As a pet owner, pet insurance is a product worth looking at, especially if you're on a budget. Unexpected vet bills can be devastating, and an insurance policy can help.
One thing that many new pet owners don't fully understand is the lifetime expense of keeping a pet. Dogs are typically more costly than cats. After all, it makes sense that a typical dog eats more than a typical cat. Annual vet visits are typically more for dogs as well.If your pet gets sick or gets into an accident, it will to cost you a small fortune.
You might be inclined to think, that your cat is safe indoors. While your cat is definitely safer indoors, indoor cats can get out. Being outside in unfamiliar surroundings can be more of a danger to an indoor cat than a cat who is used to the outdoors. Also, there are many dangers to your cat or dog inside the house as well.
Holiday decorations have been known to kill cats. Your cat can easily ingest something she shouldn't, and there is at least one account of a cat eating "Silly String." These items can tangle up in the intestines, causing severe injury and or death.
Pet emergencies can be extremely costly. Even without an accident, your cat may still become ill. Cats are prone to diabetes, heart conditions, worms, and any number of other conditions.
What is pet insurance all about? I don't want to bring you bad luck, but what happens if you take Fluffy to the vet and she's diagnosed with a heart condition? Your expenses could run in the thousands for testing and long term care. The main purpose of pet insurance is to help pet owners take the sting out of health care costs for their pets by paying small amounts each month for a pet health insurance policy.
But do you really need an insurance policy for your cat or dog?
One of my cats has a serious heart condition, and I did not have pet insurance at the time this was discovered. When she began to show symptoms of a problem the vet determined that she had a heart murmer. I was more than willing to pay the vet whatever he wanted to find out exactly what was going on. Having been through this experience with one of my cats, I can say that having pet insurance coverage for her would have been a big weight off my shoulders.
Something that truly surprised me was that through each step of the process, my vet kept saying that we could stop if the cost was too much. I kept telling him that I didn't care about the cost, only about the cat!
On the other hand, I happen to know someone who is still paying the very large vet bills for a dog she had who died several years ago. With a pet insurance policy, her expenses would have been covered.
The Good: Pet insurance gives you as a pet owner peace of mind and ease of wallet. To be able to budget your pet’s health care costs over the life of your pet can give you a sense of freedom both financially and emotionally.
Most of us are on a monthly budget. Incorporating your pet insurance premiums (and therefore the cost of your pet's health care) into that budget helps you avoid sudden and unexpected expenses. You won't have any unplanned-for out-of-pocket expenses if your pet becomes ill or is involved in an accident. One thing I learned early on as a cat owner is that vets are not cheap!
You can choose from different plans from various companies, some of which pay up to 100%, and require no physical exam. In some cases, there are no annual maximum benefit restrictions. You can even get routine care, such as vaccinations and flea medication covered. Some company plans, such as VPI Pet Insurance, will also cover spay and neuter procedures. See the details of the VPI Superior Plan plus Routine Care Coverage at VPI's web site.
As long as he is not subject to one of the exclusions, your pet is guaranteed to be accepted by PetCare Pet Insurance. As with all insurance, you may cancel your policy if you feel it is not in the best interest of you and your pet.
Many pet lovers are very happy with the protection provided by PetCare Pet Insurance.This type of coverage has allowed pet owners to afford expensive treatment for their pets and in some cases has saved the life of the animal.
The Bad: Is pet insurance cost effective? That depends. Some customers say that buying coverage for a very young pet which is never let outside unsupervised has proven to be more expensive than paying a veterinarian for what the cost of their pet’s health care would have been. Young and small house pets are rarely involved in accidents and only very occasionally become ill.
There are age and breed restrictions, so check with the particular insurance company you've chosen for the fine print and to see if your pet is elligible. As with most insurance policies, there is a grace period in some cases, as well as some exclusions you should know about.
As an example, you must keep up with regular vet visits and vaccinations as a requirement of your continued PetCare Pet Insurance coverage. Check with the company providing your coverage to ensure you comply.
The Ugly: For cat or dog owners who have pets that are older or those that spend a lot of time outside, pet insurance is an excellent value. For owners of very young animals or those that live inside, the cost of pet insurance may be greater than the value of the protection it provides.
