should i buy pet insurance?

Havanese owners are becoming more and more aware of the high cost of taking your dog to the veterinarian if even for a check-up.  Also, treatments and procedures now available due to the advances in veterinary research are very expensive. Consequently veterinary costs have increased over 70% in the last five years. Many owners have taken out pet insurance policies to help defray the cost of medical issues. The insurance policies are like human policies.  There are deductibles and annual premiums, co-pays and limits on how much insurance companies will pay out each year. Some things to be aware of when considering coverage for your Havanese puppy or adult dog: some policies will not cover your older pet and if you are paying a premium on your pet, it will likely increase as the dog ages and surcharges may begin to show on your policy:  pre-existing conditions and hereditary conditions such as dysphasia in German Shepherds and Retrievers are usually excluded. Pet coverage over the life span of your Havanese can be anywhere from $2000-6,000. This may not include the out of pocket expense. Usually there are two types of policies.

One is the standard and the other is a more comprehensive package. The comprehensive package may include such things as annual checkups, vaccinations, death benefits and spaying/neutering.  Of course, the cost of the policy is higher with additional coverage.  Some insurance policies even have reimbursement for offering a reward for a lost pet. Some plans offer coverage only for illness and accidents. Pet insurance companies have teamed up with the American Kennel Club and Petco Animal Supplies to offer many companies coverage as an optional employee benefit.

            The monthly cost for insurance depends on whether it is a cat or dog.  For a Havanese the typical cost is $22 and $28 per month but that also depends on the age and breed of your pet.  It could be more than double that with some companies. The owner almost always pays the veterinarian at the time of service and then files a claim.  Usually reimbursement is within 30 days.  If the treatment involves an expensive operation or procedure on your Havanese and you cannot pay it up front, you should contact your insurer and talk with the veterinarian's billing department to see if something can be worked out that would be suitable for owner and billing department of the clinic. Most insurers have $50 or more deductibles for procedures. Know that insurers have yearly caps which are the amount they will pay out and not exceed.  The most important tip...Know the typical costs of premiums,  what is included in coverage as well as what is not covered, know the additional cost, such as co-pays, riders and what they cover, discounts such insuring more than one pet per family and lastly, shop around for insurers. Make sure that the company is licensed in your state so that if the company fails, you are not left holding the bills. There are many out there and some have established good reputations and are competitive plans. Read everything and all the fine print and ask questions before signing up for the policy. You do not want to be hit with an expense that you thought would be covered.

          Although the prospect of a lifetime of insurance payments may be unpleasant, most dogs, including the Havanese, can have at least one serious health episode its their life.  There's nothing worse than not being able to give your Havanese the medical attention it requires, but in the end it's a financial decision for you, the owner.