Even dogs have accidents which is why getting pet insurance is a good idea. This is insurance that will pay for emergency medical services for your pooch in case they are injured, become ill, or consume something that they should not.
Why Dog Insurance?
The answer is rather simple. With the cost of veterinary care going up, especially for emergency surgeries, hip replacements, and other complicated procedures, the out of pocket expenses can be considerable. Just like your health insurance helps defray a large amount of cost for your medical issues, so too does dog insurance keep more in your wallet.
Benefits
The reasons why dog insurance have grown in popularity is the financial advantages they provide for dog owners. This is especially true for those who do not want to make a medical decision for their dog based on cost.
Making a life-saving operation or procedure less expensive brings peace of mind for dog owners who otherwise might spend the rest of their lives regretting their decision which was based on their finances. Other advantages include the following.
- Dogs Tend to Live Longer, Healthier Lives
- Reduces Costs of Medical Procedures, Medication, and Treatments
- Greater Confidence in Taking Dog to the Vet
The latter is especially notable since many symptoms of a dog who is ill may be misinterpreted or worse, the owner will hope that it goes away rather than finding out quickly. That time difference may save the life of the dog.
Disadvantages
Just like health insurance for humans, there are disadvantages as well. The one to keep in mind is that there are waiting periods between the time you purchase the insurance and when it goes into effect. So, accident insurance may take up to two days while insurance that covers illnesses may take up to two weeks. So, you’ll need to purchase the insurance when your dog is healthy.
Choosing a Plan: Another issue is selecting which insurance plan is right for your dog. One that covers everything is going to be far more expensive compared to a policy that just covers accidents or injuries. So, you will need to talk to your vet about the probabilities when selecting the right insurance.
Caps on Coverage: This is when certain procedures are only covered up to a specified monetary amount. An example is emergency surgery when an insurance policy only covers the first $1,000. You may still be stuck with a hefty bill.
Reimbursement: Like many insurance policies for humans, you still have to pay many of the expenses out of pocket and then get reimbursed by the insurance company. So, you will need to have the funds available for many procedures or treatments.
As with humans, you may want to choose an accident or emergency plan when your dog is younger. As they age, you may want to switch more towards a plan that covers illness and diseases. Keep in mind that every breed has its own traits about which illnesses are more likely.
If you do the research and talk to your vet, you can find the right type of insurance to cover your dog. This will help you choose a plan that is best suited for their health and your wallet.
