Having a pet at home is fun and exciting, but you should also be responsible. You should take proper care of it and train it to behave well in public.
There is so much to consider when caring for a pet that it could soon add to your expenses.
Trips to the vet are also costly, so it is advisable to have pet insurance coverage for your pet dog or cat.
In this post, you’ll learn about pet insurance and how to find affordable pet insurance.
What Is Pet Insurance, And Why Do You Need It?
Pet insurance is an insurance policy that a pet owner buys. Its goal is to help lessen the overall costs of taking care of a pet, especially in terms of veterinary expenses.
The coverage concept is very similar to people’s health insurance policies. Pet insurances generally cover a part of or the total costs of expensive veterinary examinations and procedures.
The procedures are similar to life and health insurance policies that pet owners are already familiar with. However, you must compare several pet insurance policies before committing to one.
Why Should You Compare Pet Insurance?
A visit to the vet could be expensive, but so is pet insurance. That is why you need to consider and company several pet insurance coverages before choosing the suitable one for your pet.
Switching pet insurance is not the same as doing so for home or car insurance. It will not save you money but will cost you more because your pet will be much older and less healthy than when you bought the previous insurance policy.
That is one of the main reasons you must compare pet insurance and choose one wisely. You must find the right pet insurance policy at an affordable price.
How To Find Affordable Pet Insurance?
Finding an affordable pet insurance policy is crucial to stick to it in the long run. You must check for insurance deals and compare various deals via insurance company websites and the like.
You must have some knowledge of this subject matter to be able to choose the right insurance policy for your pet.
How To Compare Pet Insurance Quotes?
You can compare pet insurance policy quotes on price comparison websites. These sites will give you an idea of the costs of different types of insurance policies.
Once you visit the insurance company’s website, you must check if the pet insurance policy details match your expectations.
Another thing to note is if the insurance company has the correct details about you and your pet so that the insurance quote is accurate.
What Do You Need To Get A Pet Insurance Quote?
You need the below details to get an insurance quote for your pet.
- Its age
- Its breed
- Its size
- Its medical history and current health condition
- Its behavioral history
- For how much you bought it if bought instead of adopted
Your pet’s breed is vital when choosing the correct type of insurance. Some breeds are more prone to specific injuries, making them more expensive to insure.
Therefore, learn about the needs of your pet’s particular breed, as it will help you find a cheaper premium.
For example, dachshunds can be prone to back issues and labrador retrievers to cruciate ligament issues. Treatment costs for these issues are very high and can set you back by thousands of dollars.
Cats are relatively healthier than dogs, so that you can consider a lower level of cover. However, cats can be prone to certain chronic conditions like hyperthyroidism, especially later in their lives.
You must also speak to your vet about your pet’s health condition and hereditary issues. They will be able to estimate how much insurance you should get for your furry friend.
Use Cashback Sites To Get Cheaper Insurance
Another type of comparison website is the cashback site. As the name denotes, these sites pay pet owners a cash reward when they buy products and services from their websites. The services rewarded included insurance as well.
These websites are worth visiting while you shop for discounts, deals, and offers. However, they may not necessarily offer you the best deals, even with the cashback reward. Therefore, you need to go through these sites and analyze them well.
For example, a $1000 insurance policy with $200 cashback is far from a bargain if you can get the same coverage from another insurance policy for $700.
What Type Of Pet Insurance Do You Need?
Here are the three primary types of pet insurance.
Lifetime Cover Pet Insurance
Lifetime cover pet insurance is the most comprehensive and popular type of pet insurance available.
It pays out indefinitely for medical treatment for your pet’s entire life, with annual limitations.
Non-Lifetime Cover Pet Insurance
Non-lifetime cover pet insurance is a less comprehensive form of pet insurance. In this policy, cover for conditions can ‘run out’ within the pet’s lifetime.
Non-lifetime policies exclude health conditions after a cash limit has been depleted or the time limit has been exceeded.
Accident-Only Pet Insurance
Accident-only pet insurance is the cheapest type of insurance that you are able to get for your pet. It doesn’t cover any illnesses or health conditions.
It will only pay a fixed amount for any treatment due to accidents and injuries.
How Much Insurance Cover Do You Need?
The average pet insurance claim in 2021 was $1050, a significant rise compared to the average paid in 2020, which was $1012. It is believed to have risen due to the increasing cost of treatments.
Therefore, you may need to make several claims, which are becoming common today. To avoid this type of situation, follow these steps:
- Look for an insurance policy that pays for both illnesses and injuries
- Stay away from insurance policies from which you can claim less than $2478 per year
Keep in mind that these are minimum recommendations. The pet owner will need to bear Any additional treatment cost beyond the cover amount.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
The opportunity to claim greatly depends on the pet owner. You are left with no alternative if you are unconvinced about the amount your pet insurance covers.
You can self-insure by saving an amount dedicated to paying vet bills when required. The good thing about this method is that you have the money for any emergency, and it can also earn interest. Its total value may also vary depending on factors like inflation.
However, this fund needs a significant amount, such as thousands of dollars. Therefore, you need to start saving early.
Cheap Pet Insurance For Multiple Pets
Some insurance policies provide concessions when you insure more than one pet. Find out if you can get a discount by insuring all your pets with a single insurance provider. Several pet insurers offer discounts to insure multiple pets, but not all do.
A multi-pet policy will cut your costs more, so you need to find out if your insurance provider does so.
Cheap Pet Insurance For Distinct Pets
Unique pets may be given special attention regarding insurance coverage due to their rarity among pets.
Dogs and cats are among the most popular pets in almost every household. It’s not often that you find spiders, snakes, and lizards kept as pets.
There are also more exotic types of pets, such as rabbits, horses, and birds, that may not be covered under traditional insurance policies.
Speak to different pet insurance specialists to see if your pet can be covered traditionally, or reach out for further help.
More Ways To Get Cheap Pet Insurance
Here are a few ways to get cheap pet insurance.
- Pay annually.
- Get your pet insured when it is young and healthy.
- Microchip your pet and use a GPS tracking device for dogs.
- Ensure your pet is up-to-date on its vaccinations.
- Haggle on renewal.
Pet Insurances
Here are a few of the best pet insurances available.
- Figo Pet Insurance
- Trupanion
- Embrace Pet Insurance
- Nationwide
- Healthy Paws
- Petplan
- MetLife Pet Insurance
- Pets Best Insurance
Final Thoughts
Getting your pet insured is a wise decision and one that is essential to consider. It will help you cut down on all the expensive vet bills you may have to cover during your pet’s lifetime.
Depending on the type of pet you have and its breed, the insurance coverage must be decided. It’s best to speak to your vet about any underlying health condition your pet may have or is prone to.
There are different types of pet insurance to choose from, including lifetime cover, non-lifetime cover, and accident-only pet insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Different Types Of Pet Insurance?
The types of pet insurance are lifetime cover pet insurance, non-lifetime cover pet insurance, and accident-only pet insurance.
Which Level Of Pet Insurance Is Best?
A lifetime cover pet insurance is best for pets as it will have limits that renew every year. Renewing limits will protect you from recurring and long-term health problems during your pet’s lifetime.
What Dog Breeds Have The Cheapest Health Insurance?
Dog breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Australian Shepherds, and English Springer Spaniels have the cheapest health insurance.