Florida’s Pet Health Insurance

November 13, 2009 | By admin In pets | Comments(0)
Valparaiso FL. Florida is located in Florida’s Okaloosa County. There are approximately 6,408 people living in the city of Valparaiso Florida equaling approximately 2000 households. The average income per household in Valparaiso Florida is approximately $39,521. Approximately 31% of the families in Valparaiso Florida and 6.7% of the general population in Valparaiso Florida are living below the poverty level.      

Pet owners, who have recently brought their pets to Florida, should be aware of the potential medical issues involved with exposing their pets to strange surroundings, infectious diseases, and usual climate conditions, new external and internal parasites, infectious diseases, and emotional distress. Many of the parasites in diseases Florida has to offer are not all that different found in the rest of the country except the warm climates increase the amount of time your pet is exposed.      

Pet owners have recently moved to Florida need to give their pets plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings. To prevent losing their pets whenever they leave the house they should be on a leash or in a fenced yard.      

Rabies is a terrible disease that is transferable from animals to humans. The most effective preventative medicine for rabies is a yearly vaccine. Every county in Florida has rules enforcing rabies vaccination for all pets. Owners should be aware that any pet that bites the human who has not had a rabies vaccine will be immediately euthanized. Pets should receive their first rabies vaccination when it is approximately 4 months old.

Dog owners should be aware of a disease called canine distemper. Canine distemper is virus that can be found all over the world that can be effectively controlled with a vaccination. Pet owners living in Florida should be aware that the canine distemper virus is present year-round in the state. The canine distemper virus travels through the air. Although treatment for canine distemper is available it is difficult, expensive, and has a low success rate. Dog should be first vaccinated for canine distemper as puppies and giving booster vaccinations for the rest of their adult life.      

Parvovirus infection is an extremely contagious viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract of dogs of all ages. Dive to contract parvovirus infection generally die within two to three days if the condition is left untreated. Preventing parvovirus infection is done with a simple vaccination administered by her local veterinarian. Florida has reported many cases of parvovirus infection in recent years.      

Because of Florida’s warm, moist, climate cats and dogs are able to pick up the case of internal worms and internal parasites year-round. Internal parasites found in dogs and cats include hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. A simple worming regimen is used to flush the worms from a pet’s body. Because workers are potentially toxic to pets if administered improperly you should consult your veterinarian before putting your pet on a worming schedule.

Heartworms are large roundworms that live in the right side of the dog’s heart. Heartworms cause a significant amount of internal damage. Early diagnosis is the best way to ensure survival other pet that has contracted heartworm disease. Medication given on a daily and/or monthly schedule that a starter when the dog is just three months of age is the best way to ensure that your dog never suffers from heartworm disease. Because Florida has a mosquito population that is present year-round dog should be medicated against heartworm disease throughout the year. Florida dog owner should also bring their family dog to a veterinarian for a heartworm test every six months.

Because of the hurricanes that can sweep up and down Florida’s coastline pet owners in Florida should consider purchasing a pet health insurance plan that will protect their pets in event of a hurricane. This plan should cover any medical costs the Pat might acquire from stress or injury and owner should consider purchasing a plan that would cover the expense of boarding their pets in case of evacuation.

UK Pet Lovers Make Nearly 200,000 Insurance Claims For Their Cats and Dogs

November 7, 2009 | By admin In Pet Insurance | Comments(0)

LONDON, ENGLAND, November 07, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ — Collectively the pet insurance industry is estimated to have paid out around GBP77,000,000 in first six months of 2009 for claims by cat and dog owners

Customers taking out Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance qualify for Double Nectar points on their Sainsbury’s shopping for two years

Sainsbury’s Finance estimates that UK pet owners have made just under 180,000 claims already in 2009 on their pet insurance policies for their pet cats and dogs. The Sainsbury’s Finance Pet Insurance Claims Index, which tracks claims data on a six monthly basis, reveals that cat owners have made over an estimated 50,000 claims between January and June this year, while dog owners are estimated to have made 129,000 different claims in the same period.

Worryingly, however, with only around 26% of cat and dog owners believed to have pet cover, Sainsbury’s Finance, who provides competitively priced Pet Insurance, estimates that non-insured owners could collectively be facing costs for treatment and other expenses of around GBP435 million every year. These costs would relate to an estimated 1.02 million illnesses and incidents experienced each year by cats and dogs whose owners do not have pet insurance.

Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, said: “The sheer volume of claims made should belie the idea that pet insurance is a luxury. With vet fees rising, the potential cost of treatment for those pet owners doing without cover is considerable and it’s a genuine concern that cats and dogs may be missing out on necessary treatment as a consequence.”

The claims made in the first half of 2009 comprise over 240 different types of incidents for dogs and around 180 incidents for cats, the frequency and cost of which vary significantly.

In dogs, the most frequent claim is for skin tumours. Sainsbury’s Finance estimates that as many as 10,500 claims were made for this condition in the first half of 2009. The next most frequent claims include those for lameness, vomiting, and lacerations. The Index suggests that cats are far more likely to have suffered a road accident, with around 2,200 claims estimated to have been made by cat owners following road accidents in the first six months of 2009. Dog owners are estimated to have made just under 1,000 claims following accidents on the road.

