- Pet bird insurance is also called avian insurance. Avian insurance works in the same way as most pet health insurance works. The pet owner pays the bill at the veterinarian's office at the time of service and later submits a bill to the pet insurance company for reimbursement. The veterinarian does not bill the pet insurance company directly. While a pet owner will endure out-of-pocket costs initially, they are refunded for a large percentage of their expenses.
- Depending on the policy, coverage options will vary. Pricing will also depend on the insurance company and the plan chosen. Like human health insurance, the higher the deductible and co-payment, the cheaper the monthly premium. Most pet bird insurance policies cover emergency care and bird illnesses. Some policies cover preventative care and wing clipping.
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There are three main things to look at when shopping for avian insurance. The most important feature to look for in pet bird insurance is what species of bird they cover. Most policies list what bird species they are willing to insure. Make sure to check with the company about your particular pet birds species.
Second, choose a policy that is affordable to you. Balance monthly premiums with possible future veterinary expenses. If your bird gets sick or needs surgery, the vet bills can easily rise up to the high thousands. A bill of $5,000 is not unheard of. Sometimes, it is cheaper in the long run to get a more expensive pet policy that has lower deductibles, lower co-payments and covers more services. A better policy can help you to afford more veterinarian services.
Third, check to see what the lifetime benefits of the policy are. Lifetime benefits are how much total the policy will pay out for the care of your bird. Some policies have a lifetime benefit as low as $2,000. Avian policies run from around $10 to $80 a month. - Because you must initially pay for vet services, it is a good idea to have a savings account or a credit card available that can pay or emergency care. It can take up to a month to get reimbursement from pet insurance companies. Be prepared to be out of your money for a month.
- Always check with your pet insurance company before having vet services performed to see if the services are covered. If your bird needs care that is not covered by the insurance policy, credit cards and personal loans may be able to help.
