Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Pet Insurance

Toby and I saw this article on the I Love Dogs website. Some very helpful information. I do believe there are now more insurance agencies out there now with Pet Policies.

Progressive Insurance was of the first to offer this coverage, and is now increasing the amount from $500 to $1,000 for pets injured or killed in auto accidents. As scary as this might sound to dog-lovers like us, it is important to know how to protect our pups. Another important aspect of this coverage is its cost. Surprisingly enough, Progressive offers their “pet-injury” coverage at no additional cost to their customers. This is great news for drivers who will be keeping their furry family members in tow all summer long.

After Progressive started their pet coverage in 2007, Farmers and Auto-Owners Insurance each jumped on the idea, and began making similar offers to their animal-loving clients.

Here is something to consider if your company does'nt offer this pet-friendly service. According to an interview with Krissy Posey, a spokeswoman for Allstate insurance, “People whose pets are injured in a vehicle accident can file a claim under property damage if their insurance provider does not offer specialized pet coverage.”

However, Jeanne Salvatore of the Insurance Information Institute adds “What auto insurance companies consider legitimate property damage differs from company to company and state to state,” and “In traditional policies, it would'nt be unusual for a company to deny a claim of pet injuries based on property damage liability limits.”

While many of us might be appalled at categorizing our furry friends as “property,” this coverage can help defray the costs of vet bills incurred if the worst should happen.

Another leading insurance company, State Farm, offers a similar coverage through a “personal articles” policy. However, this only covers the “accidental direct physical loss” of a pet, which means it covers instances of accidental death, if your pup escapes, or if the poor guy is stolen. Surprisingly, their coverage is only available for pedigree pups, so be sure to have your documentation ready if you are interested in this type of coverage.

Additionally, coverage varies state to state. Farmers insurance, for example, does not offer the coverage in Oklahoma, but does in California. So your best bet is to call your local agent and see what your policy’s options are to help out your pooch—in hopes that you’ll never have to actually use the coverage, of course.

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