Pet Insurance: Yes or No?

For the past several years, the newest trend in pet ownership has been pet insurance. Do your pets need to have pet insurance? Read the following information and decide for yourself.

What Is Pet Insurance?

One bone of contention these days is insurance. Health insurance is important so that people can get the medical services that they need. What about your pets? Do they need the same consideration?

Pet insurance is medical plans to cut down on the cost of caring for your pet. Some services at the veterinarian can cost thousands. Think of your cat accidently swallowing tinsel from the Christmas tree or your dog getting cataracts. How much will you have to pay to have it handled?

What You Should Know about Pet Insurance

Before you make your decision, here are a few facts about the concept of pet insurance.

* All policies are not the same – There are a few reputable companies out there that sell pet insurance. But, all are not the same. Read the fine print. Certain companies don’t cover as much as you would think, depending on your pet’s age and their breed. You could be paying premiums for pet insurance and still paying through the nose for services you need because they are not covered by the policy.

* Compute the cost – Over the lifetime of your pet, you could spend thousands of dollars just for the policy. This may be proactive if you have a breed of pet that is prone to serious illness. But, you could also opt for a healthier breed to own instead.

* Check with your vet – Before buying a pet insurance policy, find out if your vet accepts that particular insurance. If they don’t, you might have to find a new policy or a new vet.

* Is your pet insurable? – Some companies might not insure certain pets. Check to be sure that your pet can even be insured in the first place.

Other Alternatives

If you are not in the market for buying insurance, there are other steps you can take to keep your pet from needing expensive care.

* Save for it – Put aside money in a fund to take care of unforeseen pet expenses. Put aside a little each month and only use it for pet needs.

* Keep your pet healthy – Take measures to protect your pet. Buy nutritious food without preservatives. Consider opting for an indoor pet to avoid contact with fleas, mites, potentially dangerous wild animals and other diseases. Also, get regular check-ups at the vet. Regular exercise also keeps pets from getting fat and unhealthy.

* Buy discount meds – Instead of purchasing at a vet office, try discount pet med sites for all your pet needs.

Pet insurance: should you or shouldn’t you? Weigh your pet’s needs, your financial picture and alternative methods before deciding to buy.