Having a pet means being responsible.
If you want to own a pet, you should be able to take care of him properly. It goes without saying – your pet should be happy and healthy. However, you can’t predict what might happen in the future, which is why having pet insurance is always a wise precaution.
In case your pet endures an accident or gets unexpectedly sick – pet insurance might save you from severe financial difficulties. Most pet owners have realized this, which is why the rate of interest in pet insurance is constantly on the rise.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the major pros and cons of having pet insurance. By the end of it, you will have a precise idea of whether it’s worth it or not.
How Does Pet Insurance Work?
Pet insurance doesn’t differ too much from other insurance policies. It’s simple – if you take your pet to the vet, you will first have to pay the bill and get reimbursed by the insurance provider later. It doesn’t work exactly like healthcare insurance; however, in certain unexpected situations – it can help out a lot.
Another thing is that most pet insurance companies don’t cover conditions that existed before you got your pet insured. With that being said, a good thing would be to get pet insurance right after you get your pet.
Pros and Cons of Having Pet Insurance
Pros
You Can Pick The Veterinarian: Although it’s not always the case, you can visit any licensed veterinarian you want. A big number of pet insurance companies will allow you to choose the vet you want and cover your bills afterwards.
Financial Help: We all know that vet bills can be really expensive, so another good thing about having pet insurance is that it will help you with higher bills. Most pet insurance plans cover from 70% to 90% of the expenses. Of course, it all depends on the pet insurance coverage you have chosen for your pet.
You Will Have Protection: If an accident happens and your pet is hurt, it’s comforting to know that you have pet insurance to cover the expenses. Depending on the accident, you might have to face a huge vet bill. Having pet insurance in place will help you overcome this situation. Keep in mind, though – all pet insurance companies have a waiting period of a few days before the policy starts covering any accidents.
Customized Coverage: This is a big pro. If you have a pet with specific needs – this can be a lifesaver. You can customize the coverage of the pet insurance according to your pet’s needs. If your pet has a condition or if there are already known complications that might happen to a certain breed – you can put that in the insurance as well.
Budget-friendly: The good thing about pet insurance is that you can choose which one you want. You have expensive policies that will cover whatever happens to your fluff and you also have budget-friendly options you can choose from depending on your financial situation.
Cons:
It’s a reimbursement plan: This means that you will have to pay the costs upfront. So, the bad thing is that if it’s an unexpectedly expensive procedure, you will have to pay first. After that, the pet insurer will process your claim.
It doesn’t cover pre-existing health problems: If your pet already has a certain condition, most pet insurance companies won’t cover it. This can be really bad, especially if your pet has a chronic illness.
Routine vet visits are not covered: This means extra expenses. There might be a chance that your insurer will add routine visits to the coverage, but the monthly payment will be more expensive. Pet insurance companies don’t usually include vaccinations or preventative exams in the coverage, which is also an extra expense.
It includes “what if” benefits: Pet insurance plans cover a lot of diseases. Although this can be really helpful if it actually happens, your pet might never need chemotherapy. This is more of a “what if” protection. In case something happens, your pet insurance will have it covered. But, the chances of your pet needing serious condition treatment are not very likely. So, you will be paying for it even if it’s not needed.
Costs outside the pet insurance: There are some conditions or problems your pet might have that won’t be included in the pet insurance. This means you will have to pay for it and the insurance won’t help afterwards. So, in case this happens, it’s good to have some money for your pet aside from the insurance.
Conclusion
Pet insurance does have advantages and disadvantages, but at the end of the day – it’s good to have some help just in case something bad happens to your pet.
Of course, you should pick the best pet insurance plan for your pet according to his needs, especially if your pet has breed-specific health problems. You should plan ahead and see how pet insurance can fit into your budget. If you decide not to proceed with pet insurance, you should consider saving money for emergencies.
All things considered – you can’t go wrong with insuring your pet – even if you opt for the cheapest option available.
