Will a traveler’s insurance policy cover pets?

Are you thinking of traveling with your four-legged best friend? Before you decide, consider this: will a traveler’s insurance policy cover pets?

Well traveled animals

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, more than 18 percent of adults who travel for leisure bring their pets along. In some cases, the animals are service dogs or certified companion animals. But while your traveler’s insurance policy covers yourself, your family and even your bags, it isn’t likely to cover your pets.

What to expect from a standard policy

Standard traveler’s insurance policies tend to either not offer any coverage for pets or cover pets as luggage. Both of these options mean that little assistance will be available if your animal companion becomes sick or injured. So, people planning to travel with furry companions should seek out specialized travel insurance policies that properly cover their pets.

What to expect from a pet-inclusive policy

The first thing to check for is health coverage for your animal. To know how much you need, research average veterinary care costs in the city you will be traveling to and base your coverage on that.

Next, see what the policy offers in the event that you become injured and are unable to care for you pet. This might include boarding in your destination city, travel costs to return your pet home and even boarding once back in your home city. Verify how far this coverage extends to determine if the policy actually offers enough should the unexpected occur.

Finally, look to see what the policy does cover should an airline prevent your pet from traveling. If your pet must go in the cargo area of the plane, the airline may deny you the right to fly it if the temperatures are too high or too low. Will your policy reimburse you for missing the flight? Or do they not consider veterinary situations valid reasons for needing to reschedule?

Ultimately, traveling with an animal means thoroughly researching your options. Speak with an insurance broker today to discuss different policies.