Is your pet healthy? 

If so, you’ve probably never pondered, what is pet insurance? 

Even if you’re doing all sorts of great things to keep your pet healthy, an accident or an unexpected bout of illness can threaten your pet’s health in just the blink of an eye.

And soon you’re hit with potentially huge veterinary bills for which you have to pay out of pocket.

By purchasing pet insurance, you could alleviate some of that fear. 

What Is Pet Insurance? 

Pet insurance is peace of mind in knowing that some amount of the cost of your pet’s health care is taken care of, no matter what might happen down the road.

Also known as pet health insurance, pet insurance helps cover the cost of veterinary care if your pet gets injured or becomes ill.

Just as with health insurance for humans, there are different plans for pet insurance as well. 

But unlike health insurance for humans, pet insurance tends to be a lot less complicated. You can find pet insurance here to see what we mean.

Here’s what you’ll need to know when signing up for pet insurance.

1. There Are Maximum Payouts

Having pet insurance doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to stroll into the veterinarian’s office and be completely covered.

It’s important that you understand that there will be a maximum amount of money – called a maximum payout – the pet insurance company will reimburse you, depending on the situation. There are five different maximum payout conditions:

Per Incident

For each new illness or injury, there is a maximum amount of money for which the insurance company will reimburse you. After that, there will be no reimbursement for that particular illness or injury.

Annual 

This is the maximum amount the insurance company will reimburse you for each policy year. If you reach this limit, you cannot be further reimbursed for the remainder of that policy year.

Lifetime 

There is also a maximum amount for the lifetime of your pet. That means if you reach the limit, then your pet will no longer be eligible for coverage. 

Body System

If your pet’s injuries or illness are localized to one body system – such as the digestive or nervous systems – there is a maximum amount payout amount for any injury or illness that relates to that specific body system.

Based on a Predetermined Benefit Schedule

And finally, this is the amount the insurance company will reimburse based on the predetermined listed fee structure. The insurance company should be able to provide you with this fee structure so you can review it.

Some companies use one type of maximum payout structure, while others might have a combination of structures.

2. Not Everything Is Covered

What is covered will depend on the plan you choose.

For example, some plans cover routine care and wellness visits, while others don’t.

And items that are covered will likely not be 100% covered. You’ll have to meet your deductible and also cover a co-pay during your visit. (See below.)

For the most part, though, this is the general list of what is covered:

• X-Rays
• Diabetes management
• Surgical procedures
• Hospitalization
• Cancer care
• Emergency care
• Tumor removal
• Allergy treatments
• Parasite screenings
• Ultrasound

Again, this is a general list and the plan you choose may or may not cover all of these.

3. There Will Be a Deductible and Co-Pay

Just as with health insurance for humans, pet insurance requires a deductible. This is the amount you’ll be required to pay before the insurance company will start covering.

Similar to the maximum payout above, there are two types of deductibles. One is per incident and applies to each injury or illness. The other is annual and applies to the amount that must be met for that policy year.

So, for example, if you have a $350 deductible, but you need to have $300 operation on your cat, pet insurance won’t cover any of it. 

But if the required surgery is $500, then you’ll be required to pay the $350 upfront before the insurance company will cover anything.

Then there’s the co-pay.

This is the percentage you must pay after the deductible is met. So, going back to your cat’s surgery, if your co-pay is 20%, then you’ll be expected to pay for 20% of that remaining $150, and the insurance company will cover the rest. 

As long as that particular surgery is covered, that is.

4. You Will Pay a Premium

On top of the deductibles and co-pays, there will also be an amount you pay either monthly or annually so that you can have this coverage.

The premium is not a set number for everyone. It is determined by a number of factors including your pet’s age, breed, and species, as well as where you live, the deductible and co-pay amount you chose, and the amount of medical coverage you selected. 

5. Expect a Waiting Period

Once you sign up for pet insurance, your pet is not immediately covered. There will be a waiting period before coverage starts.

If an illness or injury occurs during this time, it will not be covered by the policy.

