Your dog is your treasured friend and most owners would not be able to live with the fact that their baby had to be put down because they could not afford its vet bills. At some point or the other, your dog is going to get old. Who knows, s/he may even contract a disease. Suppose your dog were to get knocked down? What if you had to leave town and could not afford to board your pet at the dog boarding? You already know how expensive your pet’s medicines and vaccines can be. Prescription medicines are not going to be any cheaper. So today, we will address the all-important yet oft overlooked question ‘Is dog health insurance worth it?’
Is dog health insurance worth it?
Dog health or dog life insurance is like a gamble. Pet owners have no way of predicting whether the amount they spend in premium charges will be more or less in dollar amounts than the benefits they receive with their policy. That being said; if your pet becomes sick during the policy period, you will certainly benefit. On the other hand, if you keep paying for the period your pet remains healthy, then you are bound to lose money overall.
So we can conclude that, as with human insurance, pet Insurance of any kind is like a safety net. It will help you avoid the predicament in which your pet suddenly needs life saving medicines/treatment which you cannot afford or which might affect your family finances. If a pet health insurance policy helps you avoid this dilemma from becoming a reality, then it may be well worth buying insurance.
There are many plans-do your homework!
Before you buy any pet insurance, you must read dog health insurance reviews. These days, you can buy dog insurance for less than $20 per month. However, not all plans cover every expense-so you must choose wisely. You can also buy insurance based on common health problems in the dog breed you have. Any insurance will certainly take the pinch off vet bills and definitely help a lot for routine checkups, spaying, neutering and other general dog health issues. Many pet insurance companies also cover dog boarding facilities.
Let us now discuss some of the top pet health insurance companies based on reviews.
Top pet health insurance companies
Nationwide pet insurance
Many pet owners are satisfied with this pet health insurance company, although it has recently had a drop in ratings. Depending on your plan, you can get coverage for vaccines, regular and sickness checkups and even spaying/neutering surgery. The claim settlement process is a bit long-they ask to see all of your pet’s records. Also, you need to pay a deductible but most owners report that they get a significant chunk of money back with this pet health insurance.
PetSmart
This is another trusted dog health insurance brand. They have different plans which cover different things. The Wellness plan covers routine care exams, vaccinations etc. You need to pay a monthly amount but not a deductible. The plan also pays you a specific amount per service. Benefits of PetSmart dog insurance include hefty discounts, customizable wellness plans and budget friendly routine care. Downside of this pet insurance is that it can end up being costly for advanced care. You also need to wait for renewal in order to change or upgrade to a new plan. Many basic services like spaying/neutering or parasite control are not covered in basic plans.
HealthyPaws pet insurance
More than 300 satisfied pet owners have given this company a 4+ star rating. The claims are dealt with compassion. Most plans are affordable and won’t eat up in your monthly budget. Customer service of the company is praise worthy. Most pet owners have got back 1000s of dollars back in vet bills.
Other top pet health insurance sites
- Pets Best
- Pet Care Insurance
- Pets Health Plan
- AKC Pet healthcare
- Global Pet Insurance
- Go Pet Plan USA
- United Pet Care
CareCredit
This works like a credit card and like with your regular credit card, it extends credit to you for vet bills based on your financial standing. It can cover emergencies as well as regular checkups. Not all veterinary practices participate in these programs so make sure your vet is covered first before you sign up.
Pet Savings Accounts
You can build a nest egg over the years and put aside a small amount in a dedicated bank account for your pet. This will help you cover unexpected bills. An amount as less as a dollar per day can help you save up to 2000 USD in a couple of years with some interest from the bank.
Conclusion
Nobody wants to think of their beloved dog getting sick but the reality is that your pet is going to need medical help at some point. Now is the time to think about it. Just like parents set aside money for their newborn; you must think about settings aside money for your dog. Pet health insurance can also help you provide the care your dog needs at the right time.
