Dog Insurance - Is It Worth It

Dog Insurance - Is It Worth It

Cancer, diabetes, arthritis, congenital heart disease; these all sound like diagnoses for a person, but they are also health conditions found in dogs. While they all can be treatable under the right circumstances, the treatments can be expensive for the pet owner.

When people bring a puppy home, they don't think about the future health issues that may arise. They can be shocked when their dog is diagnosed with a serious illness and may wonder how they can afford to care for their dog.

One of the greatest advancements in pet care is dog insurance. It works very similar to health insurance for people; you pay a monthly or annual premium for coverage. You can get quotes from multiple companies to compare coverage and prices.

Insurance companies base the rates on the age and breed of the dog along with its location. The insurance pays a portion of the health care costs, and you cover the rest. There are deductibles from fifty to a thousand dollars which reflects in the differences in rates.

What to Look for in Pet Insurance.

When you start shopping for pet insurance, you have to consider your budget and your pet's health. Coverage varies among companies and their rates reflect this fact. If your pet is healthy and young, the rates will be cheaper. Older dogs or ones with current health problems can still be insured with some companies but at a higher cost.

You will also want to pay attention to the conditions and exclusions of a policy before you enroll. Based on the breed of your dog, certain conditions may not be covered. You may be required to get your pet spayed or neutered for full coverage. Some insurance providers only cover selected accidents while others will pay 80 to 90% of most health diagnoses and treatments. Your pet may be covered for routine visits with some companies but not with others.

Another thing to consider is if there is a waiting period prior to coverage. Most providers insure your pet the day following enrollment, but some have waiting periods up to fourteen days. While this probably will not be a big concern, it will be helpful to know if you plan to schedule your pet for a veterinarian visit.

Why You Should Get Pet Insurance.

Pet insurance will cover your dog throughout its entire life, and rates will not increase based on its age or health. You can save money for the deductible, knowing that the insurance will pay for the rest of the cost for treatments. It will remove much of the worry of the possibility of illness or an accident using up your life savings.

Your pet is an irreplaceable part of your family, and you want to provide the best care for them that you can. Some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to health issues than others, but all of them will have an increased risk as they age. Dog insurance allows you to focus on selecting the best treatment plan for any health conditions that may arise without worrying about the cost.