Did you know that pet insurance has been around for 15 to 20 years? The fact is, not many people are aware of this great product. Unfortunately, availability has been limited and some restrictions on policies have made it prohibitive in a lot of cases. However, things have changed for the better in the pet insurance industry. Pet owners are now able to provide their pet with a level of care that has been very expensive before now. In the past, any veterinary costs incurred by the pet owner including such items as preventative and routine care, disease conditions and emergency treatment were simply out-of-pocket expenses.

Pet health policies which are similar to human insurance policies vary from company to company. Everything from annual premiums, different coverage plans and deductibles vary so it certainly pays to do your homework in this area. They base their plans on the species, age, lifestyle of the pet, (indoor cat versus and outdoor cat), pre-existing conditions and more. Most companies start policies at age 6-8 weeks, some with age limits and some without.

As for pre-existing medical conditions, some companies allow coverage if the animal is controlled or is stable, (usually after a waiting period of 6 months). Some insurance companies will refuse an animal all together and will depend on its current conditions, and will definitely refuse to cover the pet if it has a terminal illness. Annual deductibles run around $100 a year, and policy costs vary widely depending on the different packages you choose. Some packages are comprehensive and can even include such items as vaccinations, routine care, medications and more. Some insurance plans only cover accident and illness. You are best advised to shop around for your best deal pet insurance. Remember to use the internet, it is your best source of information.

Terry Price is a regular author to http://www.pet-supply-discount.com/102-pet-insurance.html where you will find many merchants of pet insurance.