Pet insurance is abolished nationwide in some states
Nationwide says inflation and pet veterinary care are among the reasons for eliminating pet insurance.
Fox – 35 Orlando
When you decide to become a pet owner, there are many factors that come into play, not just your love for puppies.
What kind of food is best for a new pet? Crate or no crate? Do you have time to do the training yourself? Or should you consider outsourcing the task?
One of the most important decisions you will make will protect your new pet’s health now and hopefully for years to come.
The topic of pet insurance was one of the early conversations Ashley Beard, a veterinarian and co-owner of Sage Veterinary Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, had with pet owners.
“Every time a new puppy walks through our doors, we encourage (their owners) to get pet insurance,” she says, adding that it’s especially important for unexpected emergencies and illnesses that can be very costly.
Surgical interventions for pets can easily cost $6,000 to $8,000, she says, and that’s before you factor in aftercare.
Monica Suarez, a veterinarian in Tampa, Florida, says pet insurance can give pet owners peace of mind.
“For example, in an emergency situation, we find that we can make clearer decisions about pet care when our clients are not facing the possibility of incurring large amounts of debt,” she says.
Pet policies vary
Most pet insurance plans cover both dogs and cats, and there are hundreds of policies that offer specific options for each. Typically, pet owners pay for veterinarian services upfront and are later reimbursed according to the plan. The process of finding the right coverage is similar to buying your own health insurance, Beard said, with care coverage including elements from accidents and illnesses to routine check-ups.
She points to the website Pawlicy.com as a good place to “cross-compare” different levels of coverage and deductibles that apply to different conditions.
She warns that pre-existing conditions can come into play when insuring your pet, which is why it’s best to insure your pet while they’re still young and healthy.
“For example, it can be difficult to get insurance for a senior pet diagnosed with a heart murmur,” Beard says.
Suarez advises keeping in mind that certain breeds, such as French bulldogs and some large breeds such as mastiffs and Great Danes, are more likely to suffer from chronic and expensive medical conditions that require veterinary treatment.
And while most veterinarians accept uninsured pets, a lack of coverage can limit the speed with which they can diagnose or intervene on an animal’s behalf if financial considerations make treatment difficult, Beard said.
Pet insurance takes some of the decision-making pressure off pet owners, but it can be difficult to price, especially when time is of the essence.
“In the case of an acute, life-threatening situation, you literally have to make the decision, ‘Can I afford to pay the rent or do I have to euthanize my pet?’ It’s nice to be able to say, ‘Okay, I’m going to put this on my credit card and my insurance will reimburse me,'” Beard says.