Lucy Hunter, Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager, said: “Our research earlier in the year suggested that many people were looking to cut back on insurance cover generally and pet insurance in particular. However, these new findings from our pet insurance claims index, indicate just how valuable good quality cover can be.”

Top five most frequent claims for cats January – June 2009 (estimated)

On average, treatment for dogs is considerably more expensive than that for cats with the average claim for canines in 2009 almost GBP104 more expensive than that for cats at GBP458. The average claim for treatment of a cat was GBP354.

Sainsbury’s shoppers are rewarded with double Nectar points on their shopping in store, online and in petrol filling stations for two years when taking out Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance, which is one of only 3% of products on the market which offer cover for veterinary fees of GBP7,500 or more. Customers who spend GBP50 a week with Sainsbury’s and have Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance as well as a Nectar card would receive GBP52 worth of Nectar points a year.

Good quality pet insurance does not need to be expensive, good cover at a competitive price can be found by shopping around. Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance offering up to GBP7,500 cover for vet fees is also designed to offer some of the widest range of benefits available at a competitive price. For further information call 0800 0565758, log on to www.sainsburys.co.uk or pick up a leaflet in a Sainsbury’s supermarket.

For further information, please contact:
Max Duddy / Sarah Rowan
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
020 7638 9571

Notes to Editors:
Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance is underwritten by AXA Insurance UK plc which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
(1) Based on analysis of Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance data (July 2009) and market share statistics
(2) Based on figures from the Mintel Pet Insurance Report, December 2007
(3) Policy must be renewed with the same cover level and be claim free at the first renewal

Sainsbury’s pet insurance cover: (note, a lower level cover option is also available)

Sainsbury’s Finance:
To view our latest press releases and product information, please visit the Sainsbury’s Finance online media centre at www.sainsburysfinance.co.uk/media.
Sainsbury’s Finance offers a range of quality, competitively priced, award-winning products. It opened for business on 19th February 1997 and was the UK’s first supermarket bank. It is a 50:50 joint venture with Sainsbury’s and Lloyds Banking Group.
Sainsbury’s provide a wide range of financial services including credit cards, loans, personal loans, savings account, pet insurance, life insurance, home insurance and car insurance, visit www.sainsburysbank.co.uk now to find out more.

For further information and general Sainsbury’s Finance enquiries customers can call the freephone number on 0500 40 50 60 or visit www.sainsburysfinance.co.uk

Notes to editors/webmasters
If using this article on a website, please link to www.sainsburysbank.co.uk using the following hyperlink text at the bottom of the article:

http://www.sainsburysfinance.co.uk/insuring/ins_petinsurance_pet_skip.shtml

Getting to the Bottom of Pet Health Insurance Myths

October 19, 2009 | By admin In pets | Comments(0)
Pet health insurance is very important for pet owners because this will somehow ensure that they will have somebody to back them up once the pet becomes ill or got into an accident. Although there are many advantages of pet health insurance, there are some instances that these can be disadvantageous for the owner because of the hidden charges and inappropriate plans many health insurance offers.

To help you choose the best pet health insurance there is, here are some myths and misconceptions that you should keep in mind.

Myth # 1: “Your pet does not need health insurance.” Like people you will never know when you pet would get sick or get hurt. The main reason why there is a pet insurance policy is because there are times when your pet would need health care and you are not prepared for it. Vet care costs a whole lot of money and your pet also need routine vet care. If you have a pet health insurance policy you don’t need to choose between your pet’s health and your money when you have a little problem with financial status. You may think you don’t need it today but the truth is everybody needs to make sure that they are covered.

Myth # 2: “There are a limited number of vets that are accredited by pet health insurance policies.” Unlike some human health insurance policies where there are just some places and doctors that accept patients because of the limited accreditation, pet health insurance policies have more coverage when it comes to the vet of the owner’s choice.

Myth # 3: “You can’t include vaccinations, dental cleanings and check ups.” There are some comprehensive policies that include wellness care and preventive care in their coverage so it is best that you choose those types.

Misconception # 1: “It cost a fortune to get you pet a policy.” Basic accident policies are very affordable and the most affordable health care policies cost fewer than 10 dollars a month. You would want to take the risk with any of your investments right? And like it or not your pets are an investment, the money that we spend on their food, the shelter that they have, the toys and the other things that we buy for them is part of our investment. Throwing it all away because our pets are not insured is a sure waste. Other policies may cost a little more but as the policies become more expensive because of their comprehensiveness. Think over what policy best fits your pet and remember than peace of mind can’t be bought.

Misconception # 3. “It’s a drag to apply for one.” There are a lot of online reference pertaining to pet health insurance and how to apply for it. If a pet owner wants to apply their pet for a policy they can get all the help they can get from a lot of sources and people. If you are a pet owner and you need first hand information you can always ask your vet.

