Purchasing insurance for your doodle puppy is more confusing than getting a policy for yourself. There are more factors at play when buying pet insurance, and awareness of what a policy actually covers seems to be lacking.

According to a recent survey by Money.com, 56% of respondents were somewhat familiar with pet insurance, and 43% of respondents incorrectly assumed they would be reimbursed for routine treatments.

So, choosing a pet insurance policy might not be as easy as you’d think. Here are 6 tips for choosing the right insurance policy for your puppy. At Stokeshire, we work directly with Trupanion through their Breeder Support Program to offer our puppy buyers instant insurance coverage at no upfront costs. Trupanion is also a great company to start investing in!

1. Start it when your pet is young

Pet insurance policies don’t cover pets for pre-existing conditions, contrary to what 24% of respondents in the survey believed.

To avoid this, take out the policy when your pet is young. They’re less likely to have pre-existing conditions then, meaning you’ll have better coverage.

2. Know what cover you need

A basic pet insurance policy will generally cover things like emergency treatment, while more expensive ones might offer cover for preventative care.

This is an important difference if you have a breed susceptible to health conditions later in life. If your policy covers an expensive procedure that could prevent the condition, it might make sense to take it.

3. Know what isn’t covered

Equally, there are factors that impact the type of coverage you can get. For example, some breeds will have higher premiums and providers might refuse to cover some conditions – pre-existing or not.

Some might also limit the number of claims you can make. But, this information should be available before you take out the policy, so do your homework.

4. Compare as many as possible

There’s no limit to how many insurers you should compare. The more policies you look at, the better your understanding of prices will be. To get you started, check out this list of the 12 best pet insurance providers of 2021.

5. Consult your vet

While your vet might not know specific details about insurance providers, they should be able to advise you on the type of coverage that would be best for your pet.

For example, if they know your dog will be susceptible to conditions later in life, they might suggest you take out a more expensive premium. However, be wary if they suggest a specific insurance company; they might have an agreement with them.

6. Look into discounts

Some providers offer multi-pet discounts, which could be helpful if you have lots of pets. But don’t let this override an objective decision. You might find one provider has better coverage for one pet than the others, making a discount for poorer coverage pointless.

Conclusion

Choosing the right pet insurance policy for your pet takes research and knowledge. Even if you find a great policy, remember you’ll usually make the payments upfront before being reimbursed.

Even so, pet insurance can help dampen the impact of potentially expensive treatment options for your beloved pet, making it a good idea.