HEALTH INSURANCE FOR

You've welcomed your newest family member into your home, bought all the necessary items, like a leash and a food bowl, took him to the vet for immunizations and started obedience lessons.

You've welcomed your newest family member into your home, bought all the necessary items, like a leash and a food bowl, took him to the vet for immunizations and started obedience lessons. All is going well and there's no reason to think about trouble, right? Wrong.

Most cats and almost all dogs will need more than preventative veterinary care during their lifetime. It could be something relatively small, like a broken leg or a skin rash, or it could be major, like a car accident or cancer. It could happen when your pet is young and seemingly healthy, or it could come with old age. Your dog might visit the vet only a few times over the years, or he could be one of those that your vet knows by name.

The problem with this, of course, is the uncertainty. If you knew that your dog was going to experience the average amount of medical problems, you could find out what the average lifetime vet bill is for a Golden Retriever, a put money aside each month to cover it. But as any pet owner can attest, that's not how it works. You find out suddenly when your pet needs expensive health care. At the same time you're wondering if your pet is going to pull through, you're also wondering how much this is going to cost. Then of course you feel bad because how can you think of cost at a time like this?

The best way to reduce stress at a time like this, and to protect your pocketbook at the same time is to make a plan for the veterinary bills long before your pet gets sick or injured. Compare pet insurance policies and find the one that offers the best protection for the money for your Golden while he's still a puppy - preferably before he has the opportunity to get into trouble!

Golden Retrievers and other purebred dogs are the most expensive to insure, and there's a reason for that. Dogs are more likely to need expensive medical care than cats, partially because they seem to get into more accidents. Cats can stay out all night, dodging dogs, cars and other dangers. Dogs, especially young dogs, are more prone to run out into the street or have some other mishap.

Because of inbreeding, purebreds are more likely than mixed breeds to develop certain diseases. Golden Retrievers are susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, cataracts and skin allergies. Hopefully you got your puppy from a reputable breeder who made sure that your dog's parents were free from these problems before they bred them. Even so, these kinds of problems keep cropping up for Golden Retrievers, and they're often costly.

When you compare pet insurance policies be sure to check whether they cover hereditary conditions. Those that do will naturally be more expensive, but they're worth it. After all, the reason you need a pet insurance policy at all is to protect yourself against large unexpected expenses. If you shop for insurance based on price alone, you'll find out at the worst possible time that you aren't covered at all. That defeats the purpose of buying pet insurance in the first place.

Take your time and evaluate several policies. Don't stop until you find the one that offers the coverage you need. It's out there.