Should I Buy Coverage for My Pet and Is It Worth Its Cost?

Everyone who cares about the family’s well-being has long got into the habit of having life and health insurance. But buying a policy for a beloved pet still seems unusual to many people.

Two-thirds of all households in the United States have one or more pets. Each of these pets is a big responsibility that you can share with your insurance company. So let's talk about whether pet coverage is really that important and how it can benefit you.

How Much Does Pet Medical Care Cost?

Preventive Examinations

To understand if coverage for pets is really useful to you, we need to know first how much it costs to treat them. Of course, the cost depends on the species you own and the pet breed. Thus, if you are a parent of an ordinary mongrel cat, you are unlikely to spend a huge amount of money on its treatment since they are quite resistant to any adverse conditions.

At the same time, breeds such as the Maine Coon or Sphynx have some chronic diseases, so you may need to periodically seek veterinarian services. The same goes for dogs.

People can usually visit veterinarians for two reasons: to take a preventive examination of their pet and when their creature is ill or sick. On average, a pet parent spends roughly $50 to $250 examining their furry friend per year. This is a fairly small amount, but we should also keep in mind that this cost increases for pedigree pets.

Treatment

The cost of treating pets – like people – is very high. Of course, the final amount depends on what kind of treatment your four-legged friend needs, but usually the services go together with each other. We will now explain to you what we mean.

Let's say your dog needs a ligament repair. This treatment will cost you $3,000 to $7,000! But it also requires various initial examinations, X-rays, and other post-hospital care.

It may seem that you, as a pet parent, are unlikely to face such problems since you take care of your pet, but do not forget that they are primarily animals. Cats climb trees or even our shelves at home, dogs sometimes fight with each other and often swallow things that are toxic to them. All this can lead to fractures, poisoning, or simply dangerous injuries that require medical attention.

Chronic Diseases

Sometimes people refuse to treat their diseases or they simply do not have time to go to the doctor when something bothers them. And don’t even ask about their four-legged friends! Pet owners often believe that the disease will cure itself and do not go to the veterinarian. This is very dangerous as some illnesses can simply become chronic.

Even if you take good care of your pet and try to protect it from various threats, chronic ailments can come out of the blue. For example, Maine Coons often suffer from urolithiasis or joint problems, while many Pugs have hip dysplasia. This treatment can cost you between $1,500 and $5,000. Anyway, if you want your furbaby to be healthy and happy, you will have to visit the veterinary hospital.

What Are the Most Common Diseases in Pets?

Even the healthiest cats and dogs can suddenly get sick or hurt themselves. Below, we have compiled a list of the most popular claims for both species.

Dogs

• Gastrointestinal issues. Many dog owners are probably familiar with the situation when their companion eats their personal belongings or other objects. All this can lead to intestinal obstruction, and, consequently, to various more serious problems. Gastrointestinal issues can also be caused by various bacteria, infections, bloating, and other reasons.
• Ear and eye infections. This is another medical condition that can lead to serious consequences such as deafness or blindness. For example, hunting dog breeds with long, drooping ears are prone to ear infections, and border collies are prone to eye diseases.
• Atopy. This disease is associated with various skin issues. The features of this ailment are hair loss, foul odor, itching, and rubbing on the floor. This is not a fatal disease, but it does make your pet feel quite uncomfortable.

Cats

• Urinary tract infections. The most common diseases in cats are issues with the urinary tract. Most often, this disease develops in older cats. However, sometimes, it can also affect young cats, especially if they have previously suffered from ailments associated with the urinary system.
• Gastrointestinal issues. Just like dogs, cats sometimes ingest foreign objects too. This can lead to issues with their intestines. However, the main cause of this disease is obesity which has been a plague among pets lately.
• Diabetes. This is another disease caused by obesity. Younger cats are more likely to recover from this while older cats require regular treatment.

What Do Plans Usually Cover?

Illnesses

If you buy an illness-only or comprehensive plan, it will cover both minor and serious illnesses of your pet such as cancer, urinary tract issues mentioned above, infections, and more. Treatment for illnesses includes not only the treatment itself but also a preliminary examination, various procedures such as X-rays, and more.

Accidents

Accidents include various types of harm to health such as a cut, fracture, ligament rupture, injury, poisoning, and more. As in the previous case, your plan covers not only the treatment but also other procedures that your furry friend needs to get well.

Hereditary and Congenital Conditions

This is especially important for those who have a pedigree pet that is prone to illnesses. Most often, hereditary and congenital diseases develop at a later age, so you never know for sure when your pet will face it.

Prescription Medication

Your veterinarian can prescribe medications for your cat or dog to treat infections, sicknesses, or chronic illnesses. Your company will cover the agreed medication costs to help your pet get better as soon as possible.

Alternative Therapies

In addition to standard disease treatment, there are also alternative ones. They include various chiropractors, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and many others. Companies often provide coverage for alternative therapies as an add-on service that you can purchase for a fee.

Wellness

If your furry friend does not have any ailments, that’s not to say it does not need medical attention. Regular check-ups and vaccinations are necessary to prevent the development of illness. Often, coverage of such services also costs a separate fee.

What Do Plans Usually Not Cover?

Pre-Existing Conditions

Many providers are reluctant to reimburse medical care for pets that had pre-existing conditions before you purchased coverage. However, if there were no disease symptoms for a long time, you have a chance to protect your pet.

Cosmetic Procedures

Grooming, nail removal, washing, and other procedures are not that necessary and therefore not covered by insurance plans.

Is Coverage Worth Its Price?

We have figured out how much you can spend on treating your four-legged friend without insurance and when you and your furry family member might need coverage. Now is the time to decide if you should buy the coverage and if it is worth its cost.

The average estimated cost of dog coverage is just under $600 per year and around $350 for cats. Dog parents pay about $50, and cat parents pay about $30 a month. Most policies offer 80% or 90% reimbursement of all your pet treatment costs. Moreover, if you compare offers from different providers, you can find the most favorable and affordable option for you.

Company service fees depend on the age and breed of your pet as well as where you live and the plan you purchased. The more prone to illness your pet is, the older it is, the higher cost of its coverage. However, even if you pay “a huge amount of money” for your provider's services, you will still be in the black when it comes to treatment costs.

Peace of mind is what insurance for your furry creature can bring to you in addition to cost savings. You will be sure your pet is protected and can always get help in case of illness or injury. You will be sure you do not have to worry about how much the treatment cost. This is another important benefit that you will get if you buy coverage.

Whether you really need pet insurance or not depends only on your and your pet’s personal conditions. How healthy your pet is, its breed and age are important factors that influence your decision. With the ever-increasing medical service costs, coverage can be a real help for some people and save them a lot of money. Love your furry friend and take care of it, and it will make you happy and give sense of purpose.