When it comes to taking care of our four-pawed children, we want to provide them with every opportunity to live a long, healthy and happy life. One way that we can achieve this is to cover our feline friends by purchasing a pet insurance policy. Even during uncertain economic times, pet insurance is an affordable way to provide health care security for our cats as well as our own pocketbooks. Veterinary care costs continue to rise and many families find it difficult to set aside a large sum for those rainy days. There are many different options to consider – I bet that you will find one that will meet your family’s needs.
What is pet insurance? Is it right for me?
Pet insurance is a type of health insurance that helps cover the cost of veterinary care in the event that your cat becomes ill, has an accident or is stolen. There are many insurance companies that offer a myriad of available policies, from premier to accident-only cover. Insurance premium costs vary greatly and can fit any budget. For example, basic cat coverage plans in the US start at around $11 per month and as little as £8 per month in the UK.
Keep in mind that a little research needs to be done regarding relative costs for “worst case scenario” maximum cover amount, as veterinary and insurance premium costs vary depending on where you live.
What do pet insurance policies cover?
Across the board insurance policies will cover care including hospitalization, treatment, medications, diagnostics, surgical procedures, and physiotherapy. The specifics of what may or may not be covered will be in the fine print of the policy. Coverage for preventative care such as vaccinations and spaying or neutering is offered by many insurance companies in the United States as well as for illness. If you are interested in providing illness-only coverage for your cat, purchasing a “stream-lined” policy that covers the 50 most common cat illnesses is a great option. Typically, pregnancy or pre-existing conditions will not be covered in any policy.
Pet insurance companies vary greatly when it comes to how much they will pay towards the total treatment cost, but the majority will cover most costs in most circumstances. It is extremely important for you to do thorough research before buying a policy and ask the company to provide testimonials from other clients.
Pre-existing Conditions, Illness and Breed-Specific Problems
If you are considering a pet insurance policy for your cat or household of cats, it is important to insure them while they are relatively young and healthy. Most companies will not insure cats with pre-existing conditions or those advanced in age. Policy costs will usually increase a little every year based on the cat’s age and for other reasons that are unrelated to your cat’s health status. Most people find it possible to insure their cat for life for relatively little cost.
Purebred cats are more likely to have health problems than mixed breed cats and the premium cost will generally reflect this. Treatment coverage for breed-related health problems is often excluded in most policies. When submitting a quote and policy query, be sure to read the fine print very carefully regarding breed-specific illnesses before purchasing a policy. For example, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (abnormal enlargement of the heart wall) is a common genetic problem in the Maine Coon breed and treatment for this condition is often not covered by insurance. However, common dental problems like periodontal disease or stomatitis in Siamese cats may not be listed as a breed-specific problem, so dental coverage should be strongly considered if you own this breed.
General Advantages of Pet Health Coverage:
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Great Value. Our furry companions are living longer than ever but this means that they are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions. The cost of the premium will often cost less than if you had to pay out-of-pocket for a long-term treatment or daily medication.
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Peace of Mind: Having the right policy can greatly reduce your stress if your cat becomes ill. This peace of mind will help you focus more on helping him or her recover instead of on the finances.
- Unfortunately, sometimes the decision not to treat a pet’s illness is based on the financial situation and not on the prognosis. Insurance can change how decisions are made in a life-or-death situation, giving your beloved a chance to live, recover and thrive.
- Most insurance companies will not limit how much you can spend on specific treatments or specify which treatment or diagnostic is covered for an illness.
- You won’t have to worry about finding a veterinarian that accepts your insurance, as many companies will either reimburse you for each claim or will send payment directly to the veterinarian.
General Disadvantages:
- Will that rainy day ever come? Insurance is always a gamble, be it a pet, boat, car or home policy. You may pay the premiums for years and never need to use it.
- Too good to be true bargains: you get what you pay for! Be sure to read the fine print on your chosen policy and use a reputable company that has been in business for many years.
In a world of uncertainty and ever increasing costs, insuring your beloved kitty has more benefits than downfalls. If having insurance eliminates a little bit of stress from your ever busy life as a bonus, it is ever the more worthwhile.
I encourage you to take a closer look at my suggested pet insurance policies below. These are some of the top rated plans in the US and I recommend them to everyone who visits my practice.
Visit
Healthy Paws Insurance
Visit
Embrace Pet Insurance
Thanks for reading, I hope you find this article helpful,
Deborah Barber Shores
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
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