Is Having Pet Insurance Worth it?
An Honest Opinion
According to a national pet owners survey conducted by APPA(American Pet Products Associations) 63.4 million households own at least one dog in the United States and only 1% of them are insured despite rising health care costs.
With the average annual cost of veterinarian care ranging from $200 – $400, and emergency treatment potentially costing thousands of dollars, we recommended that everyone who owns a dog or pet for that matter should have adequate pet insurance.
Quite simply dogs or indeed other pets can be and are struck down by illness or injury at any time, and due to the low percentage of pet owners having insurance, the majority of us are underprepared financially when the worst does happen to our dogs or family pets.
Unfortunately, we hear the stories all too often of dogs being stricken with illness and needing emergency operations and the owners struggling to pay, this is not only emotionally draining, but it is also stressful and of course, financially draining.
What are the Benefits of Pet Insurance?
Owners are often left with a choice to euthanize their beloved pet so they no longer suffer unnecessarily, or pay large sums of money, sometimes on an ongoing basis to cover their veterinarian bills.
And it is, unfortunately, the case that for some people coming up with large sums of money at these terrible times would require nothing short of a miracle.
What are the Benefits of Pet Insurance?
So, what are the actual benefits of having pet insurance?
- Pets can be treated in an emergency situation.
- A large percentage of the costs are covered (Excluding Deductible)
- Ongoing treatment costs above any deductible will be covered
- Medication costs may be covered
- Peace of mind, you know that you won’t have to struggle to find funds if the worst should happen
- A small monthly payment that most people can afford keeps you covered
- Having pet insurance means you can often select where your pet gets treated, which means you can provide your pet with the best treatment you can find
- It is important to mention that the range of scenarios and costs covered will depend on the insurance package you decide to go with and may vary from company to company.
The benefit and peace of mind knowing your dog or pet can be treated quickly and easily due to pet insurance, should be what makes anyone who owns a pet apply for pet insurance, there really isn’t any reason for a pet owner not to have it.
The reality is for a small monthly payment, you are prepared for the inevitable, at some point, your pet will most likely require medical treatment and if you don’t have insurance you may end up being stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Types of Coverage
So, what types of coverage are there with pet insurance?
Below I have listed the main types of coverage you would find with most insurers.
Accidental Damage
Nobody can predict when an accident may take place, but they can plan for any potential accidents that may occur. This is the most common type of coverage that most people get and should be provided by all pet insurance companies.
Accidental Damage insurance will cover things like broken bones, damaged ligaments, and bites, etc.
Illness Coverage
Illness insurance will cover things such as cancer, genetic hip problems, arthritis, and allergies, etc.
It is important to note that pet insurance companies tend to limit their illness coverage as pets age, it is wise to get illness coverage while your pet is still young to reduce pre-existing condition exemptions and any costs that may incur.
Wellness Coverage
Wellness coverage is optional, a lot of people often pay for these costs as and when they see the need, but if you have wellness coverage the insurance company will cover these costs, and it is only a small monthly fee so it is definitely worth it when the other option is paying larger sums every time you have a routine vet visit.
So what types of things are covered with wellness coverage?
- Spay/Neuter procedures
- Routine Vaccinations
- Teeth cleanings
- Flea, tick, and heartworm treatment
- Urinalyses and fecal testing
- Routine blood panels
How Does Pet Insurance Work
So, how does pet insurance work exactly, is it the same as human insurance?
Well, the answer is no it is not the same, most pet insurance companies will actually reimburse you for the cost of your pet’s initial vet visit.
Once you have paid you will receive an itemized receipt, you then send this to your insurance company along with a claims form, the insurance company will then send you a cheque to reimburse you.
Turn around on reimbursement payments may vary depending on the company and coverage you have, but you’ll typically receive your reimbursement within a week to a month.
Some companies may guarantee a specific time frame in which you will be reimbursed.
The cost of your reimbursement also depends on a few factors, such as deductible payment required, the type and cost of each procedure, etc.
A deductible payment is the cost of the treatment you have to pay before your insurance kicks in.
Summary
So, I hope now you have read about the benefits of pet insurance, you can now see that having pet insurance is worth it.
It is better to be safe than sorry, and nothing can beat the peace of mind that insurance provides, it may save you from having to make the dreadful decision between pet or wallet.
Nobody knows when their pet may be struck with illness or injury so please, think carefully and make sure you have your pet covered, their wellbeing and health should always be a priority.
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