Pet Insurance: Top 10 Benefits of Pet Insurance from a Vet’s Point of View
Many people have health insurance for themselves and maybe wonder about health insurance for their pets. Pet insurance has many great benefits for your furry family member and your peace of mind.
Just like how you lean on a doctor for medical advice, a veterinarian can help you better understand pet insurance’s annual benefits and advise on the best plans. So, what pet insurance do vets recommend?
This article will cover some of the benefits of pet insurance for your pet and some affordable options for pet insurance vets love.
Why You Need Pet Health Insurance
Chances are, any veterinarian you ask will say pet insurance is worth it for a dog (and for most other animals, for that matter).
Most pet health insurance companies will have different plans to meet your needs and budget. Some policies cover wellness as well as accidents and illnesses, and some plans only include accidents or illnesses (but not pre-existing conditions).
Today, many types of pet insurance are available with different coverage limitations. This makes it easier than ever to find a plan that fits your pet’s needs (typically based on their health and age) and your budget. If you don’t know why pet insurance is needed for your pet, talk to your veterinarian to better understand your furry friend’s existing and predicted medical needs.
If you have a dog, regardless of his or her age or medical history, you should invest in pet insurance to help you navigate possible expenses in the future.
What are the Benefits of Pet Insurance?
Many people already have health insurance plans for themselves. When looking at health insurance for your pets, there are many great reasons to have pet health insurance.
These are the most common reasons a vet would tell you why you need pet insurance:
#1 Save money when your pet is sick.
You can use their health insurance plan to save you money when your pet is sick. This is often one of the most obvious benefits of pet insurance and the first thing people think of when investing in a plan.
Depending on what company you have a plan with, there is usually a small deductible that you have to meet. After meeting this deductible, the insurance plan will then pick up a certain percentage of the vet bill, and you will pay the rest (which is often significantly less than what you would pay if you didn’t have pet insurance).
#2 You can focus on your pet’s health.
By having pet insurance, you can focus more on the health of your pet and less on the cost of veterinary care. You will be able to afford a costly surgery for your dog instead of worrying about where you are going to get the money to pay for the procedure.
Any vet will tell you that peace of mind is one of the best benefits of pet insurance!
#3 Increase your options for treatment.
Pet insurance will allow you to be able to choose and afford many different options. You will be able to provide life-saving surgeries or chemotherapy. Without insurance, these will cost you thousands of dollars or may not even be affordable.
You never know what life brings. Your healthy dog could suddenly be injured or diagnosed with an illness, and pet insurance helps ease the financial burden of this surprise.
#4 Expensive treatments are covered.
When your pet is hospitalized, the insurance company will help cover the cost of the vet stay and any testing that is needed. No more worrying about whether you can afford expensive but effective treatment for your furry family member!
It’s stressful enough when your pet is hospitalized. Pet insurance means you don’t have to sacrifice your pet’s treatment due to funds.
#5 Visit any vet of your choice.
Unlike human health insurance, which requires you to see specific doctors, one of the benefits of pet insurance is it gives you the freedom to choose what doctor you want to treat your pet.
You also do not need a referral from a doctor to see a specialist. This is very beneficial for after-hours and holidays, as the specialty hospitals are the only ones open during this time. It also allows you to be picky about who is treating your pet, so you can find a veterinarian who fits Fido’s temperament and veterinary needs.
Like how you can find a doctor you like, so can your pet. Choosing a veterinarian your pet likes can make visits to the vet much less stressful.
#6 Coverage is obtainable for all pets.
Even if your pet is older, you can still get coverage for them at affordable rates. Pet insurance companies do not discriminate against different breeds or your pet’s age. What pet insurance your vet recommends will depend on your dog’s age and medical history.
While you can still find pet insurance for older dogs, different coverage limitations might apply.
#7 Get peace of mind.
By having pet insurance, you are providing yourself with peace of mind that if anything does happen to your pet, you can afford to take care of them. Many pet insurance policies will reimburse about 80% of the cost after you meet the deductibles. One of the benefits of pet insurance isn’t that it’s only great for your wallet, but it can also ease much of the stress that happens when your pet needs veterinary care.
#8 Budget for the cost of pet care.
When you pay for your pet insurance, you are helping spread the cost of pet care out over a few months rather than having to find a large sum of money in an emergency situation. Life is unpredictable, but one of the benefits of pet insurance is it can help you budget for any surprise veterinary expenses while balancing finances in other aspects of your life.
#9 An alternative to using your savings.
When unexpected events happen, you do not have to drain your savings account to pay for your pet’s care. Some people will try to have a savings account designated for their pets but will frequently use that money to pay for unexpected major expenses such as car repair with money meant for pet care.
#10 Choose the plan that is best for you and your pet.
Most pet insurance companies will offer different types of policies. Some of these just cover major medical expenses, and others will cover all vet visits.
Of course, these are just a handful of the benefits of pet insurance. Investing in a pet insurance plan for your dog or cat is truly invaluable, and your veterinarian can help you understand even more specific benefits of pet insurance. You can also always discuss the best pet insurance for your furry friend with your vet.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Just like the health insurance you have for your health needs, pet insurance is important to help meet your pet’s health needs. Protecting your pet with a health insurance plan is not only a good financial idea, but it can help give you peace of mind when it comes to your pet’s overall health.
