How to get dental insurance for your pet and what it covers

To get insurance coverage for your pet’s routine dental care, you’ll need to buy a wellness plan. Ericlefrancais/Getty

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• Pet insurance with pet dental coverage can be affordable while protecting your pet's health.
• The best pet insurance plans include coverage for periodontal disease.
• Scheduling regular pet dental cleanings can help you avoid lapses in coverage.

Just as brushing and flossing are essential for people, regular dental care is vital for pets, especially cats and dogs. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that pets get proper dental care annually (which can be part of their yearly physical). In addition, if you shop carefully, pet dental insurance and other pet insurance protections for all your pet's needs can be open to you.

If the vet spots ailments like periodontal disease, broken teeth, or tumors, your pet needs dental care administered under anesthesia. That can be costly. So more pet owners are looking into pet dental insurance for Fido. That way, you can care for your pet's dental health without derailing your finances.

"Dental health is an integral part of a pet's overall health and should be a key part of their preventive care routine," says Dr. Ari Zabell, a veterinarian with Banfield Pet Hospital.

If you haven't heard of pet dental insurance, don't worry. Read on to learn more about picking a plan and using it when the time comes.

There are different options available to help pay for vet care

"Dental insurance for pets is almost always part of a larger pet insurance plan," says Zabell. Pet dental is a natural part of the conversation after you answer the question of is pet insurance worth it with a yes. There are different options to help you handle the financial costs of keeping your furry friend healthy and happy.

• Pet insurance provides reimbursement for unforeseen or emergency care. You pay a monthly fee for coverage and are reimbursed for a portion of your pet's medical care.
• Wellness plans cover routine checkups, vaccines, and preventative maintenance (including dental checks). You pay one monthly fee to access all these services. (Banfield, where Zabell works, offers wellness plans)
• Payment plans like CareCredit, allow you to spread payments out after a procedure. If you have pet insurance, you can get CareCredit to cover the vet bill immediately and repay the pet insurance portion after you receive your reimbursement. CareCredit doesn't provide any discount or coverage.

Dental insurance is wrapped in with pet insurance

In most cases, you can't buy just pet dental insurance, says Dr. Brian Evans, clinical director at the online veterinary clinic Dutch. Plans start around $60-80 a month, but the average cost of pet insurance varies widely based on your pet's type, breed, age, and where you live, he says. "When you're comparing plans, ask lots of questions about coverage," Evans says.

He continues, "To understand dental insurance you need to ask each company about the details of what is covered, what is not, and what are the limitations of reimbursement."

You'll choose your pet insurance coverage

Like when you're insuring yourself, you'll need to select the components of your pet's insurance plan. Plans will give you different options for:

• Deductible: The amount you need to pay toward your pet's care before the insurance kicks in. Usually, this is deducted from the first reimbursement.
• Reimbursement level: This is the percentage of the vet's invoice your insurer will cover. Usually, reimbursement levels range between 70-90% of the procedure costs.
• Coverage maximum: This max is the highest dollar amount your pet insurance will pay for a claim. For the most comprehensive pet medical coverage, we recommend looking for a pet insurance plan with unlimited coverage and 80-90% coinsurance (you pay 10-20% of your vet bills after the deductible).

Be prepared to shell out cash at the time of your vet visit

"Pet insurance is different from human insurance in that you pay for the services up front and then submit the invoice to your insurance company to be reimbursed," says Evans.

It might seem like a hassle as we're used to human medical providers taking care of the claims process for us. However, there is a silver lining. You won't need to worry about in-network vs. out-of-network providers for your pet's healthcare.

"Vets do not have a concern about which insurance plan you have as they are not a part of that process," Evans says.

Look for a pet insurance plan that covers periodontal disease

The best pet dental insurance plans should cover periodontal disease, inflammation of the gums, and tissue around the teeth. This is the most common dental condition in cats and dogs.

"Don't just settle for knowing that dental cleanings are covered," Evans adds. "Get the details on exactly how much you'll be reimbursed."

"Some pet insurance companies will also say they cover dental cleanings, but limit the reimbursement to a small portion of the actual cost," he says. "The entire dental cleaning procedure may cost $700, but the pet insurance will only reimburse you $150."

Get pet insurance early

Most pet insurance plans will not cover preexisting conditions. Since an astounding 80% of dogs have dental disease by the time they're three years old, getting coverage early is critical.

"The best way to ensure your pet's periodontal disease will not be considered preexisting is to purchase the pet insurance while they still have their puppy teeth," Evans says.

Submit your pet insurance claims promptly

After your pet has its teeth cleaned, pay the invoice from the veterinarian. Next, submit the invoice and a pet insurance claim form to your insurer. You'll also need to submit your pet's medical records to prove this wasn't a preexisting condition. After that, you'll get a check or direct deposit with the reimbursement. Usually, plans have a time limit for claims submissions.

Although pet dental insurance is relatively new, it can be a powerful tool for your pet's oral health.

"Pet dental health is one of the most important indicators of long-term health and should be a priority for your pet," Evans says. "Choose a pet insurance partner that will assist you in keeping your pet's mouth from being a source of chronic pain and inflammation."