At what age can pet insurance begin?

Pets bring as much joy to us as our family. Pets give us unconditional love, unquestioned loyalty and are our lifelong companions. Therefore it is only natural that we want to take as much care of them as we take of our family members. And like us pets are also prone to illnesses and sudden accidents and the expenses incurred to treat them are as high as for humans. That is why many pet owners nowadays take out a health insurance cover for their pets. This helps the owners manage and afford the health problems of their pets effectively and efficiently.

Pet insurance companies have devised several kinds of flexible insurance plans for all kinds of pets. These insurance plans cover almost all conditions of the pets ordinary and exotic. However the insurance plans will cover pets within a certain age limit. The age limit depends on the insurance company's policies and the type of pet. Normally the health insurance for almost all kinds of animals starts at the age of eight weeks. The upper age limit for insurance cover varies again depending on the type of animal. For example, for dogs it is approximately 8 years, for select breed dogs 6 years, for cats around 10 years and for animals with a shorter life span the insurance cover is accordingly given. As a pet grows older, insurance companies are reluctant to extend the health insurance because the animals are expected to fall ill and require frequent treatment.

This means that you will have a problem taking out a health insurance policy as your pet ages. Therefore while taking a health insurance cover for your young pet; you should check out the upper age limit of the insurance cover and also read the small print. Often insurance companies put in a clause that they can withdraw the insurance cover at any time. You do not need a health insurance provider who will withdraw the insurance cover when you most need it, that is when your pet is approaching its old age. So read the insurance document carefully before signing it.

However several insurance companies are now providing comprehensive healthcare which also include accidents and chronic diseases and the insurance is for a lifetime. Of course if the pets are older you will need to pay a high premium but that might still be less than the vet's bill you will have to foot from your pocket. The insurance premium for pets starts from $10 and goes higher if you choose a health insurance for an older pet or an exotic one. To purchase a health insurance for an older pet you will need to provide the health insurance company your pet's veterinary record, report of the latest blood test and your vet's observation of the report. Also these insurance plans have a deductible of around $50 or so and an annual cap of approximately $10,000, subject to change. However all vets are of the opinion that a health insurance cover is required for pets as their life span has considerably increased due to better and modern medical facilities and techniques.

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