If your pet is like a family member, you may want to consider getting them some insurance. According to a recent survey from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association there are 77.5 million dogs and 93.6 million cats owned in the US. In fact, 39% of households own a dog and 33% of households own a cat. These pets cost their owners$45.5 billion each year, much of which covers veterinary costs. Over the last three decades, the veterinary industry has enjoyed 10% gains

But despite the potential savings, most pet owners don’t have insurance. They don’t know how it works and they don’t know what it costs. According to CTWatchdog.com, most pet insurance companies let you see whatever vet you want. The pet owner is required to pay the bill and then is reimbursed by the insurance company. According to experts, here are some questions to ask when shopping for pet insurance:

• How are reimbursements calculated?
• What is the deductible?
• Is the deductible annual?
• Are their yearly or lifetime maximums?
• How are reimbursements distributed?
• When will my coverage kick in?
• What don’t you cover?

These are just examples of some of the questions you should ask before deciding on an insurance company to make sure your pet is covered. Most experts agree that you should start insurance coverage at a young age because you never know when something can happen. However, keep in mind that no companies will cover pre-existing conditions and what they deem as pre-existing could vary. So do your research and keep your pet covered.