One of the most common comments veterinarians hear from the pet-owning public is that the cost of caring for a pet is high. Especially in an emergency situation, health care costs can become prohibitive for some pet owners. In the saddest cases, the cost of the needed health care may actually enter into a pet owner’s decision to euthanize rather than treat a pet. Pet care insurance is a potential solution to this problem.
Who Can Benefit from Pet Care Insurance?
Pet insurance is not for everyone. If you have enough financial stability to afford even unexpected bills that can reach into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, you may not need pet health care insurance. On the other hand, if you’re the type of person who knows that you would never treat a pet for a serious medical condition and only believe in the minimum for health care, you may not need pet care insurance either. Most of us fall in the middle of these two scenarios though.
Pet Health Care Insurance Can Mean the Difference Between Life and Death for Your Pet
We all hope we never need to take advantage of pet health insurance for emergencies involving our pets. However, in the event that we do, having an insurance policy that will cover our pet’s expenses may mean the difference between life and death for that pet. Making the decision to end the life of your pet because you cannot afford needed veterinary care is a difficult decision indeed.
Pet Insurance Can Also Help with the Cost of Chronic Medical Conditions
However, the potential benefits of pet insurance do not end with these emergency scenarios. Many pets develop chronic issues such as skin disease, ear disease, renal disease, diabetes, and other conditions that require frequent visits to the veterinarian.
While many of these visits may not be exorbitant in terms of cost for each individual visit, over time the costs can add up. Pet insurance can help deal with the costs of these chronic conditions as well.
Depending on your policy, pet health care insurance may even help you with some of the cost of routine health care for your pet.
How Is Pet Care Insurance Different from Human Health Insurance?
There is a common misconception that pet health care insurance is similar in many ways to human health care insurance. In fact, pet care insurance is more similar to the insurance policy you may have for your home or car. The services that are covered for your pet are spelled out clearly in your pet insurance policy so be sure to read the policy thoroughly, understand what is included and what is excluded, and ask questions of the carrier about anything you do not understand. Some pet health care policies cover congenital illnesses and some do not. The same is true for pre-existing conditions.
Unlike human health insurance policies that typically pay the doctor directly, a pet health care policy usually requires that you pay the veterinarian, then you receive reimbursement from the insurance company once a claim is submitted. Some veterinarians may be willing to make exceptions, but you should check with your veterinarian and make prior arrangements if necessary.
Are There Alternatives to Pet Health Care Insurance?
Pet health care insurance is a good investment for many people. However, it is not the right solution for all pet owners. Some pet owners prefer to establish a savings account for their pet’s health care and contribute to it regularly. This works well for people who are able to establish a budget and actually make those deposits to the account and may be an acceptable alternative to pet insurance.
Some hospitals offer pet health plans that allow you to pay a specified fee on a regularly basis (usually monthly or yearly) in return for discounted fees on services for your pet. As with a pet insurance policy, read the plan thoroughly and be sure you understand what services and conditions are covered and which are not.
I was down at my local Cats Protection shelter in Belfast today. I’m looking for a housecat as I live in an apartment on quite a busy road and have had a few housecats before. I saw a beautiful 9 year old cat with FIV that would be perfect, however I was wondering if you can get petplan insurance for FIV cats in this situation?
As someone who works in an emergency veterinary facility, I cannot stress enough the importance of pet insurance or at the very least having a devoted savings account or budget for unexpected and regular pet health care expenses. Its unfortunate how many people do not take responsibility for the care of their pets. I understand that not everyone can afford pay for pricey emergency medical procedures or emergency surgeries on their pets but it is absolutely heartwrenching to be a part of the veterinary staff that has to euthanize a dog or cat for something as simple and easily treated as, say, a broken limb.
I want to take care of my pets and make sure they get the care they need. And when they become sick or unhealthy, hopefully, I want to make sure they are treated properly.