What's covered for your pet insurance? Here are the most common questions we at PetPremium get about coverage plans. Get to know how rates are calculated, which visits are covered, the most common exclusions and much more, check out the questions below.
How are rates calculated?
A base rate is the amount of premium that pet health insurance providers will charge for its pet insurance product before taking into consideration other factors such as age, deductible or breed. Along with the reimbursement level and the deductible, the age, specie, breed and location is also considered.
What are the age requirements for your pet insurance?
For initial enrollment in our pet insurance, dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old. Initial enrollment for Levels 2, 3, and 4 is limited to dogs 12 years and under and cats 14 years and under. Level 1 has no age limitations or surcharges. Continuing Care coverage age requirements and restrictions may vary.
Why my pet needs to be older than 8 weeks?
Unfortunately your pet is too young to apply for coverage. The minimum age to enroll is 8 weeks old. Please contact us at 1-(888) 966-7120 before or when your pet turns 8 weeks of age.
Do Carriers Drop a Pet After a Certain Age?
Many owners are concerned that their pet will be dropped when it reaches senior status. With PetPremium, your pet will not be dropped from its insurance plan due to its age.
What is the difference between Dog and Cat insurance?
Besides the fact that dogs and cats are different species of animals, both types of animals have different mitigating factors and needs. Dog insurance is more expensive than cat insurance. Parasites and cancer are realistic possibilities for both species.
Does Pet Insurance work like a PPO or HMO?
Unlike human HMOs and PPOs, there are no managed networks to deal with when purchasing pet health insurance.
What if I have more than one pet?
If you have more than one pet, you can save 10% on the base plan premium for each additional pet after the highest premium pet. Discounts may not be available in all states.
When can I start using my pet insurance plan?
One of the great things about our pet insurance is that accident and wellness care coverage, if included, start immediately as soon as your plan is effective. Illness coverage, if included, begins 30 days after your effective date. Costs associated with the treatment, diagnosis, or surgery for ligament or knee conditions that occur during the first 12-month policy period are not covered.
Once I’ve enrolled, how long before my pet insurance is effective?
There is a 14 day waiting period for accident and illness coverage. There is no waiting period for preventive care.
Can I stay with my veterinarian?
Yes! We wouldn't want you to have to change veterinarians. We have made it extremely easy with our pet insurance, you can use any licensed veterinarian in the United States or Canada. This way, your pet is even covered if you're traveling.
Which visits are covered?
Which visits are covered depends on your plan level.
Which Alternative Therapies are covered?
Covered alternative therapies include acupuncture, physiotherapy, chiropractic care, rehabilitative care, hydrotherapy and low level laser therapy for eligible conditions. Separate limits apply.
Which expenses are covered?
The covered vet bill.
What does End of Life Expenses means?
Expenses for euthanasia, burial, and cremation only. This does not include funeral expenses, memorial items, urns, caskets, burial plots or burial plot maintenance fees.
Do you cover knee and ligament conditions?
Knee and ligament conditions are covered unless the condition is pre-existing. If a knee or ligament condition occurs before the coverage effective date or during a waiting period, any future ones won’t be covered.
Which are the Common Exclusions?
Some of the most common pet health insurance exclusions are pre-existing conditions, hereditary conditions, congenital conditions, preventative medications against fleas, ticks, and other parasites, behavior training, nutrition, exercise, and dental care for dogs and cats. To learn more about common exclusions you can click here. Read you plan policy to learn more about your coverage.
What’s not covered?
We have some exclusions, which are treatments or conditions that are not covered. See the exclusions that apply to your available plans.
Will my pet insurance be cancelled when my pets get older?
We’ll never cancel your pet insurance because of the age of your pet. However, your premium will adjust as your pet ages. You may choose to change your coverage as your pet ages as well.
Why is my pet's birthday required?
To give you an accurate quote, we need to know how old your pet is. It is okay to give an estimated date.
Why do you need to know if my has pet been spayed/neutered?
For informational purposes, we need to know if your pet has been spayed/neutered.
What is a Premium?
A premium is the cost of your annual policy for each pet. Your billing frequency could be monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.
What is a Effective Date?
The date shown represents the anticipated date your policy will begin. Please keep in mind you will be subject to waiting periods based on your policy section.
What is a Billing Frequency?
How often you wish to make a payment for your policy. Billing fees may apply. Keep in mind that if you select annual you can save $18 without billing fees.Next to annual billing we offer monthly, quarterly, and semi-annually payment options.
What is a Reimbursement?
Your reimbursement is the amount of eligible charges we'll pay after your deductible and co-insurance. Reimbursement is based on usual and customary charges in your territory. At PetPremium you can choose between 70%, 80% or 90% in any of our plans.
How long does it take to get reimbursed?
