Is Pet Insurance the Right Choice For You

Is Pet Insurance the Right Choice For You

Is pet insurance necessary? Consider this scenario: Your cherished companion is in anguish and you look into their eyes filled with trust that you will make everything better. What is the correct decision? You are now faced with the agonizing choice of facing huge veterinary bills you can't afford or putting your pet to sleep. This is a pet owner's worst nightmare.

Pet insurance is easily available in the United States and the price and range of coverage is reasonable. Many treatments that were once confined just to humans are now commonly available to pets. This is good news as these advances in veterinary medicine mean that pets can live longer, more rewarding lives. The bad news is these treatments can be expensive and pet owners need to be prepared for the expense.

Veterinarians are now able to do hip replacement surgery, kidney transplants or surgery for cancer. "Dogs are three times more likely than people to contract cancer and 45 percent of dogs die from it" according to Alejandra Soto, spokeswoman for the non-profit Insurance Information Institute in New York.

Pet owners may not be aware of the costly amounts associated with veterinary care until disaster strikes and their pet is stricken with a sudden illness or suffers an injury. Less than one percent of America's pet owners have enrolled their dog, cat, bird, rabbit, reptile or other exotic pet in a plan to cover catastrophic costs let alone basic well care checks.

Medical coverage for pets is similar to human medical insurance. Many companies have a range of policy plans and levels of coverage; the different levels of coverage will depend on how much you pay (premium). Older animals may not be accepted for coverage, pre-existing conditions and breed-related problems may not be covered by the insurance plan. Be sure to examine every pet insurance policy closely to make sure that you understand what you are buying and call the pet insurance company with questions.