Does Your Dog Need Pet Insurance?
Pet Insurance Basics
Health insurance comes in handy for humans, but do our pets need it too? Like so many things in life, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. However, having a general understanding of how pet insurance works can help you decide if it’s worth exploring further.
How Pet Insurance Works
Pet insurance shares many similarities with human health insurance. There are numerous providers, you can get different “levels” of coverage, and they each come with different limitations and exclusions. For example, some pet insurance providers require that you use vet clinics in their network and others won’t cover pets with pre-existing conditions.
In most cases, pet insurance also comes with charges you may recognize, such as:
- Copays
- Deductibles
- Reimbursement plans
- Out-of-pocket expenses
That means that, depending on your pet insurance coverage, you will still have veterinary expenses related to your pet. However, pet insurance could offset the costs associated with diagnosing, treating, or managing an illness or injury.
Types of Pet Insurance
To make pet insurance more affordable, most providers offer packages so you can create a coverage plan that meets your own needs. For example:
- Accident-only
- Accident & Illness
- Wellness or “preventive care”
Some pet insurance providers also offer plan add-ons to help with additional vet expenses, like heartworm medications and flea and tick treatments.
At the end of the day, getting pet insurance is a personal decision. If you would like to learn more about this topic, the American Veterinary Medical Association has a helpful list of considerations to keep in mind while exploring your coverage options.
