Reimbursement – Pet Insurance Terms
What is Reimbursement?
Reimbursement is the amount a pet insurance company pays you for veterinary expenses. It is expressed as a percentage ranging from 60% to 100%. The most popular pet insurance plans have a reimbursement of 80% to 90% of your total vet bills.
How it Works
When your dog or cat receives treatment you will get an itemized bill from the veterinary clinic. After you get your bill you will submit a claim to your pet insurance company. Once the pet insurance company reviews and approves your claim they will send you a check or deposit funds into your bank account.
Reimbursement checks are usually issued within 5-7 days after the company receives your claim submission. The higher your reimbursement percentage the more expensive your plan will be because you’ll pay less out of pocket after a claim.
Example
If your reimbursement level is 80% and your claim is for $1,000 the company will pay $800 and you will pay $200. It’s important to keep in mind that you will be responsible for paying the deductible each time you file a claim.
The most common deductible amounts are $100, $200 and $500. Here is a simple example of how reimbursement rates are calculated by pet insurance companies.
- Total Treatment Cost: $10,000
- Reimbursement Rate: 90%
- Calculation: $10,000 x 00% = $9,000
- Subtract Your Deductible: $200
- Total Reimbursed by Insurer: $8,800
Summary
Most companies allow you to pick your reimbursement level and deductible. It’s also important to point out that some companies have annual and per incident deductible. The good news is that if your dog or cat is faced with a $10,000 life saving treatment the insurance company will pay $7,800.
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