The first piece of advice is to make a detailed search of just what is available as far as pet insurance policies go. Shop around. Don’t rush in and take the first policy you see. It may be the ideal one for your pet and your situation but there are many insurance companies offering insurance for pets and each company has a variety of policies. Take your time and see what is out there.
But rather than despair thinking you have to contact a significant number of insurance companies, you can go online and from one website simply type in some basic information and from that get an almost instant reading of what company offers what type of policy and at one price. With that basic information at your fingertips you are then able to make a more detailed examination of the policies which best relate to your situation.
You need to look at a number of points. For example if you have a dog and you are concerned about a certain medical condition, if the policy only offers a payout of say $100 for that condition and in the past or from talking with other dog owners you know that you could spend $500 quite easily on that specific medical condition then you might need to consider another type of policy. On a similar line it may be that a specific medical condition does not allow payout in subsequent years if you have made claims in a previous year. This is just a small example of what you should look for when selecting a policy.
Look for positive aspects as well. For example some pet insurance policies will allow claims of up to $100 against treatment which involves prevention of disease. This is doubly beneficial as by having a regular check, any potential health problem can be spotted early and certainly benefits the health and happiness of the pet and may prevent you from having to pay for an expensive medical procedure.
In looking at the various policies always consider the so-called exclusion items. For example if your pet has a pre-existing condition then it may be that the policy will not cover any treatment which is required as a result of that pre-existing condition. Again remember that all pet insurance policies are not the same.
Finally you will do really well by really knowing your pet and its lifestyle. A cat which remains indoors will never be involved in a car accident. A dog which always remains on lead when being taken for a walk is a far better risk than a free running pooch. And is there a family history of illness with your pet? Any and all information will make you a better consumer when it comes to choosing insurance cover for your pet.