We work hard to process our pet insurance claims as quickly as possible. Our turnaround time typically averages two weeks or less. It’s our policy to reimburse you within at least 30 days from receipt of all required information. Remember sometimes it is necessary to contact your veterinarian to obtain additional information or clarify procedures or treatment plans that are recommended. You can track the status of your claims easily online at our Member Center.
What is an Annual Deductible?
Our low annual deductible only needs to be met once a year per pet, no matter how many incidents occur. You can choose between $100, $250 or $500.
How does the deductible work?
Our pet insurance has the option for you to choose the deductible that fits your economic situation. We have deductibles for as low as a $100 annual deductible per pet, or $250 or $500. Our deductibles only need to be met once per plan year, no matter how many incidents that occur. This is different from per incident deductibles that require you to pay a new deductible for every single injury or illness, which can really add up. Please note there is a separate annual deductible per pet for Continuing Care.
What is a Policy Period?
The period of coverage as specified on your declarations page.
What's new on the coverage?
PetPremium recently enhanced its coverage, making it one of the most competitive pet insurance products in the market. What has changed?
- NEW wellness options available.
- Now you can add one of our wellness care options to your plan, starting at just $10 per month. Now you can get the most out of your benefits each year and choose the services that best suit your pet's needs from our updated list of treatments.
- More flexible wellness options -Customers can add one of our two wellness care options to any of our plans for a low additional cost. Get money back on annual exams, core vaccines, routine tests, flea/heartworm medication and more!
- Even faster claim payments -Sign up to receive your reimbursements by direct deposit! We'll also now process claims that are submitted within 270 days from the date of treatment, giving you more time to file claims.
- More deductible and co-insurance options -If you decide to change your deductible or co-insurance options on your base plan, we'll also apply the options to your Continuing Care coverage.
- NEW coverage for dental diseases.
- Plans with illness coverage also now cover dental diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, as well as extractions of puppy teeth. Annual dental cleanings are covered with our Advanced Wellness option.
What is Wellness Care?
Treatment or diagnostics that are customarily considered preventive in nature where there is no underlying Illness or Injury, may include but is not limited to wellness examinations, coronavirus vaccines, canine distemper (also referred to as “DHLPP” for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza) or feline distemper (also referred to as “FVRCP” for feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) combination vaccines or titers, fecal tests, heartworm tests, rabies vaccines, spaying or neutering, bordetella vaccines, dental cleaning, feline infectious peritonitis vaccines, feline leukemia tests and vaccines, canine lyme disease vaccines, flea and heartworm preventive medications, and microchipping. Our Wellness Care options are extra benefits paid without deductible or co-insurance.
Which are the Wellness Options?
You can choose between Routine or Advance. The Routine Wellness Care Coverage costs $10 a month (or $120 a year) while our Advance Wellness Care Coverage costs $25 a month (or $300 a year) has the great benefits of our Routines Wellness Care coverage with a higher reimbursement level and additional benefits. Keep in mind that the Wellness Option might not be available on Level 1 and Level 2 and rates may vary, depending on your State. You can add wellness care to cover your pet for annual checkups, many vaccines and tests, a microchip and spaying or neutering. Flea or heartworm preventive medication and an annual dental cleaning are covered on the Advanced Wellness option only.
Are there any age requirements and restrictions for Continuing Care?
Yes, Conditions that are pre-existing to enrollment in Continuing Care are excluded from this coverage. For initial enrollment in Continuing Care, dogs and cats must be at least 8 weeks old. Dogs must also be 8 years old or younger, and cats 10 years old or younger.
Which plan or provider is the best choice for you?
Which pet insurance plan or pet health insurance provider is the best for your pet depends on many factors and your needs.
What if I am an existing customer?
Based on your e-mail address and zipcode, we see you have requested a quote during the last 30 days and we already have your information in our system. If you would like to proceed with a new quote or just add another pet, click on that button option to get a new pet insurance quote. Please Contact customer support at 1-(888) 966-7120. Keep in mind that rates are subject to change.
What happens if I enter a zip code that is in unlicensed state?
If this is your case, please contact us at 1-(888) 966-7120 for assistance. Your state may not be currently supported for online enrollment.
What does it mean when my pet is cured?
Conditions that show symptoms before the plan’s effective date or during a waiting period will be considered pre-existing and ineligible for coverage, even if they haven’t been formally diagnosed or treated by a veterinarian. However, we will no longer consider a condition to be pre-existing if it has been cured and free of symptoms and treatment for 180 days, with the exception of knee and ligament conditions. If a knee or ligament condition occurs before the coverage effective date or during a waiting period, any future ones won’t be covered.
What does Occur or Occurrence means?
When signs or symptoms related to a condition first become obvious, including when your dog or cat first shows signs or symptoms related to a condition that a veterinarian could have diagnosed or treated.
Do you provide pet insurance for residents of Canada?
We don’t offer pet insurance coverage in Canada at this time. However, if you live in the US and travel to Canada, you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian there for treatment. You would submit your claim the same way as if you saw a veterinarian in the United States.