Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
Considering pet insurance for your fur baby? Wondering if it’s really worth it, or if it’s the best idea for you? Check out our thoughts below.
What is pet insurance? And how does it work? Is pet insurance really worth it? And what do vets think about pet insurance?
We know you have a lot of questions and maybe even concerns about pet insurance. But no worries… that’s why we’re here! We will answer all of these questions and more. Pet insurance is there to help you worry less because you know that your pet is covered—no matter what happens.
Of course, there are different levels of pet insurance that offer various types of coverage. And many different companies that you can choose from. Click here to see free quotes for the type of pet insurance you’re looking for.
What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is just health insurance for your pet. It can cover part or all of your fur baby’s emergency vet bills, or even wellness visits—depending on the type of pet insurance you get.
We all know that the cost of pet parenting can add up quickly! One quick injury or a surprise disease, and you may be stuck in a difficult situation. And taking your dog or cat to an emergency vet is quite expensive. This can be really scary and stressful… but it doesn’t have to be! If you sign up for pet insurance today, you can feel at ease for whatever happens tomorrow.
What Does Pet Insurance Usually Cover?
Pet insurance usually covers the costs related to unexpected illness and injury for dogs and cats. However, there are some pet insurances that will cover wellness exams, and others that even cover the costs of emergency bills for exotic pets.
Most pet insurances cover:
- Accidents
- Illness
- Emergency vet visits
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Cancer treatment
- X-rays
- Prescription medication
- Specialty care
Some pet insurances offer add-ons like:
- Ongoing medication
- Prescription food
- Prosthetics
- Behavioral training
- Alternative treatments
- Microchipping
What Does Pet Insurance NOT Usually Cover?
Although most pet insurance companies won’t cover routine pet care like vaccinations, medication, annual exams, and routine wellness visits, there are some pet insurance companies that offer Wellness Plans.
Check out Vital Care at Petco – Vital care makes it easier and more affordable for you to care for your pet’s whole health all in one place.
Below are some of things not covered under a typical pet insurance plan:
- Annual checkups
- Vaccinations
- Lab Tests
- Behavioral exams
- Dental cleaning
Another important piece of information to know about pet insurance is that it doesn’t typically cover pre-existing conditions. And most pet insurances will even limit their coverage on pet breeds that are prone to certain hereditary and congenital diseases.
Disclosure: Vital care is not an insurance product.
Why Should Pet Owners Get Insurance?
Just like with any insurance, it’s to help you prepare for the worst, even though you’re hoping for the best. Pet insurance is there to give you a peace of mind—knowing that you’re covered, if and when disaster strikes.
Pet insurance works like this…
When your dog or cat needs to use their insurance, your pet insurance company will pay the claims based on your total vet bills. These companies will typically have you pay for the costs up front, evaluate your claim, and then pay a reimbursement straight to you, based on your plan. Once you’ve paid your deductible for the year, the insurance company will send you a 50%-100% reimbursement of the total cost
What is the Average Cost of Pet Insurance Per Month?
The question that everyone wants to know is… what is this going to cost me? Before we jump into some examples, the cost of pet insurance does vary based on a few different factors listed below:
- The species of your pet: Dogs are more expensive than cats.
- Your pet’s breed: Larger breeds are more expensive than smaller ones.
- The age of your pet: Pet insurance is more expensive for older animals.
- Your location: Vet costs are typically more expensive in larger cities.
- Reimbursement percentage: Depending on the percentage of the bill you’d like to have reimbursed.
- Yearly deductible: How much are you willing to pay for your deductible?
- Add-ons: The more add-ons you want, the higher the cost.
Disclosure: please review each company’s underwriting rules and guidelines to their ratings and pricing decisions.
Why Do Vets Recommend Pet Insurance?
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) states their policy about pet health insurance as this: “AVMA endorses the concept of pet health insurance to help defray cost of care, and encourages veterinary teams to educate clients about its existence.” They don’t try to push it on their clients, but they do try to educate their clients about the benefits of pet health insurance.
Veterinarians care about your pet’s health and wellbeing, just like you do! And they want to make sure that you’re able to pay for whatever medical needs your pet might have, in the event of an emergency or crisis. AVMA explains it this way: “One of the biggest challenges veterinarians face is getting clients to follow through on recommended care plans. Sharing information about pet health insurance can be a proactive solution to this challenge.”
These medical professionals can’t give medical goods and services away for free. But they also hate it when a pet owner can’t afford the proper treatment for their sweet fur baby.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
With pet health insurance, you can pick your own veterinarian, pick the plan you want, and pick any add-ons you’d like. Most pet insurance plans are affordable for most pet owners. And setting this money aside each month will help give you peace of mind if and when something unexpected happens to your furry best friend. After learning about pet insurance today, do you think it’s worth it
For more helpful articles about dog health and pet parenting, check out the blog at PetInsuranceQuotes.com.
