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 |  | Cats: $15-$18 per month |  | Dogs: $22-$28 per month |
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Pet insurance usually is recommended for pet owners who do not have readily available funds to pay a large veterinary bill, but who would be willing to put a large amount of effort and money into treating their pet's serious illness or injury.
Typical costs: |
- Pet insurance for a cat typically costs between $15 and $18 per month, depending on the age.
- Pet insurance for a dog typically costs and between $22 and $28 per month, depending on age and breed.
- Most companies offer at least two levels of coverage: basic and premium.
Related articles: Owning a Cat, Owning a Dog
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What should be included: |
- Plans usually offer coverage for an array of illnesses and injuries -- usually up to a predetermined per-year and per-condition cap. A few examples of conditions usually covered include diabetes, pancreatitis, cancer, intestinal obstructions and fractures.
- The pet owner almost always pays the veterinarian at the time of service, then files a claim and is reimbursed by the insurance company, usually within 30 days.
Additional costs: |
- In addition to the monthly premium, most pet insurance companies have deductibles of $50 or more and require copays of 10 to 50 percent.
- Most pet insurance companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, so owners must pay all related expenses. Some plans do not cover conditions considered congenital, such as hip dysplasia.
- Some pet insurance companies offer a rider that includes about $200 worth of coverage for routine care, such as for annual exams, teeth cleaning and flea and heartworm medication, for about $8 to $10 extra per month.
Discounts: |
- Some employers now offer pet insurance as an optional benefit. Usually, companies do not share the cost, but instead obtain a discount group rate for employees' pets.
- Many pet insurance companies offer discounts of 5 to 10 percent for insuring multiple pets from the same household.
- Pet owners can obtain a discount of up to 10 percent on pet insurance with one insurer, Pet Plan USA[1] through the Humane Society of the United States.
Shopping for pet insurance: |
- Tip: To find the best value, look at the monthly premium, but also compare the differences in deductibles, copays and caps. Many companies have yearly total caps -- which can be increased by signing up for a premium plan -- and also per-condition caps. Some pay only 80 or 90 percent of veterinary costs before the caps are reached. Read the list of exclusions carefully before signing up for a policy. Sometimes common conditions are excluded.
- Companies that offer pet insurance include: Veterinary Pet Insurance[2] , Pets Best Insurance[3] , Pet Care Insurance[4] and Pet Plan USA[5] .
- Pet insurance also is available through some nonprofit organizations, such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals[6] and the American Kennel Club[7] , which has a choice of four plans and offers a free 60-day trial of limited coverage for dogs newly registered with the AKC.
- Before purchasing pet insurance, ask the company what is the length of the policy term -- the amount of time during which rate, coverage and benefits are guaranteed -- as well as the cancellation policy.
- The company you choose should be licensed in your state so you are not left with unpaid bills if the company folds.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: a user in Reno, NV. | Posted: December 21st, 2013 03:12PM |
| Type of Pet: Rat Terrier | Insurer: Pets Best Ins. |
This ins. paid very well until I reached our Cap. My fault for not reading the fine print. I now have Trupanion Ins. that does not have a Cap and pays 90% of everything covered. I chose $0 deductible but insured can choose their amount. |
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| Posted by: Heather Tommasiello in North Providence, RI. | Posted: April 14th, 2011 12:04PM |
| Type of Pet: Olde English Bulldog | Insurer: ASPCA Pet Insurance |
I have a 5 year old dog that has already had Hip Dysplacia Surgery, Major Back Surgery, a cycst removed and now just starting having seizures. I can't even begin to tell you how much having pet insurance has helped my dog and us. We certainly would have done every procedure without the insurance, but to date we have actually SAVED $12,000. If a procedure is covered, the insurance covers 80%. I also have it for my cat !!!! IT IS WONDERFUL. |
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| Posted by: melissamorgan in Jackson, NJ. | Posted: October 28th, 2010 07:10AM |
| Type of Pet: Dog | Insurer: Pet Assure |
I have a great dane and I tried pet insurance once before and it wasnt that good. I am now enrolled in Pet Assure. Its a discount plan that cost me 99. for the year and every time i bring my pet to the doctor, they give me a 25% discount. and they do that when i am paying my bill so i dont have to fill out claim forms. they also sent me pet locator tags and there are some merchant discounts also. i like knowing what my savings is from the beginning instead of paying a high monthly premium and getting $5. back. |
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External Resources: |
- www.gopetplan.com/
- www.petinsurance.com/
- www.petsbest.com/
- www.petcareinsurance.com/
- www.gopetplan.com/
- www.aspcapetinsurance.com/
- www.akcpethealthcare.com
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