Why All Pet Lovers Should Consider Pet Insurance

Many people think pets aren’t expensive to care for… but these people likely have never gotten a big surgery bill from the vet. Pet health care costs can run into the thousands of dollars, making pet owners confront extremely difficult decisions. Protect yourself against the risk of expensive vet bills with pet health insurance coverage.

The internet has many useful resources for researching insurance options, and ways to get multiple quotes before you make your final decision. To help owners navigate the many options available, Consumer Affairs published a Pet Insurance Guide, and 365 Pet Insurance published a Best Pet Insurance for 2021 guide,which reviews various plans. No one insurance plan is right for every pet owner, but here are some questions to consider:

1. What kind of coverage does the plan offer?
Plans vary a lot in their coverage. Some policies cover only accidents, and some cover accidents and illnesses. Others offer coverage for accidents, illnesses and preventive care. Preventive care coverage can include certain standard annual costs for routine vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative medications, routine annual physical exams and lab tests, and/or other treatments. It is important to read your policy description carefully, and ask questions if anything seems unclear.

2. Is there a deductible?  How much is the deductible?
Just like with human health insurance, different plans have different deductibles. You’ll want to choose a plan that fits your budget.

3. Are certain conditions excluded?
Pet insurance exclusions vary depending on the policy. Common exclusions include pre-existing medical conditions, cosmetic and elective procedures, fertility and pregnancy.

4. Can I use my own veterinarian?
It depends on the plan. If you like your veterinarian and want to keep seeing him or her, be sure to choose a pet insurance plan that allows for this.

Giving pets the ability to live long, healthy lives is a huge responsibility. Purchasing insurance is one way to help ease the rising costs of that care, especially in the long run.