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Don’t Make This Silly Mistake With Your Pet Insurance

   

Jade Poole from I write words

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Pet Insurance mistakes

We are all human beings, which means that we are imperfect and essentially programmed to make mistakes. That being said, as a pet parent there is one particular mistake that is incredibly common and totally avoidable. Keep reading to find out what it is!

Owning a pet comes with a lot of trial and error. Most of the time we are essentially learning on the spot as we add this new addition to our families. The best part about our pets, however, is that they are patient and forgiving which means there is lots of room for error … and love.

So, if you feel that you are still making mistakes along the way, don’t be too hard on yourself. You are doing the best that you can with the knowledge that you have.

However, let’s just focus on the last part of the previous paragraph “the knowledge that you have”. A mistake is based on the idea that you do not know any better.

Well, let’s change this, shall we?

Today I want to address one of the silliest (and most avoidable mistakes) pet parents make. By taking this advice, this blog will save you a lot of money and heartache going forward.

Your biggest (and silliest mistake) yet

Time and time again I have found countless pet owners falling into this one trap and it’s not only costly but emotionally triggering to make. When you skip out on fully, and comprehensively, reading your pet insurance policy you are willingly making a poor decision.

Now, this isn’t to shame any pet parents that have taken out a pet policy, skimmed through the contract and signed on the dotted line. Instead, let this be a splash of cold water that you need to prioritize and fully understand what you are paying for and what your chosen policy entails.

Why pet parents make this mistake

The issue here is that skipping through the terms and conditions is a common practice, even outside of pet insurance. Oftentimes we are deterred by the length of the policy, the heavy jargon or just don’t feel like reading a legal document. I get it, and I fully understand that this is almost a knee jerk reaction we have to any contractual agreement. But just because I get it doesn’t make it right. 

If you are not only parting with your hard-earned money but expecting a company to help save your pet, you need to fully understand the agreement at hand. Your pet deserves your full-fledged dedication to their health and wellness and the easiest way to do that is by taking out time to read your pet policy.

Time to look at the fine print

Yikes, I know what you are thinking. Sitting down and familiarizing yourself with your pet policy seems incredibly time-consuming. We already find it tough enough spending time with our loved ones and now you’re expected to read a contract, that is definitely more than a page.

Yes, I’m asking a lot, but did you know that on average, 9 out of 10 the biggest issues that pet owners have with their policies were actually clearly outlined in the T’s & C’s.

Remember those pet policies aren’t there to trick you or catch you out. In fact, transparency is the very foundation of insurance. They will let you in on every single detail involved in your chosen policy. The responsibility is then on you to actually read it.

What happens if you skip out on the T’s & C’s

I think the best way to explain this is to give you a personal example of what happens when you do not properly read your pet policy. About a decade ago, a close family friend of ours adorable Golden Retriever (think very affectionate ball of fur) was diagnosed with cancer.

We were all absolutely shattered watching this dog go from completely energetic to lethargic merely getting up the stairs. But the real pain actually happened when our friends saw their medical bill. Cancer treatment is by no means affordable. From radiation to medication and everything in between, helping their dog fight for his life was going to be an (expensive) uphill battle.

Thankfully they had pet insurance, which was going to cover the bills … Well, so they thought.

The reality is that they failed to properly look at the exclusions outlined in their policy. All of sudden in the midst of their biggest medical emergency, under the heading “exclusions” they saw the word ‘cancer’. Believing that the pet policy was comprehensive and would cover their bills was one of the biggest regrets they have to this day … And is a bill that they are STILL paying off.

The cost of skimming through

The reality is that being in the above mentioned scenario is so easy to avoid. In fact, it’s incredibly silly and reckless to sign a contract and not read what it will cover. There are a number of exclusions and regulations explained within your policy. By fully understanding what is NOT covered you will be able to save accordingly or better yet find an insurer that will be able to offer you the best options.

By skipping out on the T’s and C’s you will subject yourself to the following issues:

-          Excessive medical debt

-          Economic euthanasia

Neither of these scenarios should ever be an option and with you taking time out to read your policy, it never will be.

 

Until next time,

The Pet Insurance Team


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