Somewhere in the tropics, there exists a small, private island. This island is a small tropical paradise, owned, my family and I are convinced, by our veterinarian. We are also convinced that the funds to purchase this island came about owing to the treatment of Kicsi (the Komondor my parents had when I was in high school who needed everything from surgery to remove the foxtail that had gotten trapped in her foot and actually worked its way under the skin to a titanium bridge for her mouth), Pumpkin (the overweight, diabetic cat with megacolon), and a host of other animals that have lived with my family over the years. The upkeep of the island is taken care of by Shana (my parent’s Coton who has no natural fear of anything except children and whose most recent veterinarian visits occurred after first a tussle with rattle snake and then later with a raccoon) and of course Jade who along with the occasional eye or ear infection, routinely visits the vet about every three months for reasons that you really do not want me to go into.

Trips to the veterinarian are an expensive yet crucial part of being a responsible pet owner. And it is therefore perhaps no surprise that pet insurance companies are springing up, offering to help pet owners deflect the high cost of good veterinary care. I will admit that I am skeptical about pet health insurance and its actual benefit. Rather than purchasing health insurance, I liked a suggestion in an article Know What You Get In Your Pet Insurance Policy to “self-insure.” Essentially, rather than pay a 3rd party insurance company a lump sum every month, open up a special savings account and put the same amount of money into that account every month. If something drastic happens to your pet, use that fund to help pay for the costs.

If you do decide to purchase a policy, here are five important questions to ask before making a decision:

1) What is and what is not covered?

The pet insurance companies that I have looked at so far are pretty open about what they will and will not cover. The ones I looked at do not cover routine office visits or standard procedures such as spaying and neutering. They also won’t cover most hereditary diseases (Cavaliers for example are famous for developing heart murmurs. While these are frequently benign, most pet insurance plans consider this a hereditary disorder and will not cover treatment if treatment is needed).

2) How much is the deductible?

Like health care plans for humans, some pet health insurance plans have deductibles that must be met before any reimbursement occurs. One plan I looked at has a $100 yearly deductible - which is about what I spend now (barring unforeseen veterinarian trips) on veterinary care for Jade.

3) When does coverage begin?

Almost all pet health insurance plans state that coverage begins 30 days after your pet is officially on the policy. In some cases, the policy may go into effect immediately, but certain problems will not be covered until after a mandatory waiting period. So even if the insurance plan says that coverage begins after a set number of days, be sure to ask about any exclusions.

4) Is emergency veterinary care covered?

Last year, my dog Jade went to bed seemingly fine. He woke up the next day with his left eye almost swollen shut. Since it was a Saturday, I had no choice but to take him to the emergency vet hospital. Since pets don’t always get sick or injured during routine business hours, it is important to find out if emergency care is covered.

5) Can I get help from the insurance company when I need it?

Place a call to any pet insurance company before you make a final decision and spend some time asking questions. Ask about hours they are open, how long it takes to get reimbursed, and who is available if you need help or have questions. Look for a company that is staffed by people that are friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to give you all the time you need.

If you still have questions, you can compare different plans, read opinions and reviews, and get free quotes at Pet Insurance Review.