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You make sure that your family is covered when it comes to health insurance. What about your four-legged family members? Most Americans who have pets say that their fluffy friends are truly members of the family, but only a tiny percentage purchase insurance for their pets. If you have a beloved cat or dog, read on for three reasons that pet insurance is absolutely essential to their well-being (and to your bank account!).
Health Emergencies Can Come on Suddenly
Imagine coming home and finding your pet is injured or very ill. Even young, healthy animals can get very sick very quickly, and injuries don’t discriminate. Your dog could get into a bag of chocolates that someone accidentally left in a low cabinet. Your cat could slip outdoors undetected and get bitten by another animal. Either way, you need veterinary care pronto.
If you don’t have pet insurance, you might have no choice but to try to remedy the problem on your own. After all, going to the vet can cost a lot of money, and if you have a tight budget, an unplanned trip can be out of reach.
Emergency Veterinary Services Are Very Expensive
You might be surprised to know that most people who visit an emergency veterinarian end up paying between $250 and $500 for the visit. This does not include any ongoing care for conditions diagnosed and treated at that visit. Depending on your pet’s condition, the bill could even be $1,000 or more!
Pet insurance allows you to be reimbursed for a percentage of that fee. For example, Healthy Paws reimburses many types of treatment at 80 percent. This means that if you have to pay out $500 for an emergency vet visit, you’ll get a check back for $400, less any deductible. PetPlan offers plans with covered percentages ranging from 70 to 90 percent of treatments.
Pet Insurance Can Cover Routine Visits, Too
Some pet insurance plans, including Embrace, cover routine visits and procedures, like vaccinations and blood work. It’s important to have your pet examined by a veterinarian regularly; they often need yearly booster shots and dogs, in particular, need annual heartworm tests and preventative treatment. The costs can add up: The average veterinary well visit is $55, a heartworm test is about $50, and each booster shot can cost about $20.
Rather than put off necessary treatment for your pets, consider spending a small amount each month on pet insurance that will cover routine treatment, treatment for injuries and illnesses, and emergency vet visits. Your pet’s health and your financial well-being depend on it!
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