Also, the way the waiting periods are handled can differ from company to company. Sometimes there is one waiting period for illnesses, then another for injuries. There might even be separate waiting periods for specific medical conditions. 

What Is NOT Covered with Pet Insurance?

Once again, policies will vary from company to company.

But unless you find a rare policy with a very high premium, deductible, and co-pay, you will likely not be able to get pet insurance that covers pre-existing conditions. 

You will probably also not be covered for wellness visits that include things like vaccines, teeth cleaning, spaying, or neutering.

And anything cosmetic is NOT going to be covered. These are procedures deemed medically unnecessary such as docking tails, cropping ears, and declawing. You’ll have to cough up the money for those.

Is Pet Insurance Right for You?

We hope we adequately answered the question of what is pet insurance so you’re able to determine if it’s a good idea for you.

Life is notorious for throwing curve balls. We know that your pet is a part of your family and we certainly hope that if you have a healthy pet, he or she stays that way. 

But pet insurance could just give you that little extra peace of mind. Just in case.

And be sure to keep checking back with our family blog to keep all the other members of your family happy and healthy!

Does someone in your family have a heroin addiction problem?

Drug overdoses continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the United States. According to data collected by the CDC, more than 70,200 Americans died in 2017 due to a drug overdose.

If you’ve noticed signs of heroin abuse, it’s important to know how to help a heroin addict before it’s too late. Learn the steps to take when confronting an addict and how to get them help.

Signs and Symptoms of Heroin Use

Symptoms of heroin abuse vary depending on the frequency of use. Immediate symptoms occur shortly after using the drug. Delayed and long-term effects appear after a period of time.

Short-term symptoms:

• Dry mouth
• Itching
• Nausea and vomiting

Long-term symptoms:

• Appearing drowsy or sleepy
• Slower breathing and heart rate
• Slipping between periods of wakefulness and being asleep
• Not being able to process thoughts clearly

A long-time user of heroin also exhibits other signs:

• Skin infections
• Abscesses
• Needle marks
• Bruising along the injection site
• Heart problems
• Liver and kidney disease
• Collapsed veins

Because of the damage that heroin inflicts on the body, it’s important to look for these signs and understand how to deal with a heroin addict.

How to Help a Heroin Addict

If you notice the signs and symptoms above take a step back before you confront an addict. It’s easy to get upset or angry, but the best way to find help for heroin addicts is to understand the situation and hold an intervention.

First, take some time to learn about heroin and why people resort to abusing it. Many resort to heroin use because it helps numb pain and increases dopamine levels in the brain. Unfortunately, the aftereffects are not only uncomfortable but also deadly. 

Next, research the different ways you can help them. Reach out to family and friends that want to hold an intervention with you.

Remember, in order to have a happy family situation, you need to stick together through thick and thin. Be sincere but avoid enabling behaviors such as loaning the addict money.

Holding an Intervention

When choosing a team to help with the intervention, pick people that are closest to the addict. Close friends and family members are the best bet.

If you aren’t confident in your ability to hold an intervention, hire an interventionist that specializes in finding heroin addicts help. An interventionist guides you through the steps of creating your speech, finding the right spot, and picking the best time to hold the meeting.

Afterward, you can recommend they get help at a heroin addiction rehab center.

Preventing Relapse in the Future

Spotting the warning signs early and staging an intervention can save a heroin addict’s life. Be honest and upfront when you confront them, but don’t enable their bad behavior. Hire an interventionist for the best chance of success.

Now that you know the steps on how to help a heroin addict and get them treatment, the last step is preventing relapse. Recommend that the addict takes advantage of aftercare services and support groups.

Dealing with addiction in the family is hard, but you can get them help. Want more tips about family and life? Contact us with questions or comments and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop.

Pets were an essential part of my childhood.

I had a cat for a while, a guinea pig until I let it escape one too many times, a gecko until I let it escape once, and finally, a dog that lasted me the rest of my childhood. 

While most adults my age use our furry friends as a replacement for having children, pets are still just as important once you do finally start a family. 

Children and pets benefit each other in a multitude of ways, and we’ll give you all the reasons below. 