Misconception # 2: “Pet health insurance policies are complicated.” If there is a health policy in the world that is easy to understand that’s a pet policy. Unlike a human policy where there is a sub clause for dependents legal claimers etc, pet health policies are simplified for the owner’s better understanding.

Information About Getting Pet Health Insurance

October 17, 2009 | By admin In pets | Comments(0)
Nowadays, you can insure almost everything and anything. People can insure their lives, their body parts, their equipment, their homes and yes, even their pets. Pet health insurance has really been making a statement over the past few years. Celebrities, politicians, tycoons and regular citizens have been self insuring their pets to avoid financial turmoil in the future but do you really need to get one?

Well, in a nutshell yes. Because of al the benefits and you are getting it’s ridding yourself of futures worries that you may encounter about your pet in the future. But don’t just jump in and get the first one you’ll see. Know the facts and get help from people who know. Here are some tips on choosing what is right for your pet.

Tips for choosing pet insurance

To ensure that you will be getting the right kind of insurance for your pet without putting so much toll in your budget, here are some useful tips to get by:

1. Comparing the different prices. The very first thing that you would have to consider when planning to enroll your pet in a pet insurance policy is the price. Some companies may offer the same price as the other but the coverage may vary greatly. There are some low cost comprehensive policies that are wiser to get.

2. Excesses cost you more than you may know. Some people who are newbies to pet policies often fall prey to the excess. The excess is the amount that you have to pay when making a certain claim. Some companies lessen their expenses on claims by having high excesses. Now if you go for a cheap policy that has high excess pay you may end up paying more than what you intend to in the first place.

3. Lifelong coverage. Lifelong coverage is a term in insurance that is a little difficult to understand, but one thing is for sure “lifelong cover” does not mean Covered for life. To understand this concept better here are a few general ideas of it.

- Time capped. These are often the low cost plans, time capped means you are only covered for a certain condition for the first year and the rest is on your shoulders. Let’s say that your pet developed a heart condition, you can claim the amount of money stated in your policy for your pet’s first year of treatment, but after a year no more. The treatment for your pet’s condition will be on your shoulders for the remainder of its life.

- Financially capped. Some companies call financially capped as lifelong cover but the truth is it really not. It’s not even close to it. Financially capped is when the company agrees to pay your claim for X number of years but for a fixed amount. Let’s say your dog has developed diabetes and you made your claim from the company. They will pay out a fixed amount, let’s say 5,000 dollars. They paid 2,000 dollars on the first year, another 2,000 on the second year and 1,000 dollars on the third year but after that no more. After that, all of the succeeding expenses for your pet’s treatment will be on you.

- Lifelong cover. In pet health insurance, this happens when the insurer pays you for your pet’s treatment with a fixed amount, every year, for as long as the disease that it has plagues your pet.

The Questions You Should Ask Before Getting Pet Health Insurance

October 15, 2009 | By admin In pets | Comments(0)
People are becoming more curious about the best pet health insurance. This is more true for those who treat their pets as family. And as you go about pet ownership, you will realize how expensive it can be to have you furry companions go through a periodic medical check up to ensure that they are at the top of their health all the time.

Once you start searching for the insurance companies, you will notice that you have so many to choose from. But do not take anything just because it seems to offer the best plans. You must do further research to be sure that you are getting into the real deal. Think about your pets. What do you think will be best for them?

And do not forget the most important rule when you are on the process of finding the right policy for your pet, ask questions. The process is similar to the steps you take when you avail insurance policies for yourself. You must choose the one that will be all worth it in the end. You must feel secure that your policy will take care of you if anything happens all of a sudden like an accident or certain illnesses.

Your role in determining what insurance will work best for your pets is to ask the right questions. If you have no idea on how to go about it, you can start with these selections.

1. Can I avail the service of my chosen vet? Different companies will have different answers to this one depending on their rules and the policy that you will be getting. It is important to know at first hand that when an accident happen, you can bring your pet to the nearest vet and not worry about if they are affiliated with the insurance company or not. But if it is okay with you that the company has a list of service providers, then you must get a copy of that list. This way, you will know where to run once an unexpected incident happen to you pet.

2. Do I need to get a comprehensive plan or a discount insurance plan? This will very much depend on your budget. The comprehensive insurance plan works more like the health insurance of humans. Whereas a discount plan will require you to pay annual fees and you will only avail of discount services with regards to pets and other related examinations.

3. Is there any exclusion to the plan? The answer to this will depend on the insurance company. But the most common exclusions include pre-existing health conditions as well as hereditary defects of your pets. So you have to tell them the exact situation of your furry friend. This way, they will be able to present to you what they deem will suit your pet the best way possible.

4. Are there any deductibles that I have to pay? This will depend on the plan that you will be getting. The deductible is the first payment that you have to give before you can utilize the policy. The smaller this is, the higher your premium will be. But this must be decided according to what you can afford. So look at your budget closely and allocate for such fund wisely.  By asking around the right questions, in time, you will be able to find the best pet health insurance that will perfectly fit on your pet’s needs and on your budget.

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