Pet Insurance In New York City

Because pets are legally considered to be the property of their owners, pet insurance falls under the Property and Casualty insurance classification and functions as indemnity insurance. Home and auto insurance are examples of this type of coverage.

Pet Health Insurance is also REIMBURSEMENT based, meaning that typically the owner will pay the veterinary bill up front, and then the claim is processed as a reimbursement to the owner.

There are also no networks like in human health insurance, so you are able to visit any licensed vet in the US that you prefer.

You need to buy pet insurance the moment you take home your pet. The sooner, the better. The reason for this is simple: no pet insurance covers pre-existing conditions. You will end up paying more—even if you already have a policy—if you buy at the wrong time. I recommend getting pet insurance BEFORE ever bringing the pet in for an exam.

Many pet insurance companies will require a veterinary examination or medical history review before covering your pet. They will require all medical records from any vet that has treated your pet. These reviews are intended to identify any pre-existing conditions that the insurance company won't cover.

With most plans, you can use your insurance at any licensed vet in the US and sometimes Canada. Since it is reimbursement based, you simply pay your vet bill upfront, and submit the invoice to your insurance for reimbursement. There are no networks, allowing you to see your favorite vet without worry.

For example, with a per condition plan, if your pet is seen for vomiting, then later in the year seen for a broken nail, and then again later for an ear infection, those would be treated as THREE separate conditions, each requiring an additional deductible to be met before receiving any reimbursement. These types of plans can become quite frustrating, as there’s no way to predict how many times your pet will need to be seen in a year, and when your plan will begin to reimburse. For this reason, we recommend purchasing a policy with an ANNUAL deductible.

We are very happy to submit your insurance claims for eligible visits directly to your insurance company. Claims are usually submitted within 2 weeks of your visit, and from there you can track the progress of your claim through your insurance provider’s online portal. If you prefer to submit your own claims, please know that we are still here to help in any way we can.

If your claim is denied by the pet insurance provider, and you disagree with the decision, you have the option to appeal. We are very happy to help our clients with any of their insurance needs, including claim appeals. We can go over your claim, Explanation of Benefits, and if needed, we can help file the appeal with your insurance company.