Why You Need Pet Health Insurance

Pet health insurance is often overlooked when someone decides to bring home a dog or cat. Most people think they won’t need it and then the unexpected happens. I am writing this blog post with hopes that you will consider getting pet health insurance if you haven’t already. Having a husky and four cats, THANK GOD I signed up for pet insurance early on. You have no idea how much money I would’ve spent if I didn’t have insurance. I’m talking about thousands!

The same day we brought Gatsby home at 8 weeks old, was the day we signed him up for pet health insurance. We are currently using Nationwide Pet Insurance for Gatsby and selected the Complete Coverage Plan. This covers any accidents, illnesses, wellness visits as well as prescriptions and 90% on vet bills. We chose Nationwide Pet Insurance because it was offered at a discounted price through my husband’s job costing us about $95/month. The four cats are under Trupanion and the current plan also covers 90% on vet bills (excluding wellness visits) costing us $181/month for four cats. Both of these companies have been great in terms of claim submissions and reimbursement is quick.

Last year, we went to the vet a bunch of times and the insurance company covered 90% of the vet bills:

• Gatsby got neutered (cryptorchidectomy), swallowed the end of a bully stick and vomited blood (went to ER), caught the canine papillomavirus, caught giardia, got super bad allergies after eating duck, regular vaccine shots, and Heartgard/Nexgard medication.
• Two of my cats had dental procedures and one cat developed a heart murmur so she needed ultrasounds and now needs prescription meds for her heart.

So here are the reasons why you should get pet health insurance:

1. Veterinary costs are on the rise – According to the New York Times and Nationwide/Purdue University Veterinary Price Index “the costs of veterinary services have risen over 10 percent for medical treatments and 5 percent for regular checkups.” Cost for operations, treatments and general office visits are rising due to the advanced technology being more available to pets.
2. Save your emergency funds – Accidents are unexpected and illnesses can creep on your pet. Don’t dip into your savings account. Let the insurance company pay for 80-90% of the vet bill.
3. Protect your pet – Just like human health insurance is important, the same goes for pets! Pet insurance is all about helping you get the best care possible when your pet is injured or is ill. Don’t wait for an illness to develop and then try to sign up for insurance. This is too late! They won’t cover pre-existing conditions.
4. Be a responsible pet parent – You are the one who brought home your pet, promising him/her the best life possible. Be responsible. Don’t ever tell your sick or injured pet you have to give them up or they have to be euthanized because you simply can’t afford it. This cost should have been budgeted when you decided to bring him/her home.
5. Your pet will live longer with regular visits to the vet – Just like humans, if we take our pets to the vet for annual check-ups, we can extend their life span. It’s all about preventative care!

If you haven’t already, I hope you will consider signing up for pet health insurance. It’s a big deal and pets are family. Protect your family and your bank account. It will give you peace of mind!

Until next time,

Elaine