So, is pet insurance worth it, and how much does it cost? These questions will depend on the pet, the breed, and the coverage sought. For example, some pets may require more medical attention than others. Dogs usually rack up more medical bills than cats over their lifetimes. But overall, since it is unpredictable when your pet may have an accident or an unexpected health issue, it is wise to invest in pet insurance to avoid paying more out-of-pocket costs than necessary. It helps to tally the expenses pets cost their owners to understand pet insurance's valuableness. With the cost of food, grooming, and routine veterinary care, the cost of maintaining a pet can be over 10,000 dollars per year. In addition to the yearly expenses, a health emergency or procedure could cost much more.
Now, even though your pet will likely need routine health visits at the vet, these will not be what you need to worry about as they will range from 50 to 250 dollars per visit. What you will need to worry about, however, is your pet having an accident or emergency. About 1 in 3 pets will need emergency care within a given year. If your pet gets into an accident and sustains a few fractured limbs, that can easily cost up to 10,000 dollars. Since most Americans have less than 1,000 dollars in their savings for emergencies, pet medical bills will likely be a financial burden. Pet insurance is the best option to avoid financial stress since it would reduce costs. After deciding to invest in health insurance, it is helpful to consider the types of insurance offered.
Pet owners will have to decide which plan to adopt. Specifically, accident-only plans cover accidents but not illnesses or regular visits. Accident/illness plans cover both accidents and illnesses. Lastly, an accident/illness plus regular visits plan will cover emergency care, regular visits, and sudden illnesses. The plans differ in cost, but the accident/illness plan with regular visits would cost the most. A pet owner should consider if their breed has susceptibility to illness or injury. German Shepherds have a much higher likelihood of developing hip dysplasia, so their owners may decide that it is appropriate to invest in a more inclusive plan. Although, the price of insurance will largely depend on many factors, including the pet's age and location.
Peace of mind is the most valuable benefit that pet insurance provides. Pet owners want to make sure that their furry friends are safe and healthy, so having pet insurance can give pet owners peace in knowing that their pets will receive the medical care they need. When adopting a furry friend, one may not consider medical expenses, but it is better to consider them sooner rather than later. The alternative to insurance, in many circumstances, is euthanization since many pet owners cannot afford to foot the bill for an emergency visit or accident. Such heartbreaking consequences are easily avoidable when owners invest in pet insurance.