Most pet insurance providers typically offer coverage only for cats and dogs, which can be limiting for pet owners with feathered, furry, or scaly companions. However, these pet parents may also wish to insure their animals. For them, exotic pet insurance is the ideal option.
Pet parents with a pet chinchilla, cockatoo, or pot-bellied pig may consider getting exotic pet insurance to cover them in times of accidents or illnesses. Just like every other pet insurance policy, this pet insurance offers financial protection for costly vet bills and peace of mind for pet owners if ever their pets get sick.
Different pet insurance companies offer pet insurance for cats and dogs, but others offer insurance for exotic pets. They offer affordable policies and coverages you can purchase for your pet. Before proceeding with the purchase of this pet insurance, read through this write-up to gain knowledge on all the information needed about this life insurance.
What is Exotic Pet Insurance?
This pet insurance is a health insurance policy designed specifically for non-traditional pets. It helps cover veterinary expenses related to illnesses and injuries. This type of insurance typically applies to pets such as fish, birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Regardless of your pet’s species or breed, you can obtain exotic pet coverage to help protect their well-being.
Types of Exotic Pet Coverage
Pet insurance companies typically offer exotic pet accident and illness insurance plans. This accident and illness plan covers vet bills for accidents like soft tissue trauma and illnesses like arthritis or feather loss.
Nationwide exotic pet coverage is reimbursement-based, meaning you will have to make an up-front payment for your exotic pet’s vet bills and submit a claim to your pet insurer. If your vet costs are covered by your pet insurance policy, you will be reimbursed by your insurers.
What Does Exotic Pet Insurance Cover?
This pet insurance generally offers two main types of coverage: accident and illness coverage. Within these categories, the policy includes various events and situations. Specifically, it helps cover a broad range of veterinary costs related to accidents, such as
- Broken bones.
- Sprains.
- Poisoning.
- Soft tissue trauma.
- Lacerations.
- It covers veterinary bills for illnesses like
- Arthritis.
- Diarrhea.
- Eye injuries.
- Foreign body ingestion.
- Mouth rot.
- Upper respiratory infection.
- Allergies.
- Cancer.
- Ear infections.
- Feather picking/loss.
- Internal parasites.
- Overgrown teeth.
- Also, it covers veterinary services like
- Avian-specific diagnostic tests.
- Hospitalizations.
- Treatments.
- Diagnostic tests such as biopsies, blood tests, urinalysis, and radiographs.
- Prescription medication.
- Surgeries.
Purchasing accident-only exotic pet policy will not cover your pet from veterinary bills related to illnesses. However, buying both accident and illness pet insurance coverage will offer wider coverage to your exotic pet.
Does Exotic Pet Insurance Cover Routine Care?
This pet insurance does not cover routine care. Pet owners are required to get pet wellness insurance plans to cover costs for routine care such as vaccinations and yearly vet exams. You may be able to purchase a wellness plan for routine care for your exotic pet.
This wellness plan can be gotten as a single insurance plan instead of an add-on. For instance, the Mint Wellness plan offered by insurance companies covers other types of expenses for every type of pet, including exotic pets.
What Are the Exclusions?
Just like every other pet insurance policy, this pet insurance also has events it does not cover. These exclusions include:
- Cost of breeding.
- Unrelated vet care costs.
- Elective procedures.
- Orthodontics.
- Vet examinations, routine care, and vaccinations.
- Boarding or transportation costs.
- Congenital or hereditary diseases.
- Diseases that are preventable by vaccination.
- Food and supplements.
- Pre-existing illnesses.
- Surgical removal of reproductive organs and so on.
In addition to certain events being excluded, some types of exotic pets are not eligible for coverage under exotic pet insurance. These typically include:
- Species that require a license, registration, or permit by the state.
- Threatened or endangered species.
- Species kept in flocks or on display.
- Illegally owned species.
- Non-domesticated species.
- Poisonous or venomous species.
These pets are not covered by exotic pet policies, nor can they be insured.
How Much Does it Cost?
Pet insurance prices can vary depending on several factors. At Nationwide Insurance Company, exotic pet insurance is available for less than $12 per month. The cost of your exotic pet coverage is influenced by factors such as
- Yearly coverage amount.
- Pet type.
- Location.
Using these factors, exotic pet insurance companies determine how much they will charge you for exotic pet insurance coverage. Also, using these factors, insurance rates and quotes are determined.
