To
be or not to be .................insured |
Pet
insurance has never been more relevant than it is today. In
my 20 years of being in practice, veterinary science has progressed
a very long way. Many illnesses and injuries that would have
been impossible to treat then can now be successfully managed.
However, not surprisingly, the cost of that treatment has "progressed"
at a similar pace. Pet insurance can help to make sure that
the very best Veterinary Medecine has to offer is not beyond
what an owner can afford.
There
are many different insurance policies being offered by many
different companies but, broadly speaking, look out for two
general types:- long term and short term. Short term pet insurance
policies seem attractive because they cost the least. They pay
for treatment for an illness or injury for a period of 12 months.
That's fine for a broken leg which can be fixed in that time,
but if the conditon goes on for longer, such as arthritis or
exzema, then it becomes excluded. Long term policies are more
expensive but usually continue to pay out for an ongoing conditon
for the life of the pet. When shopping around, make sure you
know which type you are being quoted for. Long-term policies
cost roughly double that of short term policies, but it's worth
paying the extra if it can be afforded. However, when all is
said and done, some insurance is better than none.
James
Elliott BVetMed MRCVS Cert VR Principal