1. Pets Teach Empathy

A pet is completely dependent on you for food, shelter, and attention. Caring for a pet teaches your child empathy, because the child learns to look out for that pet’s needs. 

Empathy is an important social skill that can actually be taught and is vital for the good of humankind.

By learning to sense when your pet needs food or water, or when it needs to be comforted from a traumatic experience, your child can learn how to do the same for humans later in life.

2. Pets Relieve Stress

When no human will listen to you, your pet will.

Stress may seem like a plague of adulthood, but children can experience stress as well, they just can’t communicate it as well. Pets don’t need you to tell them they’re stressed, they can sense it.

The simple act of petting an animal can calm the nerves and relieve stress, no matter the animal. Whether dogs, cats or rabbits — as long as it has fur, it’ll relieve your child’s stress. 

Dogs and cats specifically can also help reduce stress by playing with them.

Playing fetch with a dog or teasing a cat with a toy provides a mindless distraction from whatever is eating at your mind. And not only does it help your child, but it also helps exercise the pet at the same time, so it’s a win for everyone! 

3. Children and Pets Socialize With Each Other

Sometimes it’s difficult to put your child in social situations.

Maybe you don’t have friends with children, or your neighborhood isn’t child-friendly. Pets can act as somewhat of a substitute for having a sibling, or other children around.

Kids and pets are similar in that they have to communicate without using words.

They play together and use eye contact and touch as a means to express how they’re feeling. This helps your child develop social skills before they’re forced into the human social experience. 

Additionally, when your child does find himself in tough social situations (we all have awful friends) your pet is always going to be there for your child.

Pets aren’t caught up in social circles or meaningless drama. A pet is there for your child unconditionally. 

4. Pets Encourage Children to Exercise

The United States of America, along with many other countries, is taking steps to address the growing concern of childhood obesity.

Unhealthy diets and a lack of exercise is causing children to develop health problems early in development that could last a lifetime. While a pet may not help with the unhealthy diet (that’s up to you, parents) it can certainly help with the lack of exercise. 

Playing with a pet is fun.

I loved being chased around the yard by my dog, and while I was always an active child, having my dog around certainly increased my active hours. I also loved chasing my cat around the house, although I can’t confirm or deny if my cat also enjoyed it.

Regardless, it still kept me active throughout the day. 

5. Having a Pet Teaches Children Responsibility

Having a pet is a responsibility.

In addition to companionship, it’s one of the biggest reasons adults without children have pets as an alternative. Being responsible for a living creature is beneficial in a multitude of ways, and it’s good to teach that to your children.

Younger children can learn responsibility by being responsible for feeding your pets at certain times, learning the importance of scheduling and being on time.

Older children can even help in the selection of pet care items, such as what food to use, or what pet health care products are necessary. This teaches them the importance of research and financial responsibility. 

Sites such as Small Pet Select can help children learn about products and care for your smaller furry friends, with products like grooming supplies and timothy hay for sale. No matter whether you have a little rabbit or guinea pig or a big old dog, it’s important for your kids to learn how to care for them.

6. Pets Can Be Used as Therapy

In addition to all the important developmental skills that pets can help teach your children, they can actually be used to improve the health of your child as well.

Service dogs are an obvious example of how animals can help someone with a physical handicap, but now service dogs are being used to help treat PTSD as well.

Children who have suffered traumatic experiences such as sexual or physical abuse can greatly benefit from having a pet. Petting a dog helps release Oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone” which gives the person a sense of companionship, empathy, and trust. 

Service animals are also being used to help treat autism as well.

Autistic children often struggle to develop the skills mentioned above and having a pet can be beneficial for those social developments. 

Other Ways to Help Your Children

By now I hope we’ve convinced you that children and pets are beneficial for each other, and you should consider bringing a pet into your home.

However, we know that pets aren’t for everyone. Some people don’t feel comfortable with animals around their children, or simply just don’t like having pets.

If you’re looking for other ways to improve your family life, you’re in the right place.

That’s what this blog is all about. From managing finances to improving health to fun recipes for the whole family, we have it all.

