by Thom W. Conroy

Created on: December 18, 2008

At first observation, protecting your cat with health insurance may appear as an unnecessary expense, a luxury available only to the well-heeled owner. The rising costs associated with health care of all types has affected virtually every segment of modern society, even our beloved cats. Bygone days of receiving affordable, quality Veterinary care for pets has come and gone, replaced with Veterinary bills that strain household budgets and may make treatment beyond financial reach.

The possibility of a cat suffering a long term illness, costing thousands of dollars in Veterinary fees makes protecting your cat with health insurance a viable and intelligent option. While there is always some personal expense absorbed by an owner seeking Veterinary treatment, health insurance can at the minimum, defray some costs. Most pet health insurance plans reimburse the owner a percentage of expenses already paid to the Veterinarian, after submitting claims. By no means are all pet insurance plans the same in terms of premiums, coverages or exclusions, and considerable research should be undertaken prior to selecting a plan.

The first step in protecting your cat with a health insurance plan is to find a stable company with a demonstrated track record. This means foreign-based companies or ones that have been in business less than 5 years should be immediately excluded from the process. If it is financially practical, select a pet insurance plan that is licensed in all 50 United States. This singular feature is important in that if you move or need Veterinary treatment while on vacation, it will be covered. Avoid pet health insurance plans that require insurance carrier consent prior to treatment, or limit your choice of Veterinarian to a single Veterinary Network.

Protecting your cat with health insurance should include a policy that has it's premiums based on age, not current health conditions. Also, select a policy that does not include conditions treated during it's effective term to be deemed "pre-existing", or are thereby considered exclusions in coverage. Discover if routine preventive care is covered, as all of those small routine visits can easily result in a large cash outlay on the owner's part.

Finally, if you have a regular, trusted Veterinarian, ask their opinion of the insurance plan. Ascertain if your Veterinarian or others in your local area recognize the insurance plan as legitimate and would they consider it a good investment in your cat's health. Protecting your cat with health insurance is an outstanding concept, only if the plan is fully understood by the pet owner.

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