10 Things you need to know about pet health insurance companies         Stability. Insurance is only as good as the company standing behind it. It is important to know how big the provider is, how many employees it has, and how long it has been in business. User-friendly. Information about policies and filing claims should be readily available on the Web. There should also be a toll free phone number and knowledgeable people on the other end of the line. Veterinarian-friendly. Pet health insurance company representatives should be knowledgeable about veterinarian medicine, and these individuals should be available online or by phone to resolve treatment and reimbursement questions. Premium vs. Coverage. It is important to know what the threshold cost of a policy is and what “add-ons” might inflate the cost. If a company offers liberal coverage, then high premiums are expected. Speed and ease of reimbursement. How does a pet owner file a claim? How long to be reimbursed? Transparency. Insurance companies should spell out clearly how, and how much, they pay.  Companies should clearly spell out limits and coverage. Coverage of pets predisposed to problems. Treatment of chronic conditions can run up large bills, yet some companies greatly limit their coverage of such conditions. A health problem treated one year may be excluded at policy renewal time as a “pre-existing condition” Excluded pets. Some companies won’t enroll pets over a certain age. Some exclude certain breeds of certain ailments in specific breeds. Others advertise “no physical exam required for coverage, “ yet still refuse payment for what they later consider “pre-existing conditions”. Wellness coverage. Not all companies offer wellness coverage. Some providers charge payment for wellness procedures against the annual deductible, but others don’t. Reputation. Word travels fast in veterinary medicine. Home