Accident-only Insurance for Pets

There are hundreds of pet insurance policies today. The cheapest and most common ones are accident-only pet insurance policies.A lot of people understand that your companion animals are more than just pets. They’re also a part of your family. Even if you keep a close eye on your fur babies, accidents can still occur.The Animal Care Center of the ASPCA has treated more than 167,000 pets exposed to toxic substances in 2014. Out of these, 16% were concerned with the accidental ingestion of human drugs. Kittens and puppies who are curious tend to chew and swallow dangerous objects.Pets can consume harmful household cleaners by accident or human food that is life-threatening for animals, like chocolate. In case they consume these, they need to be sent to the vet instantly.

Meanwhile, some animal breeds are more lively and adventurous. They are then most likely to feel guilty for getting into mischief.Beagles, for instance, are breeds of dogs that enjoy sneaking out and escaping. Another is the Australian Shepherds who love leaping over high fences. This activity raises their risk of injury.Your pets may be at risk of snake bites if you live in the countryside. This is also prone to families with pets who live in the southern states. It is estimated that there are at least 15 distinct kinds of rattlesnakes in the country.Even if you keep track of your pets, accidents can still occur while they are walking in the park. Pet Guardian Angels of America listed the most prevalent injuries in dogs and cats. These include scrapes, bites, torn nails, insect stings and bites, abrasions, and punctures.

What Is Accident-only Insurance Important?

Of course, you want to do everything possible as a pet parent to ensure that your pets are protected and healthy. You can rest easy by buying an accident-only pet insurance policy. This is so that the medical needs of your pets are promptly taken care of in the event of a sudden accident.So, what is an accident-only pet insurance policy? As the name goes, this type of policy only covers injuries caused by accidents. Now, each company has its own definition and list of what accidents are part of their coverage.

If your pet gets a serious physical injury, then this policy pays for treatment. The procedures covered include treatment for cuts and lacerations, poisoning, and more.Sometimes, this is the only coverage for owners of elderly pets. This is because they are unable to receive complete accident and illness coverage. Comprehensive health care and wellness have age limits and various exclusions.If your pet is injured, accident-only pet insurance covers medical expenses. This, however, does not cover diseases. If your pet has an accident, the accident-only cover pays a fixed amount per injury.

Certain plans often cover emergency care of diseases due to injuries. This is very uncommon though, so check the specifics of the coverage to ensure that.Typically, there is a financial cap or time limit as well. To be compensated on an ongoing basis, you must amend your pet insurance policy and keep the payments up to date. It’s the most basic form of pet insurance with the least protection, but also the cheapest, which still works out.

Pros or Advantages of Accident-Only Coverage

The primary advantage of covering injuries is the price. It is affordable compared to more robust forms of insurance.In general, accident-only plans are generally cheaper than other types of coverages. You can claim up to the sum mentioned in your contract.Depending on the company, you may claim reimbursements as long as it’s within your annual limit. Others may only limit the number of claims.

For younger pets who don’t have health issues, an accident-only plan is a cheaper choice. Just note that as your pet ages, chances of finding a more extensive plan at an affordable price is more challenging. This is especially if your pet starts developing health problems.Accident-only insurance plans differ in what they can offer. Before selecting, you should always review the policy’s specifics. Check if incidents like accidental poisoning and third-party liability are covered for you.

Disadvantages of Accident-Only Coverage

When your pet has an infection that has nothing to do with an accident, you have to cover for that. You will have to pay the bill yourself if they get sick and need vet care.Some companies would even exclude certain fees and only accept claims for the procedure done. You can read these details in the exclusion part of the contract.Be aware that most accident-only pet insurance plans have a limit on the amount you may claim. This is for each accident and so it is up to you to pay the balance.

Policy provisions appear to be good for only 12 months. It does not cover continuous care that lasts longer than this.Pre-existing conditions are not included, as with most pet insurance plans. This type of insurance prohibits any disease that has not been caused as a direct result of an accident.Before your policy begins, you would also be unable to make a claim against any accident your pet had.

What Is Considered an Accident for This Insurance Type?

Checking the specifics of any policy you’re considering is always important. For injuries that are someone else’s fault, several accident policies are open. Accident-only plans would also help in other situations like your pet getting into a fight with another animal.Make sure that you are also clear about what is not protected. It is important to know what an accident is according to your policy. There will be a straightforward description of an accident in all insurance plans but the definition will differ by the insurer. Once again, make sure you review the specifics.A pre-existing condition made worse by an accident, for example, may not be covered. An incident that you see as an accident may not be seen by the insurer in the same way.The best way to grasp these types of conditions is to read the policy’s disclosure statement. Additionally, compare different insurers’ policies before choosing the correct one for you.

