Is Havanese pet insurance worth it?
Pet insurance can be a financial and emotional decision. Pets can get unexpectedly sick and without the financial means to help them recover, it can become a stressful and anxious situation.
The Havanese can be susceptible to various genetic health conditions throughout their life. This may require visits to the vet and medical costs that can quickly spiral into thousands of dollars.
Pet insurance can help alleviate the financial burden of medical bills for your dog. With the right plan, you can have peace of mind that your dog will receive the medical care and treatment it needs to get better.
Common health conditions for the Havanese
While the Havanese is generally a healthy breed, purebred dogs can be susceptible to various illnesses and genetic health conditions throughout their life. Here are some common health issues the Havanese can experience:
- Hip Dysplasia: A genetic deformity in the hip, your dog can have trouble standing and it can lead to arthritis later in life. Surgery may be required to treat the dog.
- Eye conditions: Cataracts and ‘cherry eye’ are common and severe cases can lead to blurred vision and blindness.
- Patella Luxation: A common problem in small dogs, the kneecap can slide out of position leaving the dog unable to walk.
- Deafness: Common for the Havanese breed, deafness can occur with age.
What does pet insurance cover for the Havanese?
Pet insurance can cover a range of diagnostics and treatments for the Havanese. Based on your plan, you are eligible for the following coverage:
- Emergency care: Accidents can happen unexpectedly and your dog may require an emergency vet examination. Pet insurance can take care of the costs related to exam fees, diagnostics, vet labor, and treatment.
- Illness: Pet insurance can help pay for a range of illnesses, including chronic illnesses such as diabetes, mild illnesses such as vomiting, and severe illnesses such as cancer.
- Alternative therapies: Many insurance policies can include alternative therapies such as physical therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, chiropractic, homeopathy, and naturopathy. This can vary between insurers, and it’s best to read the fine print before you buy a policy.
- Surgery, procedures, and hospitalization: If your dog requires surgery or needs to stay overnight in the hospital, pet insurance can help cover the costs.
When shopping around for your pet insurance policy, there are typically three different kinds of policies you can buy. These are accident-only, accident and illness, and wellness coverage. Accident-only coverage is generally more limited than accident and illness and is normally the cheaper option.
How are insurance premiums determined for the Havanese?
Many different factors determine the cost of your pet insurance coverage. Some of these factors include:
- Age: As your dog gets older, insurance premiums are likely to increase as older dogs are more susceptible to getting ill or having health issues. In addition, it can be harder to change insurers as many will not insure pre-existing medical conditions.
- Payment of policy: When you opt to pay annually instead of monthly, the majority of insurers will provide a policy discount.
- Breed: Certain breeds have a larger risk of genetic health conditions. Depending on the cost of treatment, if this is high, this can increase your premium.
- Add-ons: Many policies come with the option of policy add-ons where you can add coverage such as dental care, behavioral therapy, and wellness check-ups.
- Location: If the cost of veterinary services is high in your area, this will increase your insurance premium.
- Vet labor: Examinations and consultations with your vet can be covered by pet insurance.
Carefully read your policy’s terms and conditions before you purchase so that you can avoid any surprises when you go to make a claim.
How to choose the best Havanese pet insurance?
When looking for the best pet insurance plan for your dog, it’s important to get started while they’re young, as premiums can become more expensive with age. In addition, it can become difficult to change insurers as many refuse to insure older dogs due to pre-existing medical conditions. Here are some key factors to look for when shopping for pet insurance:
- Exclusions: Pet insurance can come with many exclusions. Some of these can include cosmetic treatment, pre-existing medical conditions, teeth cleaning, microchipping, pregnancy or birth, preventable diseases, grooming services, and death. It’s important to read the terms and conditions before you take out a policy so that you’re aware of exactly what is covered and not covered.
- Waiting period: When you take out a policy, typically the effective date of the policy will occur a few days or sometimes months after the start date. If you submit a claim during the waiting period or your dog has an accident, it’s unlikely that it’ll be covered by your insurer. In addition, some policies may have separate waiting periods depending on the type of claim. For instance, accidents may have a waiting period of 3-days and knee injury 180-days under the same policy.
- Consider wellness coverage: Policy add-ons may seem unnecessary, but adding wellness coverage can ensure that your dog is in good health. Plus, wellness coverage often reimburses you for the cost of preventative care, which can ensure that your dog gets the vaccinations and treatments needed to stay healthy.