Emergency animal care often means whipping out the credit card. Times like these make one wonder if pet insurance is worth the investment.
All this got us thinking about pet insurance and, if it’s worth the monthly cost.
We all want what’s best for our animals, and sometimes that means a vet bill takes the place of a upscale purchase on your monthly credit car statement.
Pet care is expensive. Is pet insurance the answer?
Our Staffordshire Terrier started limping in recent weeks. We took him to the vet for X-rays when rest and decreased activity didn’t improve his gait. Their diagnosis: A partial tear in his left cruciate ligament.
This is actually a pretty common injury for dogs. Fortunately, this cruciate ligament only has a partial tear and it’s not certain that he’ll need surgery.
All this got us thinking about pet insurance and, if it’s worth the monthly cost.
After all, more options for pet insurance exist than ever before, so the market offers more opportunities. On the other hand, pet insurance is still relatively niche, so finding the right plan can be problematic.
The strongest case for pet insurance seems to be customization. Customers can have any number of deductible amounts and coinsurance. And policies range from basic, accident-only insurance to comprehensive coverage that can include everything from injuries to dental care.
Accessibility can be limited. Older dogs can be harder to cover and certain breeds can be disqualified from receiving certain treatments. So read the policies closely.
We’ve put down some of the pros and cons we can think of for pet insurance, courtesy of PetCareRx, Inc.
Help us round out the list:
Pet Insurance Pros Pet Insurance Cons
*Plans can be relatively inexpensive *Hard to get coverage for older pets
*Can customize coverage *Possibly better off saving for vet care
*Can pay according to risk *Coverage exclusions can apply