Sample script: Insure the young

The young and the insured

You: Do you have a pet insurance form for me to sign?

Client: Oh, no. Wiggles is just a puppy. We won't need pet insurance until he's much older.

You: It's best to insure Wiggles while he's young and healthy. For example, if you get insurance now and he later develops a chronic medical condition, like Addison's Disease, the insurance should cover his treatment. But if you wait to insure him until after he becomes ill, the disease may be considered a pre-existing condition and wouldn't be covered. Also, pet insurance protects many families from making the difficult decision of economic euthanasia. Should something happen to Wiggles, you'll be in a better position to help him by enrolling today. Plus, your premiums will be lower since Wiggles is in tip-top shape.

Client: I'll just set aside $50 a month on my own. That should be enough insurance for Wiggles.

You: Good idea, but know that pet insurance allows you more leverage. Take this example: If you start saving this month and Wiggles eats a pair of underpants in eight months, you'll have $400 to put toward his $2,000 bowel surgery. If you chose a pet insurance that pays 80 percent of the balance after your deductible, you'd only be looking at a bill of $400.