Looking for the right coverage for your pooch? Chances are, there’s an dog insurance type to fit your needs.
If you’re looking for a lower rate on your dog insurance, you might be wondering about the different types of coverage available. Some types of coverage do have cheaper rates than others, but it’s important to note that it won’t be as comprehensive, and might end up costing you more in the long run. However, if you want to know about the different types of coverage and their associated rates, this guide will help you out.
Third Party Liability Coverage
If you really want bare bones coverage, consider third party liability insurance. This kind of dog insurance is by far the cheapest, but won’t cover too much at all. If your dog happens to cause an accident, injure a person or another pet, or cause damage to somebody’s property, third party coverage will pay for the damages and any associated fees. This kind of coverage is important, but usually comes bundled with other kinds of pet insurance. What you need to remember is that, if you just have a third party insurance policy, your pet won’t be covered for any vet fees or any illness or injury to himself.
Related:Get the Right Dog Insurance Coverage Without Overpaying
Annual Coverage
Annual or yearly coverage is the next cheapest form of dog insurance. This is when a policy covers illness or injury on a strictly limited basis and only pays out within a set time limit. So, for instance, if your pet got sick with an ongoing condition 10 months into your annual policy, the insurance would only pay out for any veterinary bills accrued in the remaining two months of your policy period. If your dog needed treatment for an additional six months, you would have to pay for it yourself, as it would now count as a pre-existing condition.
“Per Condition” Coverage
This type of coverage is considered mid-range. It’s not the most expensive, but is more costly than an annual coverage type of policy. With a “Per Condition” package, the insurance policy will give you a limited amount for each condition. This is usually sufficient for most people’s needs, but problems can arise if your dog gets a severe chronic illness. Let’s say, for example, that your dog had an accident and then had two separate, unrelated illnesses. If you had a policy that would pay up to $5,000 per condition, your insurer could pay up to $15,000 for these ailments combined. However, if your pet got a chronic illness that required ongoing treatment, they would only pay a maximum of $5,000 and then you’d be on your own.
Related:Types Of Dog Insurance Policies
Lifetime Coverage
Lifetime cover is designed to cover your pooch for the entirety of his life, no matter what. Understandably, this is the type of cover with the highest premiums. Some insurance companies will give you truly unlimited coverage, but it’s more common for some restrictions to be imposed. This is usually in the form of a “per condition, per year” amount, such as $10,000 per condition, per year. So, if your dog does suffer from a chronic ailment, you’ll have up to – for instance – $10,000 to spend on his condition each and every year. It’s actually quite unlikely that your dog will suffer from that kind of chronic complaint, so some owners prefer to go for a lower level of coverage. However, if you’re the worrying type and you have enough spare cash to fork out for the most expensive coverage, then you should probably go for it. Better to be safe than sorry, so they say!
Lauren Corona is a freelance writer from merry old England. She specializes in writing about dogs and other critters. Lauren lives near Oxford, with her gorgeous Doberman, Nola. When she’s not tapping away at the keyboard, you’ll find her walking in the woods with Nola-dog, raising money for the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, cooking vegan food, making zines and writing about herself in the third person.
