pet health insuranceYour pets are family, no doubt about that! And as such, there’s nothing you wouldn’t do to keep them happy, safe and healthy.

Your pet is more than that, though; s/he is an investment, too, in terms of the time, love and yes, even the money you’ve put into choosing, training and assimilating her into your heart and home.

What is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is a type of coverage that helps pet owners manage the costs associated with veterinary care for their pets. Similar to health insurance for humans, pet insurance provides financial protection in case of unexpected illnesses, accidents, or injuries that may require veterinary attention.

When Pet Insurance Has a Life-Saving Role

When your pet gets ill, the financial cost of treatment often determines how well you can afford to care for her, and none of us wants to assign monetary values to our pets’ lives.

That’s where pet health insurance plays such a vital role. Like it or not, often the only way pet parents can provide the care pets need at a price they can afford is to insure them.

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Some of the times when pet insurance can count in your favor are:

  • Accidents: These happen in the best of homes, and no matter how careful you are even a housebound kitty can get into a scrape and break a leg. The cost of treatment for this condition can range from $200 up to $1200, depending on whether surgery or anesthetic is required.
  • Chronic conditions: Arthritis and hip dysplasia are unfortunate facts of life for some breeds, and just keeping the pain under control in a senior pet with arthritis can run at a cost of around $400 a month. When it comes down to paying for the medication or not, having pet health insurance that covers 90% of the costs with no limit can literally mean the difference between life and death.
  • Acute illnesses: A so-called “dietary indiscretion” might not cost much if all your dog does is demolish a bag of chocolate. The resulting fall-out of vomiting, dehydration and possibly even bloody diarrhea can certainly have you rushing her to the hospital for treatment, though. And if she ate the bag as well as the contents and develops a gastrointestinal obstruction, a perforated intestine and/or peritonitis, you could be looking at several thousand dollars in surgery costs, intensive care during recovery and medication afterwards.

Any of these situations can happen all too easily, and unless you have a bank account with $10,000 or more set aside for unexpected pet costs, it’s usually a struggle to find the money for the care your pet needs.

How Much is Pet Insurance?

But what about the cost of insuring your pet, you ask? And what happens if I have a young, healthy pet who never gets ill?

We believe you should view this in the same light as you do your pet’s annual checkups. Your dog or cat needs a visit to the veterinarian every now and again, just to make sure everything is in working order and there aren’t any hidden horrors in her blood or parasites in her belly.

In the same way you view the cost of those visits and vaccinations as a necessary measure to keep her healthy, you can view the cost of pet health insurance as a hedge against the high cost of having to choose between paying for her healthcare or letting her suffer—or worse, having to let her go.

The price of pet insurance, according to CostHelper.com, ranges between $15 and $18 a month for cats and $22 to $28 a month for dogs. Those premiums can differ, though, depending on the size and age of your pet and the area you live in. With pet insurance companies such as Trupanion, the monthly premium depends on the plan and the deductible you choose.

Don’t Take the Risk

Don’t take the risk. Protect your investment in your pet from an emotional as well as a financial viewpoint, with a free 30-day trial from Trupanion starting today. This needs to be activated during a pet wellness exam, so call us to schedule an appointment for you and your pet.