Ownership of a horse involves an open-ended commitment to his care, which can be expensive. Health insurance helps you control unexpected expenses. Major medical coverage reimburses diagnostics and treatments for various illnesses and injuries. Full mortality policies cover a percentage of your horse’s value. Typically, these policies also include colic surgery coverage.
Preventive Care
The simplest form of horse health insurance, usually major medical or surgical, covers veterinary treatment and medication for accidents or illnesses. These plans typically have deductibles and annual coverage limits that must be met before your insurance company will reimburse you for a vet visit. Preventive care benefits help catch illnesses and injuries early, improving overall health and lowering costs. Depending on your health plan, preventive services may include general checkups, screenings, vaccinations, and other wellness programs.
When a horse is severely injured or sick, unexpected veterinary costs can quickly become prohibitively expensive. Unfortunately, a horse’s owners are too often forced to choose between providing life-saving treatment and humanely putting the animal down simply because they don’t have the funds to cover the necessary expenses. This is why health insurance for horses provides such an important long-term benefit. The best equine insurance providers offer multiple plan options, annual pricing and a wide range of covered treatments.
Veterinary Care
Like any animal, horses are prone to injury and illness. Having health insurance helps control the cost of unexpected veterinary bills and treatments. The most common form of equine health insurance is major medical, which covers emergency or necessary surgery in a veterinary clinic and medication. It does not cover routine care, pre-existing conditions or alternative therapies such as acupuncture.
Veterinarians are scientists who use their knowledge to ensure the health and welfare of animals. They have significantly contributed to human health, such as developing vaccines for tuberculosis and brucellosis and improving surgical techniques.
They also play a critical role in public health programs, evaluating food-animal safety and disease outbreaks. They often have to make difficult decisions, including euthanasia, when the animal’s quality of life is poor or would not benefit from treatment. They also must be able to explain complex medical issues clearly to pet owners and the public. Their work is vital to protecting people and their pets from dangerous diseases that animals, such as rabies and Lyme disease, can transmit.
Emergency Care
You make a significant financial and emotional investment in your animal as a horse owner. Medical and surgical emergencies during a horse’s life are costly, and equine health insurance can help you manage the costs.
Full mortality coverage is a common form of health insurance that insures your horse against death due to injury, illness, disease, humane destruction, transportation and theft. Some policies include major medical coverage for accidents and diseases, including colic surgery.
Before selecting an insurer, compare prices and ensure you understand the insurance company’s claims process—especially in a crisis. Please find out how long the company has been in business and check its reputation with your state’s insurance department or rating agencies. Best. Also, choose a company specializing in livestock insurance with knowledgeable agents. Ask friends and family about their experiences with a particular provider.
Rehabilitation
In addition to providing low-impact aerobic exercise, therapeutic riding and other horse-assisted activities (including hippotherapy) help patients with physical, occupational or speech therapy improve balance, coordination and body control. Such treatments, often co-facilitated by a licensed physical, occupational or speech therapist and an equine specialist, can also workshop life challenges such as anger management and stress reduction.
Most major medical/surgical and loss of use insurance coverage is offered as an endorsement on top of a mortality policy for flat fees based on the coverage limit, deductible and specifics of the plan. These policies don’t cover preventive treatments, elective surgeries or alternative treatments like reflexology.
Though horse-human interactions are relatively safe compared to other activities people participate in, accidents do happen, and injuries can be serious. An equine liability insurance policy can provide peace of mind knowing that the company will respond if the animal injures you or your guests.