Olympia, Wash. –
A new pet insurance bill has been signed by Gov. Jay Inslee.
On April 6, Senate Bill 5319 was signed into law.
The bill provides protections for pet insurance customers.
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5319 into law on April 6, which would create a regulated pet insurance marketplace…
The new law requires disclosures about coverage as well as training and licensing for insurance companies.
This allows easy comparisons across different plans.
SB-5319 provides more clarity on issues such as pre-existing condition exemptions, waiting periods and co-payments.
David Henriksen is from Kennewick and is a pet owner himself.
Henriksen said when he was young, his family had a dog with many health problems.
He told me that the dog had been hit by a car and had to take the dog to Washington State University for treatment.
Henriksen said his stepfather had to pay $10,000 for treatment.
He said they paid the money and kept the dog alive.
Henriksen has a 3-year-old dog named Jordy and said the dog is in good health, but he welcomes this new bill.
“These animals become part of your family,” Henriksen said. “You want to be part of your life and give someone the opportunity to take better care of your pet, and it’s nice to be able to make that decision and have more options.”
Henrikson says it’s good to have a plan, and one of the benefits of this new rule is helping to protect your furry family member.
The Act also prohibits deceptive marketing practices.
It is said to be effective from July.