Pet Insurance in Texas
Understand your Budget
Of course, you will want to get a sense of your budget. Pet insurance costs can vary in Texas depending on the kind of pet you have and how much coverage you buy broadly speaking. It’s a great idea to define a set budget for pet insurance before you start shopping - that way, you won’t waste time looking at policies you can’t afford or wouldn’t consider. Getting quotes from insurance companies makes up a significant portion of the research process, and it’ll go much more smoothly if you already have started to think through a bit about what you can reasonably afford.
Is Pet Insurance Worth Getting?
It can be scary and stressful when your pet experiences illness or has an accident. In many cases, you'll have to rush to call your vet and schedule an appointment and get them treated to the tune of hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Sudden accidents and health issues are out of our control, and in many cases and they are bound to happen and are part of being a pet parent. What is in your control is exploring pet insurance options in Texas to reduce the stress and financial risk that comes with pet ownership. Only you can evaluate and decide if pet insurance is worth it.
Types of Texas Pet Insurance Providers
Some companies specialize in certain types of care, offering great reimbursement rates for expensive surgeries, while others are more general and focus on more routine care in places like Texas. A large part of choosing an insurance company that accounts for your pet’s health conditions and maximizes your benefit is knowing the services your pet is most likely to need. You would be wise to also consider the size of the insurance carrier as smaller, newer insurance companies are more likely to have significant price appreciation than larger, more established firms. It’s always a good idea to check out the website and customer reviews, and don’t hesitate to engage them with any questions you have, that’s also a great way to get a sense of how they manage customer service.
Benefits Offered in major plan types
A comprehensive plan, also referred to as accident and illness, offers the most coverage and generally covers health conditions, illnesses, accidents, emergency care, diagnostics, behavioral, and potentially alternative treatments. Accident-only plans cover treatment, medication, and surgery related to injuries caused by accidents. Some examples are broken bones, injuries such as being hit by a vehicle, or unfortunate accidental poisoning. Finally, Wellness plans cover elements of routine health visits and care. They're typically reimbursements for care such as vaccines, flea/tick medications, parasite control, and dental cleanings. You can most often purchase wellness plans as add-ons to a base plan for plans that cover pets in Texas.
Can you afford not to have Pet Insurance?
One way to think about the financial obligation of pet insurance and if it makes sense for you is to imagine if it would be possible to pay a multi-thousand-dollar medical bill should something significant and unexpected arise requiring medical attention for your pet. If the answer is yes, pet insurance could help you manage that risk effectively. Even if you would be able to bear the burden of this type, pet insurance could certainly help as well and limit your financial exposure. Pet insurance plans are designed to help manage medical, emergency care, medication prescriptions, and surgery costs and reduce the financial pressures and financial risks that come with being a pet owner.
Filing a Texas Pet Insurance Claim
After you have paid your veterinarian and hopefully all is well with your four-legged buddy, it’s time to file your claim and get reimbursed. One thing to consider when looking at plans is the process the insurer has in place for claims processing. Do they offer multiple ways to submit a claim such as via fax, mail, email, upload, and phone app? Keep the vet bill handy as you will need this to file a claim and once received, the insurance carrier will review the details, your pet’s medical history, and your coverage elements to determine the reimbursement. One thing to note when reviewing quotes is whether the carrier uses the actual billed amount or their estimate of what a given procedure costs. This might end up confusing after you file a claim if you don’t cover this in your plan review. Also make note of how long it takes them on average to process a claim, another point of comparison. The processing time is usually 14-30 days.