Pet Health Insurance

HMO Coverage for Your Furry or Feathered Friends

Over the years our pets have quite literally become a valued part of our families. Many pet owners pamper their pets with all of the niceties available on the market today. Therefore it is no surprise that, as one of our family members, health insurance is also available for them just as much as it is available for our children and spouses.

What do you need to know in making the decision to purchase health insurance for your pet? What are the advantages?

The Logistics of Pet Insurance

It is a common misconception that pet insurance works very similar to human health insurance. However this is not the case.
Significant differences in a VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) versus an HMO include:

· You are free to choose any licensed Veterinary Doctor versus a specific doctor, as with an HMO
· You are able to pay at the time of service versus a co-pay
· You file a VPI claim for reimbursement versus utilizing a medical card and medical number

Policies are similar in that there is no coverage for pre-existing conditions. In addition, there is no coverage for cosmetic or elective procedures.

What kind of policies are available?

There are generally two types of pet insurance policies available: Routine Care Coverage and Pet Major Medical.


Routine Care Coverage takes care of annual physical exams, vaccinations, heart worm detection and treatment, spay or neuter services, teeth cleaning and flea control.

Pet Major Medical covers surgeries, accidents or injuries, X-rays, MRI or CAT scans, hospitalization, removal of ingested foreign objects and snakebites.

How much does it cost?

A general rule of thumb is, the more expensive the pet is, the more expensive the coverage will be. The spectrum ranges from birds, who tend to require a lower premium, to horses, which require a higher premium. Pet insurance thankfully doesn’t determine the premium based on the breed of the animal – that is, a more expensive breed of dog isn’t going to yield a higher premium.