What is an Emergency Medical Condition?
In pet care, an emergency medical condition refers to a critical injury or illness that could lead to death or cause serious harm to an animal if not treated right away.
Depending on the severity of the condition, some examples might include blunt force trauma, a broken bone, kidney failure, and anaphylactic shock due to allergic reaction. Most medical emergencies that require immediate care are sudden and unexpected in nature, as opposed to the gradual decline and ultimate failure of health seen in pets with chronic conditions.
How Emergency Medical Conditions Work
With respect to pet insurance, emergency medical conditions fall into one of two categories: accident-related and illness-related. Accident-only pet insurance plans will cover a portion of the cost of emergency service for injuries related to physical accidents, such as broken bones or burns. Accident-Illness plans will cover both accident-related injuries and unexpected illnesses, providing comprehensive coverage for surgeries, diagnostics, and internal medicine treatments.
When comparing pet insurance companies, it’s important that you always understand which costs are covered for emergency medical conditions, should one ever arise. . Unexpected vet costs can be fairly expensive, and, unfortunately, an estimated 1 in 3 pets will need an emergency vet each year. For these reasons, many owners opt for the peace of mind that comes with a comprehensive accident-illness policy.
Key Takeaways
- Emergency medical conditions are severe illnesses or injuries
- Pets with severe conditions require emergency vet service to prevent death or long-term damage.
