AMERICAN DOG FEDERATION

                                       Pet Health Insurance
Some of the pet health insurance companies are not approved in all 50 states, so if you decide to purchase pet health insurance,
make sure that the policy you buy is valid in your state.
The  ADF recommends the following questions you may want to ask when looking for pet health insurance
Breed of Dog
Select Breed restrictions for pet health insurance?
Is there limited coverage for pet health insurance?
Does it cover hereditary or congential conditions  
Does your policy coverage and fee epend on plan and breed?
Does the company specify coverage exclusion?
Certain breed-specific hereditary conditions are not covered by a VPI medical policy.
Know how your policy works.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy coverage excluded for some breeds.
Surcharges may apply on selected breeds.

Pre Existing Conditions
Are pre-existing conditions covered by the pet health insurance?  If so is there an additional
fee or a rider to the premium?

Emergency Care
Are specialist and emergency care covered?   

Limits
Are there annual limits on claims?   
Do you get to choose the amount of the annual limit?

Wellness Care
Does it cover routine and wellness care or does it depend on your plan?  
Does it cover chronic and recurring conditions or must you add Continuing Care coverage to
policy?

Dental Coverage
Does it cover dental care or only dental illness or dental desease?

Discount for multiple pets  


Is alternative medicine covered?
Are accupunture and holistic and hydrotherapy treatments covered.

Prescriptions
Does it cover prescription medication?

Reimbursement %    
Do you understand how reimbursements are determined?
Pet health  insurance providers enforce “reasonable and customary fees,” which aren’t
disclosed to policyholders in advance and can change based on the insurer’s discretion. Ask
for a  benefit schedule that clearly lists how much is available for reimbursement per incident.
Price
What are the monthly premiums for pet health insurance?
How do you file a claim?
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Does the company have stability and proven success?
Be sure to find out how long the other companies that offer pet health insurance you’re
researching have been in business.  

Pre Certification
Are you limited to a veterinary network or required to pre-certify for pet health insurance?

Veterinarians
Does the company employ certified and trained veterinary professionals?
As a potential customer, you should expect that your pet health insurance provider has enough
trained and qualified people to answer questions you may have prior to purchasing pet health
insurance.
Does the company receive veterinary recognition?
If so get some names of the Veterinarians who do.
Can you choose your own licensed veterinarian?
Does your veterinarian accept pet health insurance
How is the payment made? To you or to your veterinarian ?
Some companies will only reimburse " allowable" veterinary expenses. Ask for a fee schedual.   

Deductible.
Usually, deductibles are per incident.  $75, $100 or $300
$100 to $200 depends on plan and pet
Annual Deductible?

Waiting Period
Complete on which there is a 30 day illness waiting period.
14 days for accidents and illnesses and 6 months for cruciate injury coverage
Does it pay based on the actual vet bill?

Renewable Benefits
Will you receive renewable benefits?
Make sure that the company you choose protects your pet with the same coverage year to year.
Are you offered annual policies with straightforward renewal terms?
VPI policies have a one-year term, so your rate is guaranteed for one full year.   Are other
companies going to increase your premium on a quarterly basis or due to submitted claims?

Broad Coverage
Is there  a lifetime cap imposed on policyholder benefits  or are there benefit allowances for
each term, which refresh every year upon policy renewal. Be aware of “extra” coverage that
other pet health insurance providers may require you to buy.