You may be wondering what covers health insurance for horses. Some policies cover only surgery or dental work. Others cover catastrophic accidents and illness coverage. Generally, medical/surgical policies exclude routine care, dental work, and elective surgeries. You may also find that some policies do not cover alternative therapies, though some companies look at each case individually. Some exclusions are common sense, such as that you cannot expect reimbursement for procedures performed by anyone other than a certified veterinarian.
Full Mortality Insurance
Equine Mortality Insurance is a comprehensive policy that covers the loss of your horse if it dies due to natural causes. It also covers losses due to accidents, fire, or lightning. Unlike other policies, Equine Mortality Insurance does not cover a horse’s mysterious disappearance. However, the insurance does cover expenses for emergency colic surgery and up to $3,000 in medical bills. The cost of veterinary care can be expensive, and many equine owners do not have enough funds to care for their horses.
Although Full Mortality insurance is more expensive, it gives you peace of mind. This type of policy covers many risks and may require different qualifiers. For example, your veterinarian may be required to certify your horse’s overall health. The insurance company will evaluate your horse’s health when assessing the potential claim. It also includes adding “loss of use,” which pays out if your horse cannot perform the insured use.
If you own a horse over 30 days old, you may want to consider purchasing Medical/Surgical coverage. This insurance covers veterinary and surgical expenses incurred due to illness or an accident. A full mortality policy is beneficial for those who travel overseas regularly and plan to keep the horse for a long time. It also pays out in case of theft or loss of use. However, this coverage typically does not provide the full value of your horse.
Major Medical Coverage
Major medical insurance for horses provides coverage for diagnostic tests and treatment. But it often doesn’t cover the surgery. Another option is surgical insurance. This policy covers only the cost of surgery and doesn’t cover hospital stays or diagnostic work that occurs before the operation. The benefit of surgical insurance is that it’s cheaper than major medical coverage, but the savings are minimal. On the other hand, surgical insurance isn’t as comprehensive as major medical coverage, so it’s best to compare rates to see which is the most appropriate.
Equine Medical/Surgical insurance covers colic and other conditions. Most horse owners fear colic, but it’s not the only medical problem that can be expensive. Colic, EPM, founder, and lameness are costly and time-consuming to treat. Equine Medical/Surgical coverage reimburses for diagnostic tests and treatment, including colic surgery. In addition, this coverage covers surgeries for non-pre-existing conditions.
There are several types of equine health insurance. Equine medical insurance provides benefits when your horse falls ill or becomes injured. It covers medical treatment and surgical services, including diagnostic tests, post-operative care, and rehabilitation. The deductibles for such policies are low, and the benefits are generous. Equine Medical Insurance for horses provides equine medical care benefits that can help you keep your horse healthy and happy.
Catastrophic Accident or Illness
If you want to protect your horse from the costs of unexpected accidents and illnesses, you should consider purchasing a catastrophic accident/illness insurance policy. This insurance can pay for vet bills when your horse becomes permanently unfit or suffers from certain diseases. The policy may also cover complementary treatments like acupuncture, which can be extremely costly. However, the cost can be well worth it if you are concerned that your horse could become a burden to you and your family.
Several types of catastrophic accident/illness coverage policies exist for horses. Catastrophic accident/illness insurance can cover medical and surgical colic treatment expenses, lameness diagnostics and surgeries, and more. It covers an annual aggregate limit of $5,000 and a $375 deductible per claim. Catastrophic accident/illness coverage is available for horses aged 31 days to 20 years. If your horse is older than 16, you will need to obtain prior underwriting approval from your insurer.
Major medical and surgical coverage for horses can be added to a mortality policy. Both types of coverage can vary in price, from $5,000 to $15,000, depending on the level of coverage. Additionally, some policies only cover surgery and major medical but still provide coverage for emergency veterinary care. Catastrophic accident/illness coverage for horses is usually less expansive than primary medical/surgical coverage. Fortunately, many companies offer catastrophic accident coverage for horses for a lower cost.