You may be wondering if dog medical insurance is really worth the money. Many dog owners consider purchasing insurance after experiencing an emergency with their pet.

For example, when my dogs decided to chow down on raisins (in case you didn’t know, raisins are toxic in dogs), I ended up with two dogs in the vet ER. After coughing up a bunch of money, I started to think about dog medical insurance.

Purchasing insurance for your pet can be a worth while investment. Something you hope will never be needed. But very happy to have in the event of an emergency. Before you purchase a policy, consider a few helpful tips to choosing the right policy.

Dogs Have More Medical Options.

We all know that human medicine continues to rapidly advance, but have you thought about the progression in veterinary medicine? Our dogs have medical options that simply weren’t available 10 or 20 years ago. However, these treatments don’t come cheap. And we’re forced to face the agonizing decision of how much we can afford to fork out.

Read the Policy’s Fine Print.

When looking for a policy, make sure to read the fine print. A great premium may lure you in the door, but it’s important to consider the details. Here are a few questions to ask before purchasing:

• What are your deductible choices (typically the higher the deducible, the lower policy premium you pay)

• Does the policy have limits? You purchase a policy to cover your dog’s emergency. Make sure that you won’t be underinsured should a situation come up.

Can you Choose your Own Vet.

Some insurance plans have networks just like your personal insurance. If you’re happy with your vet, make sure it will be covered under the plan. Otherwise, you could be faced will an unpleasant surprise when submitting a bill for payment.

Watch out for Exclusions.

Some insurance companies will exclude certain medical conditions. For example, since German Shepard’s are predisposed to hip dysphasia it may not be covered. It’s important to have all of the information up front. This way you don’t feel let down when an emergency arises.