Wellspring Insurance Network Blog

Caring for your pet involves much more than providing them with food and shelter-it also means making sure that they are in good health. Pet owners in Rockville, MD, have a responsibility to bring their pet to the vet for routine wellness exams, get their vaccinations, take them for a checkup when they are sick and ensure they have best medical care possible. Unfortunately, getting your pet the health care they need can be expensive. The good news is there is pet insurance available to help with the expenses of your pet’s health. If you are considering pet insurance, here are 3 questions to ask before buying.

Do the Premiums Increase as the Pet Ages?

As your insured pet ages, the policy terms and conditions may change and the premiums may increase. In most situations, a standard policy will generally exclude any condition that a claim has already been made. For example, a condition that may affect your pet for several years could only be claimed through a lifetime coverage policy, which is usually available as a coverage option through many pet insurance providers. It is important to note that it is a misconception that pet insurance isn’t available for older pets, but it is necessary to ask about this before buying a policy.

Are There Different Deduction Options?

The deduction you have to pay depends on the coverage you are purchasing from Wellspring Insurance Network Inc. The deduction is the initial payment you make to the health provider before you can use the insurance policy. The smaller you deduction is, the larger the premium will be. Pet insurance generally has the option of three different types of the deductions-annual deductible, per incident deductible and pet illness category deductible.

Are There Any Exclusions to be Aware Of?

It will depend on your insurer and your policy whether or not there are exclusions; however, many policies for pet insurance do have similar exclusions, including:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Prosthetics and mobility aids
• Pet training
• Pregnancy, breeding and whelping
• Cremation and burial

For pet owners, insurance is beneficial in helping to pay medical bills, preventative care, and medications. It is important to understand the type of policy that you are interested in, such as coverage for older pets. Be sure to inquire about the different deduction options and if there are or are not specific exclusions in your policy.

If you live in or around the Rockville, MD area and are interested in a pet insurance policy, contact Wellspring Insurance Network Inc.

Check with your agent at Wellspring Insurance Network Inc. in Rockville, MD if you are planning to use off-road vehicles, which are also known as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). ATV use is a special insurance risk and for that reason, it requires special insurance coverage. To be safe, ask your agent to conduct a thorough insurance review to see how the use of ATVs may impact coverage.

For example, some life insurance policies do not cover the insured if they engage in risky activities such as skydiving and the use of ATVs. There may be specific exclusions in the policies that need to be discovered by your insurance agent to make sure the coverage you have is adequate for your needs. You want to be sure that you are not caught off-guard by a surprising and devastating lack of insurance coverage in the case of an accident when using an ATV.

Not only do you want to make sure you are covered, you also want to make sure any children are covered because children can use ATVs as well. You will want the driver to be covered and the riders to be covered. You will want the ATV equipment to be covered and any property damages to be covered. If there is an accident, where someone is injured or dies, you want that liability to be covered as well.

The coverage for off-road vehicle use is just as important if you own the ATVs or if you occasionally rent them. Many rental companies have serious rental agreements with liability limitations that they ask any customers to sign in order for them to waive their rights for any claims for damages. In an innocent moment, it is possible to rent an ATV and not have any insurance coverage at all for any accidents that may happen. Do not let this happen to you. Simply check in with your agent at Wellspring Insurance Network Inc. in Rockville, MD first before using any off-road vehicles. Contact your agent for advice on what insurance you might need for the use of ATVs.