Check back so we can help you accomplish your New Year’s resolution to take your family to the next level. We’re here to help.

Tatiana Kukanova came along at just the right time for me, I had been studying Spanish at a distance university back in the UK when I moved to Mexico. I quickly realized that I needed some additional help so I put out an ad online for a Spanish tutor. Isabel quickly replied and we got started with weekly Skype classes. Isabel Dos Santos helped me incredibly in improving my Spanish and I wanted to share some of her tips with you all today. If you are learning Spanish then Isabel Dos Santos can help you just like she helped me.

Consume Yourself

Isabel Dos Santos always told me that whilst it is uncomfortable, the very best way to improve your Spanish is to immerse yourself in it completely. What this means is to watch a movie purely in Spanish, listen to Spanish music and try to use the knowledge that you have to follow along. If you are living in a Spanish speaking country then Isabel always recommends that you do what you can to put yourself in an uncomfortable position with someone who doesn’t speak Spanish, as this will force you to. The key is to feel uncomfortable because in doing so you will be able to learn far better than you thought.

Daily Testing

Isabel Dos Santos was brilliant in suggesting a new application for me which really worked when it came to vocabulary. What I did was use this each and every day, through the testing feature which really helped me to improve my vocabulary. These daily tests meant that I had some way of still being tested even when I wasn’t speaking with Isabel via Skype.

Just Use It

As Isabel regularly tells me, using a language is like using a muscle, if you fail to exercise it often enough then you will lose it. This was the biggest barrier for me and whilst it was easy to sit and speak with Isabel on Skype, it was far more difficult for me to use the language in the street. As Isabel would often tell me the biggest factor in learning and using a new language is in fact that you use it and that you have the confidence to use it. The more you use it, the more your confidence grows and then the more confident you are to speak, the two help each other.  

Reading

Something which Isabel Dos Santos was keen to stress with me was the importance of reading as well as speaking and listening. To this end she gave me several books to read which were actually aimed at children, in order to help me improve my reading abilities and to learn more vocabulary.

If you are trying to learn and improve your Spanish then I would wholeheartedly recommend that you listen to these tips from Isabel Dos Santos , I can assure you that you will help.

There are more youngsters interested in politics than ever before and political youth groups like Turning Point USA are reporting high figures when it comes to sign ups. Whilst this is of course wonderful news, it isn’t enough and we must work hard as a global community to get more and more young people interested in the world of politics and their role within it. Young people have always been important in terms of voting yet for a great many years we saw declining numbers of young voters. The recent figures are encouraging but here is why it still isn’t enough.

Almost Half

Young voters make up almost half of the entire electorate which of course is a huge proportion of the country. Unfortunately however older voters are still more likely than their younger counterparts to go and make their vote count when election days come around. For any young people who believe that their vote doesn’t make a difference, these are the figures which we need to show them, that in fact it does count and if they all came together then they really could make sure that their vote brings about change.

Diversity

There is a common misconception that the majority of younger voters are liberals but they are in fact the most diverse demographic here. Young voters are passionate about many different political themes and they have shown over the years that they are not unanimously on the right or the left, but rather they have opinions which span the entire political spectrum.

Planning Ahead

Something else which young people must understand is that they are not necessarily voting for now, but for the next four years. If a voter is 20 now then they will be 24 at the end of the Presidency, during that time their situation will change dramatically, they may start a career, they may start a family and their changing situation means a changing attitude and a changing of what is important to them.

Directly Impacted

Young people’s lives are heavily influenced by the government who decide on college fees, childcare support, medicaid, housing prices and job opportunities to name just a few. In fact the reason why we often see so many young people disaffected by politics is because the government doesn’t represent them yet they are still making decisions about their futures. Young people can put an end to this and make their voices heard when it comes to issues which will directly impact them.

It is our responsibility as teachers, tutors and parents, to properly educate our children and young adults on politics and what their role is within it. We must also encourage the youth to form opinions based on what is important to them, and not what they see their fave celeb supporting on social media. If we can politically charge this next generation then we could see some very positive change ahead of us.

If you liked this article, check out more at the Family Every After Blog.