What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is essentially health insurance for your pet. You pay a monthly fee and then any vet visits or health-related procedure your pet needs is either covered partially or in full by the insurance company. Insurance usually covers things like emergency checkups, vaccines and routine checkups. Some policies even include the death of your pet or if they are lost or stolen.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Like any other insurance policy, the cost of pet insurance can vary depending on the type of coverage you purchase, your pet and their health as well as how much of their health costs you want covered. Most pet insurance policies cost anywhere from $25 to $100 per month (with a wide variety of coverage). Pet insurance seems like a great idea, especially if you’re attached to your furry friend, but is it worth the price?
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Should You Buy Pet Insurance?
In my opinion, pet insurance is a waste of money unless your pet fits the following:
- Brand new pets (puppies and kittens). During the first year of a cat or dog’s life there are a ton of vaccines and regular procedures they’ll need to have done. Purchasing pet insurance for the first year of your puppy or kitten’s life can prove to be beneficial. Many pet insurance programs will cover their vaccines, emergency checkups (for when they eat something they shouldn’t have) and their spay/neuter. This makes pet insurance something to consider if you’ve got a brand new pet.
- Your pet is sickly. Another reason you may consider purchasing pet insurance is if your pet is sick regularly. Many pet owners who have rescued their pet have this issue. Frequent visits to the vet get costly. Having pet insurance can help reduce (or get rid) of that cost.
- Pure bred pets. If you spent a lot of money on your animal or plan to breed them you may consider getting pet insurance. Some dog or cat owners spend a tremendous amount of money on their animal because it is a pure breed. It is best to place insurance on such a large investment.
- Older pets. If your pet is older you may also consider getting pet insurance. Just like humans, pets often get sick and need more medical attention in their old age. Some pet insurances will even cover the cost of the death of your pet (if you have to put them to sleep and cremation).
No matter if you decide to purchase pet insurance or not it is always important to do plenty of insurance before buying any type of coverage. Be sure that you are getting the best deal (and the best coverage) for your money! There are many new pet insurance companies that offer affordable pet insurance deals, so make sure to do your research before making your decision!
Do you have pet insurance? Has it proven to be worth it?
Photo: Healthy Paws
Amanda Blankenship is the Director of Social Media for District Media. In addition to her duties handling everything social media, she frequently writes for a handful of blogs and loves to share her own personal finance story with others. When she isn’t typing away at her desk, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, husband, and dog. During her free time, you’re likely to find her with her nose in a book, hiking, or playing RPG video games.