Puppy Insurance 101: What It Includes and Why You Should Get One
If you want to keep a bird as a pet, insurance isn’t exactly optional. Luckily for you, there are a lot of insurers with a range of policies at your disposal. They will help you cover vet bills, give liability cover, compensate if and when there is a theft and then some if you pick the right policy. We’ll look at all that and more today.
Where to Get Started with Bird Insurance
To begin with, you need to know if you have a regular bird or an exotic bird because that will tell you the kind of policy you should take out. The policy itself works like regular pet insurance policies but since some birds like domesticated parrots can live for a really long time, the terms might be different.
In fact, some parrots actually live much longer than their life expectancy. So, there’s that to consider. And if your bird is classified as an exotic pet, then you are looking at a different category of insurance policies.
Now, some insurers also offer comprehensive coverage. Now, this is usually the most expensive policy. So, you must think it through and figure out if your bird really needs all the cover the policy offers. Just because it is expensive doesn’t mean it will suit your needs. You might have different requirements or you might be paying for stuff you don’t need.
What You Can Expect from Bird Insurance
Now, bird insurance or avian insurance isn’t as expensive as typical pet insurance. In fact, it is more affordable than insurance for your dog because birds have fewer health problems. And it gives you cover for a spectrum of problems. That’s the good news.
The average plan will cost you a little over $5 and offer coverage for healthcare, theft, death and public liability. And here’s what it will look like.
Healthcare
When you get the equivalent of routine care insurance for birds, you can rest assured that vaccinations, any medications and regular treatment bills will be covered. Since birds live a long time, you want to get coverage on this front.
Theft
Then there is this. The theft of birds is a real problem and for that, you need a practical solution. If your bird gets stolen, the right insurance policy will give you a cash reimbursement based on the insurance value you have agreed upon while taking out the policy. You might find it under medical or morality terms. It’s not the same as getting your bird back but it’s not nothing.
Death
Then there is the inevitable part of the life and death cycle. If your bird dies, the right insurer will make sure that the grief is the only thing you need to take care of. With mortality insurance, you will be covered for the expenses following the unfortunate event.
This covers injury and illness too sometimes but you should read the fine print to make sure you understand the specific extent to which this will be executed by your insurer.
Public Liability
And finally, there’s liability (not the song by Lorde, the public liability clause). This comes into effect if you take your bird out and someone ends up getting hurt accidentally. Depending on the policy, this also extends to the bird having an accident.
What Pet Insurance for Birds Should Cover
While birds live longer, especially ones that are in the care of a loving human, they do deal with disease and other health problems. Here are some common health issues among birds and these are usually covered by insurers.
Psittacosis
Commonly referred to as parrot fever, this one is actually infectious. That means you might contract it too. And the fatality numbers are pretty bleak. Almost 50 percent of birds that get parrot fever end up dead.
Fortunately, it can be cured and stopped from spreading to others. So, you must get insurance cover and let the vet take care of it before things spiral out of control.
Proventricular Dilatation Disease
Proventricular dilatation disease or PDD is a progressive and quite often a lethal disease among birds. It attacks the nervous system and paralyses the poor guy before it kills him. If you want your bird to survive it, you are going to have to put them through plenty of treatment. And if you get the right insurance policy, that can easily be taken care of.
Polyomavirus
Here’s another deadly one. This is commonly found in birds that are caged, specifically in parrots. It is a viral disease and young birds often fall prey to it. This condition affects the organs aggressively and can kill the bird. Now, there is no treatment for this one but you can still get plenty of care and advice from the vet that can help your bird avoid this problem.
What about Exotic Pet Insurance?
If you are looking for exotic pet insurance, well, that is a different class of insurance but if you understand basic pet insurance terms and conditions, you will be able to figure this out quite easily.
These policies usually cover emergency calls to the vet unless the specifics of your policy state otherwise. They also cover illnesses, injuries, theft and death.
The difference is that exotic pets usually require more care that not every licensed vet is equipped to offer. The vet needs to have subject-matter expertise which means they are specialists who charge more.
Now, having exotic pet insurance will save you the hassle of worrying about money. There’s no joy in having an exotic pet if you’re constantly worried that something might happen to them and you can’t take care of their medical bills.
Which Insurance Company to Check Out for Birds?
Now, let’s introduce you to a couple of companies that offer avian insurance and what the choices are.
Pet Assure
This company has been around for 25 years and they offer affordable policies along with comprehensive coverage options. The good news is that this company offers coverage for other pets like cats and dogs too. So, if you have another little guy in the house, you can go to the same insurer no matter who is affected.
Pet Assure does not exclude any specific conditions from its policy coverage and all procedures will be covered which is fantastic news for pet parents. There is also no limit on the age of the bird. Tell them what your needs are and they will present the options that best suit your bird’s needs.
Nationwide
Then there is the avian and exotic pet plan from Nationwide. For accidents and illnesses, you will find that their plan is affordable. You can also get coverage for lab fees, exams, prescriptions, if your bird is hospitalized and so on.
As the name suggests, apart from birds, this policy also covers several other pets as listed below:
- Amphibians
- Chameleons
- Chinchillas
- Ferrets
- Geckos
- Gerbils
- Goats
- Guinea pigs
- Hamsters
- Hedgehogs
- Iguanas
- Lizards
- Mice
- Opossums
- Potbellied pigs
- Rats
- Rabbits
- Snakes
- Sugar gliders
- Tortoises
- Turtles
The Bottom Line
There are so many options even if you are dealing with what is classified as an exotic bird. When you get them out of their natural habitat and into your home (especially if you think you are saving them), it is only fair that you do your best to make sure they are well taken care of. And insurance is an excellent first step in that direction.
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