pWith the rising cost of pet medicine, vaccines and veterinary procedures, it comes as no surprise that Pet Insurance is becoming more common and with it, a need for standards to conduct a decent pet insurance comparison. With too many specifics in each policy to realistically compare everything, there are things a pet owner can look at to help him make an informed decision. Topics like benefit limits, deductibles and what is covered to name a few are just some of the considerations that should always be included when choosing which pet insurance is right for you. Here is a basic overview of five pet insurance companies and how they stack up against each other.

Pets Best

Pets Best lets you insure your pet when he reaches eight weeks old. Its benefit limit is a lifetime limit of $99,750 and its deductible is $75 per incident. The company provides discounts for multiple pets but does not however cover pre- existing conditions. A notable feature is that it covers cancer as well as sterilization (provided you obtain the additional wellness plan). The approximate monthly cost is $32.00. Further information may be obtained from their website www.petbest.com

ShelterCare

ShelterCare Pet Insurance Corporation which offers its services in both the United States and Canada insures pets as young as eight weeks old up to eight years old. It has no annual benefit limit and also has no deductibles. It does not cover pre-existing conditions but covers cancer. Sterilization is not covered and its approximate monthly cost is $29.95. The website of the company is www.sheltercare.com.

PetCare

PetCare is a large company that provides services not just for pet owners but also to veterinarians and pet shelters through various subsidiaries. Based in Oakville, Ontario, this company has presence in the United States, Canada and even the United Kingdom. You may insure pets as young as eight weeks and as old as eight years. It has no annual benefit limit and charges $50 deductible per incident. It does not cover pre-existing conditions and sterilization but it does cover cancer. Approximate monthly cost is around $29.95 and further information on their packages may be seen at www.petcareinsurance.com.

Embrace Pet Insurance

Created by two Wharton MBA graduates, this company differentiates itself by implementing novel ideas such as running an environmentally friendly office and helping out with pet related charities. Regarding its policies, you can insure dogs from eight weeks to eight years old and cats from eight weeks to 10 years old. The benefit limits vary from $2,000, $5,000, or $10,000 per year. Deductibles vary as well from $100, $200 or $500 per year. They do cover pre-existing conditions (provided it is completely cured) as well as cancer but not sterilization. Approximate monthly cost is about $25 and their website is www.embracepetinsurance.com. It regularly ranks high in Pet Insurance Comparison lists and was the victor in the Wharton Business plan competition in 2003 beating technology and biotech companies.With the rising cost of pet medicine, vaccines and veterinary procedures, it comes as no surprise that Pet Insurance is becoming more common and with it, a need for standards to conduct a decent pet insurance comparison. With too many specifics in each policy to realistically compare everything, there are things a pet owner can look at to help him make an informed decision. Topics like benefit limits, deductibles and what is covered to name a few are just some of the considerations that should always be included when choosing which pet insurance is right for you. Here is a basic overview of five pet insurance companies and how they stack up against each other.