You come home to find your pet vomiting and very lethargic! Of course, you bring them to your veterinarian for medical care, where you learn that they swallowed one of your socks and require emergency surgery! This is a procedure likely to cost a couple thousand dollars, minimum.
Can you afford to pay?
One of the most common questions asked in this field is whether an owner should consider pet insurance. So, what is pet insurance?
Pet insurance helps cover the cost of medical care for your dog or cat. Depending on the policy, it can reimburse costs associated with emergency care, accident or illness. The cost of prescription medications, and in some cases prescription diets may also be covered. Some insurance plans also offer “wellness plans” which cover costs for more routine care, such as annual exams and vaccinations.
Particularly for unexpected vet bills, such as following an accident or illness, having the support of pet insurance to offset the costs can be a huge relief and provide more flexibility for exploring care options during those difficult times.
However, every owner should weigh the monthly cost of pet insurance against potential vet expenses to determine if pet insurance is worth it for you.
What are factors that affect the cost (and coverage) of insurance:
- Certain breeds are more prone to health problems, which means it may cost more to insure them.
- Demographics can also play a role in how pet insurance is calculated
- The cost of insurance typically increases as a pet ages, because older pets have a greater chance of becoming ill or getting injured.
- The earlier one opts in for pet insurance the better, as any previous accidents and/or illnesses are often counted as pre-existing conditions, so would not be covered by the insurance.
As there are many different insurance companies, with a range of policy options, it is highly recommended that one does their research before signing with any one company!
