Posted on June 20, 2009 by Nancy Houser

Routine care coverage for dogs involve regular check-ups at least twice a year.Optimal routine care for dogs through the majority of dog health insurance programs is typically not offered to policyholders, unless through a special  “rider” or “add-on” at higher rates. Mandatory visits  to the vet include regular health check-ups, routine care, vaccinations, and worming schedules  to help pets live a longer and healthier life. They provide for early detections of diseases and illnesses,  allowing for provisions of early treatments to save lives through routine care coverage.

ROUTINE CARE COVERAGE FOR DOGS AND PETS

Annual routine care coverage for dogs consist of the following which benefit their health:

• Check-ups on an annual basis

• Routine vaccinations

• Routine worming

• Prophylactic teeth cleaning

• Spaying & neutering

PET AND DOG HEALTH INSURANCE VS. ROUTINE CARE COVERAGE

Before making a decision about which type of policy to purchase from a pet health insurance company , you will need to answer a few questions. If something bad were to happen to your dog–getting ran over, a  fight, a serious illness, or a deadly disease–do you want a policy which would cover just routine care coverage, a policy which will cover a medical emergency only, or both?  The decision that you make will make a difference on how much the pet health insurance or particular dog health insurance policy will cost you out of pocket. But without insurance, it will either cost you out of pocket in cash or you will unable to take your dog to the vet.

Photographer: Nancy Houser and her old Rat Terrier, Buttons. "Due to painful arthritis, old dogs are more apt to bite young children. Letting a child mishandle an old dog is like letting them jump around on a 90-year old grandmother...or in my case. only age 62!"

The more things that are covered through the vet, the higher the premium will be — which makes sense. If money is a problem, keep coverage at a minimum. Cover only emergencies or things that can happen unexpectedly, which can run into thousands of dollars for the dog’s medical care.  “What exactly is the correct amount of pet or dog health insurance to get?” is a difficult decision to make. Typically, the decision is based on how much money you have available for the dog health insurance, the dog insurance company you use,  and the medical condition of your dog.

Obviously, the decision will be an individual-decision based on personal income levels, budgets, the needs of the dog, individual priorities, and what you consider to be insurable events. Every time your pet insurance or dog health insurance pays for routine care things that a person normally can pay out of their pocket, it will become much more expensive for everyone concerned.

INSURABLE EVENTS FOR HEALTH OF THE DOG AND PET

Regular routine visits to the veterinarian are not considered “insurable events.” We buy pet and dog health insurance to protect ourselves and our pets or dogs from things we really do not want to happen, are most unlikely to happen, or if it does happen–it will come unexpectedly and will be very expensive. Meanwhile, routine visits to the vet are things we want to happen, are likely to happen repeatedly, are not unexpected, and are not expensive as compared to an unexpected major surgery or a major illness for the pet.

This is also why pre-existing conditions are not covered–we already knew about them before purchasing a pet health insurance policy or are part of our routine maintenance for our dog or pet, therefore they are not an unexpected event.  Routine care coverage for dogs or pets is never considered an emergency, or an insurable event, which is why almost all pet or dog health insurance companies do not cover them.

Related posts:

• Pet Health Insurance: What is Important?
• Pet Insurance — Various types of policies
• Our Position on Health Care
• Dog Insurance—Why It Is Important
• How to do dog insurance comparisons