Whether you are a new pet owner or have been an animal lover for years, using pet insurance as a way to protect your pet’s interest after you are gone is an excellent option that you may want to consider as you create a pet plan. Pet insurance plans operate very similarly to human health care plans in that they afford protection against the possibility that your pet might require serious, and costly, veterinary care.

As with other insurance products, balancing the needs of your pet against your desires and abilities is essential when considering this type of coverage. Here are some pointers you might want to keep in mind if you are thinking about pet insurance as a part of your pet plan.

Future Care

Not all pets experience costly health problems, while the problems certain animals are likely to have are very different than the problems facing other types of animals. One of the best things you can do when making your decision about obtaining pet insurance is to speak to your veterinarian about your pet and the potential health problems it might face. You should ask about common problems that affect pets as they age, as well as ask about problems that might be more common with the particular breed or species of your animal.

Pet Insurance Coverage

If you know the kinds of health problems your animal is likely to encounter, you then need to begin evaluating each pet insurance product available to you. As with health insurance, review the policy carefully and pay special attention to terms about co-pays, coverage limitations, and coverage caps.

You should also look out for age-related restrictions. For example, many policies allow for specific coverage levels if your animal is below a certain age. Once the animal turns, for example, five or 10 years old, the coverage maximums may decrease or you might have to pay higher premiums.

Also, you need to be on the lookout for excluded conditions. Almost no pet insurance product covers pre-existing or congenital problems. If your animal is already suffering from an ongoing or chronic health condition, don’t count on pet insurance to cover these costs.

Coverage After You Are Gone

The reason you need to consider pet insurance as a part of an estate plan is because your pet might outlive you. If this is the case, you will need to ensure the pet has sufficient healthcare coverage when you are no longer able to pay it. Establishing a pet trust and ensuring it is properly funded, while also giving the trustee the ability to pay for needed pet insurance, is an essential step.