I can be seen at the Long Island City Veterinary Center.

Address:

48-18 Vernon Blvd

LIC, NY 11101

Phone:  718-383-VETS (8387)

E-mail:  licvets@gmail.com

Website:  http://longislandcityvet.com

Many clients have asked about insurance options for their pet.  Initially, I was wary of pet insurance, but, over the years, have come to recommend it.

Pet insurance is different than human health insurance. With pet insurance, instead of paying a copay at the time of the visit,  you usually get reimbursed after the fact by the insurance company.  There are a few copay companies out there, but I do not recommend them as most veterinary clinics I am familiar with do not accept this type of insurance and expect full payment at time of service.

You can choose what company and what kind of coverage you want.  With most pet insurances, you pay your bill in full, then the company reimburses you later.  This allows veterinarians to examine, diagnose, and treat according to veterinary standards, not insurance standards.

Deciding which company to use can be overwhelming. I do not have any one preferred company over another.  The only complaints that I have heard about most insurance plans is that they won’t cover some pre-existing conditions. For example, I have seen dachshunds denied coverage for herniated disc surgery and bulldogs denied coverage for allergies.  My advice is to compare companies, get quotes, and try to speak with a representative from each company about your concerns.  Let them sell themselves to you and you decide who you trust the most.

As for things that you want covered, you must research your pet’s breed. Identify common ailments for each breed and see who covers them.  In general, there are two categories of coverage that every pet needs:

• Emergencies: This is where I feel Pet Insurance saves lives.  Broken legs, hit-by-car accidents, foreign body ingestion, bloat, dog attack, etc.  This is when treatment gets pricy and people wish they had insurance.  Some animals receive sub-standard care because the owner can’t afford the best care at the time and it breaks my heart to know that money affects those decisions.
• Preventative care: vaccines, fecals, heartworm tests, heartworm preventatives,  blood work screenings each year, etc.  Many companies cover a percentage of that.  You should estimate how much you spend on visits and preventatives each year and compare it to the yearly rate from the insurance company.  You may find that the prices at your vet are already fair and affordable and you may not need as much coverage in this area.  In other words, these are the costs you can PLAN on having, so do some math and see if you will save with preventative insurance.

While pet insurance is not for everyone, it can save lives in the case of emergencies and make healthcare affordable in preventing illness.  Carefully research your options and feel free to ask your vet for advice in deciding what’s best for you and your pet.