After all, the benefits of pet insurance are numerous, and getting your pet’s medical bills covered is but one benefit in a long line of reasons to carry insurance for your pet.
That said, there are different types of pet insurance available, and it’s important to get the right one for your pet and your financial considerations to reap the most benefits in the long run. What pet insurance vets recommend also depends on the types of coverage your pet needs.
The first type of pet insurance is known as accident coverage; then there’s illness coverage, and finally, wellness. Depending on your needs, you can sign up for one, two, or all three, though some providers may not offer all types of plans.
Here’s a breakdown of each insurance type, along with the benefits of each specific plan, so you can determine which might be best for you and your furry friend.
Accident Coverage
While an accident is something you can never predict, accident coverage can help you plan ahead with comprehensive coverage when it matters most. That’s because accidents can cost a fortune before an issue is fixed and your pet is allowed to go home again. The good news is that accident coverage is the most popular form of pet insurance, and it covers things like torn ligaments, broken bones, bite wounds, object ingestion, poisoning, eye trauma, and most injuries or emergencies.
The benefits of pet insurance and accident coverage are cost savings if your pet needs emergency care and having the peace of mind that if your pet becomes ill or injured, he or she can get the immediate, expert care needed without worrying about the cost.
Unfortunately, accidents occur all the time. It doesn’t matter if you have an active pup or a couch potato; they could become ill or injured in an instant. Luckily, this type of insurance can help cover the expenses associated with an accident.
Illness Coverage
After accident coverage, illness coverage is an important form of pet insurance that is beneficial to both your pet and your pocketbook. Unlike accident coverage, which addresses mostly physical trauma, illness coverage is for things like skin infections, cancer, arthritis, UTIs, allergies, ear infections, vomiting and diarrhea, obesity, and parasites.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies may not offer illness coverage as your pet ages, which means that it may be important to get your pet covered before some kind of preexisting condition pops up — but the earlier you start, the more you can reduce your monthly cost and save more money.
It’s never too early to begin investing in pet insurance for your furry family member.
Wellness Coverage
The third type of pet insurance coverage is known as wellness coverage. It’s important to note that Wellness Coverage is not an insurance policy but often an optional benefit that covers the routine care items that you’ll have to pay for during the year, such as annual exams, spay/neuter, routine testing, vaccinations, teeth cleanings, and flea, tick and heartworm treatments.
While you could always skip the wellness coverage and pay the exam fee and more out of pocket, why do so if your coverage can help foot the bill? Without coverage, it can be tempting to skip that next checkup or to go without a teeth cleaning or vaccination, but then you’re putting the health and safety of your furry friend at risk.
Why Your Pet Needs Insurance
Most pet owners (and vets) agree that pet insurance is worth it. For starters, the benefits of pet insurance are numerous, and you can get reimbursed for much if not all, of the costs associated with your next vet visit just by having pet insurance. After the visit, you’ll likely see your reimbursement check within a couple of weeks, which can help you pay off that vet bill and get caught up before the finances of it all catch up to you.
As an example, if you saved about $50 a month for the first five years of your pet’s life — an average monthly pet insurance cost — you’d have $3,000 in savings to put towards your pet should they get sick.
But $3,000 won’t go very far since that’ll pay for just a few tests and treatments, which could be easily gobbled up by just one accident or issue. With pet insurance, you’ll save far more over your pet’s lifetime than you could possibly save in the meantime.
A Success Story.
Many people wonder if pet insurance is worth the cost. While you can listen to what pet insurance vets recommend, there’s no better example of the importance of coverage than personal stories.
When Scout, a German shorthair pointer, visited me on a Sunday afternoon after vomiting for 2 days. Her owner was worried that she might have eaten something that she should not have. After taking radiographs, I noticed that something was stuck in her intestines and needed emergency surgery to remove this foreign object.
Scout had eaten a sock, and it was stuck in her intestines. Her owners had pet insurance and only had to pay about $200 to $300 for this emergency surgery and hospital stay. The total for this procedure would have cost them a little over $2,000 out of pocket.
After 2 months, Scout had found another sock despite her owners being very careful about where they left their socks. She also ate this sock, causing Scout to be sick and have another hospital visit. Fortunately, this sock was much smaller, and she was able to pass this sock on her own, but she did have to spend a night at the veterinary hospital. Pet insurance allowed Scout’s family not to have to worry about the cost of care and allowed her to get the best care possible.
This is just one example of many of how pet insurance benefits pet owners and their furry family members in times of need.
Final Thoughts
Pet insurance is an excellent investment for you to make, not just for your pet’s health but also for your finances and peace of mind. Many companies offer a discount if you have multiple pets too.
There are many great benefits of pet insurance for dogs and cats. The main advantage is to allow you to give your pet the best possible decision on your pet’s medical care without having to worry about the cost. Pet insurance is a great way to help you afford to keep your pet happy and healthy over his or her lifetime with quality veterinary care.
To keep your pet healthy, get a quote for your fur babies today or contact your vet about the best coverage options!
Read more about the limits and benefits of pet insurance.