most insurers don't cover behavior at all and some that do limit the amount they will reimburse. One company limits coverage for behavior anywhere from $200 to $400 depending on the plan you choose. And that's a lifetime benefit as opposed to an annual benefit. That's not going to get you very far with a veterinary behavior specialist.
PurinaCare covers behavior problems just like any other illness. Behavior modification performed by a licensed veterinarian in a clinical setting, including prescription drugs, is covered under the other terms of the policy. Once your deductible is met we'll reimburse 80% of covered expenses. See policy for details.
The message is one of caution. Make sure you know what you are buying. If you dig into the details before you buy you shouldn't have any surprises when you make a claim.
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