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.

Of course not all pet policies are created equal. For example, Embrace Pet Insurance covers physical therapy and hydrotherapy for rehabilitative dogs so long as the provider belongs to one of the following:

• American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
• The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy
• The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture
• The American Holistic Veterinary Medicine Association

Not sure how these alternative therapies help pets? Here’s a little breakdown:

Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture helps reduce pain and inflammation to speed the healing process. May include acupuncture needles and electric stimulation. Acupressure is a similar procedure without the needles; it relies on gentle pressure from the hand instead.

Massage Therapy

Massages are great for dogs with bone and joint problems. They also promote flexibility and help with the early detection of lumps underneath the skin. Just like people-massages, they utilize different techniques, including kneading, stroking, and rubbing.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic therapy benefits dogs with joint, muscle, and nerve problems by adjusting the bones in the spine. If your pet has difficulty with mobility or is recovering from an injury, chiropractic care may be the best treatment method.

Whether you pursue an alternative therapy or not it’s still wise to consider pet insurance. That way if your pet contracts an unexpected illness, you won’t have to think twice before calling your vet.