Pet insurance reimburses a portion of veterinary fees according to policy terms. Cover ranges from "accident only" (cheapest) through "accident and illness" to "comprehensive" including routine care and dental.

The single most important rule: **pre-existing conditions are excluded forever**. Anything the pet has shown signs of before the policy starts (or during a waiting period) will not be covered for that condition for the life of the policy, regardless of subsequent insurers. Insure young — ideally before 6 months — and review policies before there is any health concern.

Key terms to understand: excess (the amount you pay before reimbursement starts — annual or per-condition), reimbursement percentage (70%, 80%, 90%), annual benefit limit, sub-limits per condition, waiting periods, age limits, breed-specific exclusions, and bilateral conditions (if one cruciate ruptures, the other is often excluded as "pre-existing").

Compare like-for-like — the cheap policy may exclude the conditions most likely to occur in your breed. Comprehensive cover on a young, healthy pet is typically $40–$100 per month and pays back fast if anything serious happens. Without insurance, set aside the same monthly amount into a dedicated pet savings account.