3 Signs You've Chosen the Wrong Pet Insurance

Some people will tell you that pet insurance is a waste of money, especially if you happen to have a pet without any health issues. But here's the thing about health issues and pets. Problems have the potential to arise over time, the same way humans can find themselves plagued with health issues as they age.

If you don't put a pet insurance policy in place, you might easily max out your credit cards and drive yourself into a pile of debt when a catastrophic event occurs, such as if your pet gets injured and needs surgery or falls ill and needs extensive treatment. So it's really important to get coverage for your pet, even if a part of you is convinced you don't really need it.

That said, you don't have to resign yourself to a pet insurance policy that isn't working for you. If these signs apply, it may be that it's time to switch to a new pet insurance policy.

1. You can't keep up with your premium costs

Nobody is going to give you pet insurance for free. But if you've reached the point where your premiums are just too expensive for your budget, then it may be time to make a change.

If you stop paying those premiums, your coverage for your pet will go away. It's that simple. And then you're back to square one.

2. Your insurer is difficult to work with

Ideally, you won't have to interact with your pet insurance company all that frequently because your pet stays healthy and you don't end up having to file many claims against your policy. But chances are, at some point, you're going to need to speak to your insurer or follow up on a claim. And if that experience is not a pleasant one, it's a sign that you should look for coverage elsewhere.

Often, people are calling a pet insurance company after they've experienced a stressful event with their pet and are now dealing with the financial aftermath. If your insurer isn't helpful and lacks compassion, then the company probably doesn't deserve your business.

3. Your deductible is unreasonably high

Many people are used to having to meet a deductible before a human health insurance company starts to pick up the tab for treatment. Similarly, a deductible might apply to your pet insurance policy, and that's not so unreasonable. But if your deductible is higher than average, you may want to switch to coverage that comes with a deductible that's more manageable.

Nationwide says that most pet insurance policies have a deductible of $250. So if you're facing a much higher deductible than that, you may want to shop around for different options.

When you own a pet, having insurance really is a must. But that doesn't mean you need to get stuck with a policy that's not right for you and your pet. So if you can relate to any of the items above, it may be time to start doing some research to see if there's a better coverage option out there.