Pet Insurance Basics
Pet Insurance Myths and Rumors
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The following is brought to you by our sponsor, PetFirst.
Learn more about how you can get $1,000 of accident and illness protection for newly adopted dogs and cats — for just $5 for the first month.
There are many misconceptions about pet insurance to be found on the Internet. Many people wrongly believe pet insurance is a scam due to the exclusions and expenses. Some say no one really benefits from having pet insurance even in the case of major medical incidents.
In reality, pet insurance not only reduces expenses for routine vet visits but can also provide a significant financial cushion to protect against the expense of accidents and illnesses. With the latest developments in veterinary medicine, new treatments can help cure diseases that used to result in euthanasia. These treatments can be expensive, but no one wants to deal with the guilt of not being able to afford their pet's healthcare.
If you have heard a myth or rumor about pet insurance that we don't address below, contact us. We'll be happy to give you the facts so you can make the best decision for your pet.
MYTH 1: Pet insurance is too expensive
While premium plans and riders can sometimes add up to an expensive plan, you can get a cheap basic plan with PetFirst for your dog for just $29.95. Basic plans cover $7,500 in accident and illness coverage, and also come with $100 of routine-care coverage.
An even cheaper plan is our Accident Only Plan. For $16.95 you can get $3,000 of coverage per year to protect your pet from unforeseen accidents and unexpected injuries.
Our Family Plans give owners with multiple pets the opportunity for even greater savings on all our plans.
Even better, PetFirst's rates will not increase with the age of your pet or vary by breed. A 6-month-old Poodle has the same premium as a 9-year-old Pit Bull. Learn about a special offer for new adopters: Just $5 for the first month.
MYTH 2: It's only for sickly pets
Pet insurance only works preemptively; you cannot get substantial coverage for a pre-existing condition with any pet insurance policy on the market today. Pet insurance is meant to protect your pet against potential accidents and illnesses. Certain breeds are more predisposed than others to illnesses, which can encourage the purchase of a policy, but all pets have the risk of falling ill or getting into an accident. Like the rest of your family, your pet needs to be covered beforehand.
MYTH 3: There are too many exclusions to be worth it
Pet insurance protects against countless diseases and accidents. Most pet insurance providers have exclusions in place to help keep their prices low, and PetFirst is no exception. The most common and unpopular exclusions are the hereditary, congenital and chronic condition exclusions. The cost of covering these conditions greatly expands the cost of pet insurance coverage, as these conditions are not only expensive, but last the duration of your pet's life.
In order to provide pet owners with more options, PetFirst offers optional riders that cover several of our exclusions, including the hereditary, congenital and chronic conditions. This rider is optional, as we felt it better to provide more choices while still keeping our prices low. We encourage you to review our exclusions and the riders we offer, which counter eight of our exclusions.
MYTH 4: You can't choose your own vet
While some "pet insurance providers" are little more than veterinarian buyer networks or discount clubs, PetFirst insurance is usable at any veterinarian's office in the United States. This includes specialists and urgent-care clinics. We actually promise veterinarians not to promote managed-care principles or animal-hospital networks because we feel each veterinarian should have the right to set his or her own prices.
MYTH 5: Pet insurance is a hassle
PetFirst prides itself on making all aspects of our insurance easy to understand. From shopping and purchasing to filling a claim, we make it simple for you to manage the care of your pet. It takes us just 10 days to process your claim and send you your reimbursement. You can learn more about getting a fast reimbursement with our new article, Speed Up Your Claims Process.
Learn more about how you can get $1,000 of accident and illness protection for newly adopted dogs and cats — for just $5 for the first month.
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