What Are the Accident-only Plans’ Parameters?

Per year, an accident-only policy reimburses from $5,000 to $10,000. But there are a few that offer unlimited claims. Some have deductibles of $100 or more. This depends on the policy that you pay once a year. Some can offer up to 90% of your bills refunded to you. But mostly have a refunding rate of 65% to 8%.

Which Pets Can Have Accident-only Insurance?

This depends on which business or insurance company you are using. To benefit from accident-only pet insurance coverage, these pets must be at least 8 weeks and at most 10 or 15 years old.Each species and breed have different insurance coverage. Since dogs and cats are usually the pets at home, there are more policies for them. But there are many for birds too. Exotic pets have different or customized coverage sometimes.

General Accident-only Policy Coverage

Vet fees and CT / MRI scans are some of the more basic features that accident-only plans can cover. Other firms sell the pet cruciate ligament separately. Most plans would cover a good range of injury procedures.Most insurances cover lacerations, broken bones, bite wounds, and snake bite. Bee stings and sprains are also included.For the laboratories or imaging, the common ones are X-ray, ultrasound, CT Scan, and MRI. Surgery, laboratory tests, and ambulance are also included.In the worst scenario, burial or cremation may be covered when the pet dies. Though this depends on the insurance company.Some include coverage for diseases that grow as a result of the accident. If your pet causes harm to a third party and you are responsible for it, you are covered by this policy, too.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Pet Insurance

It might be important to keep a few key considerations in mind. This is especially useful when comparing accident-only pet insurance plans.

How Old Is Your Domestic Animal?

If they are young and healthy, getting a comprehensive policy might be better. But if you think they can manage for a few years without any illness, then consider an accident-only policy.Besides, this all depends on your budget plan.

Is Your Pet Healthy?

You might not be as worried about them getting sick if your cat or dog is in perfect health. An accident-only policy may be more suitable in this instance since it will result in lower premiums.

How Much Outdoor Time Does Your Pet Spend?

If your pet is allowed to roam the neighborhood, then they are more likely to get into an accident. Thus, having accident-only insurance will help.

Is Your Dog or Cat Playful?

If your pet is very active, this could lead to many unexpected events where accidents may Arise. If you can assess that earlier, it would help you in choosing the best accident-only pet insurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is Dog Insurance?

The average monthly premium for dog insurance plans is at $47.19. The accident-only policy has an average monthly premium of $16.17.

How Much Is Cat Insurance?

The average monthly premium for cats is at $29.54. These include accidents and illness coverage. For accident-only policies, these have an average cost of $10.51. This is due to cats having cheaper vet fees and procedures.

Are There Payment Plans for Accident-only Pet Insurance?

Insurance terms can be hard to understand if you haven’t encountered these before. Similar to human health care, there are deductibles and limits for pet insurance too. Deductibles are part of the bill or cost that you would pay before insurers calculate your reimbursement. The cost of your deductible depends on which policy you get. This will be explained while you’re choosing a policy.Some policies have a $100 deductible while others have $200. Reimbursement is the cost you can get back after paying for your pet’s medical bill. As stated earlier, most companies offer 65% to 85% reimbursement. A few can offer 90% to 100%, depending on your claim.For example, your dog has a $1,100 medical bill due to getting hit by a car and it will need tests and surgery. In your insurance policy, you have a deductible of $100. This means $1,100 – $100. So, only $1,000 can be filed for reimbursement. If your insurance grants you 80% reimbursement, that means you will receive $800. The reimbursement percentage depends on the copay agreement with your insurer. In this example, 20% was your copay share and 80% was from the company. Lastly, all companies have limits and each of these are different. If we take the example above, the $1,000 claim is within the common annual limit of $5,000. But if the dog gets injured again, you can only claim up to $4000. Some companies have a $10,000 annual limit.Others would accept any or unlimited amount, but then limit the number of claims per pet. Let’s say the limit is two accidents per year, that means the third and other claims will be rejected. Only two claims will be accepted, even if these only got a total of $1,500.

Can I Use the Same Policy to Protect More Than One Pet?

Several insurance companies sell multi-pet insurance, and you may get a discount when insuring more than one pet with them. In terms of documentation, this form of policy could be easier to handle.There is no national health service for pets. The cost of having quality veterinary care can reach thousands of dollars. But with pet insurance, you could get enough financial aid when you need it.The most basic pet insurance policy is an accident-only insurance plan. Though it is basic, it can make a huge difference. Just like our example above, a $1,100 medical bill became $300 because the owner got reimbursed $800.Accident-only pet insurance may not be the best form of protection for your pet but is preferable. Depending on your budget, you can compare various policies and get the best you can.The insurance that suits you and your pet depends on the personal needs of your pet and your budget.