As veterinary medicine becomes more technologically advanced, the cost of care increases. That's because of higher costs associated with the equipment, facilities, training and staffing required to provide these higher-quality services. Pet health insurance can help by offsetting some or most of the costs of diagnosing, treating and managing your pet's illness or injury.

There's no magic formula to tell you what pet health insurance is right for you and your pet and there are numerous types pf plans available. Research your options by visiting these sites: Pet Insurance Review and PawlicyAdvisor. Our office will submit invoices to any insurance of your choice and the insurance will then reimburse you based on your plan agreement.

Here are some basic considerations when reviewing insurance plans:

• Regardless of the insurance provider, your veterinarian should be monitoring the health of your pet as part of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

• An insurance provider should clearly spell out to you the details, including the limitations and exclusions, of coverage for routine and/or wellness care, as well as emergency treatments and conditions that require extensive care. Find out how your premiums will increase as your pet ages or if you make any claims.

• See if there are add-on options to provide any specific coverage you may want, such as dental care, rehabilitation services or prescription diets.

• Find out how the provider defines and handles pre-existing conditions, including any diseases and conditions your pet has now or had in the past before you bought your insurance plan.

• In some cases, insurance providers will not insure a specific pet or breed of pet, or they may limit the number of pets you can insure, if the pets are considered "high risk."

• Some providers offer pricing discounts for multiple pets.

• All charges, including co-pays, deductibles, add-on charges and other fees, should be clearly explained to you so you fully understand the policy and its limitations.

• You should be allowed to choose the veterinarian who will care for your pet.

• Pet insurance plans are generally reimbursement plans – you pay the bills up front and are reimbursed by the insurance provider. Ask the insurance provider how claims are processed and what the timeframe is for reimbursement.

We hope that you find this information helpful and that you will consider how insurance can benefit you and your pet.

- The Doctors and Staff of the Country Doctor