Health Insurance for Pets

Health insurance for pets has been available for years. Many companies have Web sites and will actually give you a quote online. I have had experience working with Veterinary Pet Insurance, but there are many more out there. Here's how it works: You pick a plan based on the type of coverage that you would like provided. For example, you may only want to insure your pet for any eventual illnesses or instead you might choose a plan that includes coverage for wellness (vaccinations, neutering, dental, and check-ups). Some plans have additional riders for cancer treatment.

Most of my clients choose the coverage that takes care of wellness as well as illness, which is about $100 additional a year. There is a deductible just like that in human insurance. After the deductible is met, a percentage of the veterinary cost is refunded to the pet owner. There are some plans that make direct payments to the veterinarian. It's important to find out if the insurance firm is legally conducting business in your state. You should also figure out if they will compensate services provided by a veterinarian of your choice or whether you need to use a doctor that they recommend. There may also be a discount if you sign up more than one pet.

Plan on spending between $100 and $400 a year depending on the age of your pet and the type of policy you request.

Dr. Peter Kross, DVM, has had his own veterinary practice, the Rivergate Veterinary Clinic in New York City, since 1989. He lives in Manhattan with his three white boxers, Buchanan, Wilhelmina and Laila.