Routine visits to the vet aren’t what drain your savings account—it’s the emergencies that do it, like sudden illnesses, broken bones and car accidents. All pet insurance providers are different, and you likely won’t have time to read the fine print right when something happens. Before you commit to a plan, ask plenty of questions about emergency care.

Many companies offer different levels of coverage depending on your income, situation, and your pet’s age and breed. For example, VPI Pet Insurance—the nation’s oldest and largest pet insurer—offers six levels. The Superior Plan reimburses you for 90% of eligible emergency expenses up to a certain amount, after a deductible. Take this example from the VPI website:

A VPI policy holder had a two-year old Border collie in Encino California. The dog swallowed a toy and needed surgery, hospitalization, medication and follow-up care. The policy holder filed a claim for $1270. The plan allowed a benefit of $1059 after a $50 deductible—meaning $1009 in eligible expenses. VPI covered 90% of that for a total of $908.10. The policy holder ended up paying $361.90 out of pocket.

Here’s another example. ASPCA pet insurance offers five plans, and each of them includes accident coverage. The Sterling Plan—the top-of-the-line—costs $68/month for cats and $77 for dogs. It covers 80% of just about everything with a $100 yearly deductible, an incident benefit up to $2,500, and a maximum yearly benefit of $13,000. If the Border collie owner had this plan, she’d have paid $334. You can also get peace of mind with a cheap pet insurance policy. ASPCA’s Safety Plan starts at $7.50/month for cats and $9.50 for dogs. Of course this only provides basic accident coverage, meaning your out-of-pocket expenses may be higher.

It can be somewhat confusing, so be sure you ask lots of questions before choosing your veterinary insurance provider. That way you know what to expect for reimbursement and when you can expect to receive it.

Tags: Emergency Coverage, pet insurance