Many pet owners wonder whether to get pet insurance.
If you are a new pet owner, this may be a new consideration for you.
You automatically think about insurance for your life, home and automobile, but for your pet? It has probably never even occurred to most people.
Are you considering whether to get pet insurance?
My advice is say yes to pet insurance.
Put simply, the benefits and peace of mind are worth it.
To begin, pet insurance is a beneficial way to offset your health care costs.
Most experts agree that your pet will cost you more than $20,000 over its lifetime for food, health care and other expenses.
Choosing not to buy health insurance for your pet may save you money in the short-term, but it will almost certainly cost you more in the long-run.
The premiums range from $30-$100 per month, and there are different costs for the various products offering differing levels of coverage.
There are different pet insurance products, although most will cover a portion of treatments that you will almost certainly use, such as an annual check-up and a general wellness benefit.
Also, most plans will offer a payout for a life insurance component for your pet, should something unexpected happen. This clause usually applies if the incident occurs before a certain age.
Peace of Mind
There is also the “peace of mind” that comes with having pet insurance.
If your pet becomes injured or sick, you may be confronted with the additional financial stress of having to pay for the treatment.
Having insurance alleviates some of the headaches involved in this process.
Choosing the Right Pet Insurance for You
There are different providers of pet health care. I recommend you look at the main providers and compare their product offerings.
You can find those companies simply by searching for “pet health insurance” on the Internet, or asking our office for the names of the main companies we deal with.
To help make your decision:
- Compare pet insurance products from different providers
- Speak to people at the dog park or in your neighbourhood about their experiences
- Know your breed and its overall health trends
Understand Your Pet’s Health Risks
We love our dogs, but different breeds have different health concerns, and each breed brings it own health complications.
There is significant information available on the Internet, although I would encourage you to consult reputable sources and consider more than one opinion.
Here at the Centre Street Animal Hospital, we have significant experience with every breed of pets, and we would be glad to provide you with our insights on what you may expect over the lifetime with your animal.