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If you're a little overwhelmed with all the insurance options—not to mention opinions from fellow dog parents, vets, and trainers—we understand. (I've been there.) Here are a few things to think about as you decide.
Remember the only person who can make the right decision about whether or not to get pet insurance for your dog is you. You know your lifestyle, financial situation, veterinary clinic, and risk tolerance better than anyone else!
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is growing in popularity (though as of 2023, the majority of pet parents still don't have health coverage for their companions). Generally, pet insurance helps pay for unexpected expenses rather than routine costs. But this can vary from plan to plan! Insurance options include:
- Comprehensive accident and illness coverage (usually the most expensive monthly premium)
- Accident-only coverage
- Basic wellness care
Most pet insurance plans:
- Have premiums that increase as your dog ages, meaning you'll pay more each month later in their life (when they're more prone to injury and illness)
- Do not cover preexisting conditions your dog was diagnosed with before enrolling them
- Might stop covering conditions if you lapse your coverage, considering them to be preexisting even if they were previously reimbursed
- Have customer support to help you make the right decision
- Reimburse you after veterinary treatment, so you might have to wait a few weeks to get your money (though some will pay your vet directly)
Some dog parents love having pet insurance. The peace of mind is well worth the monthly expense! Others choose not to insure their pups. They opt to self-fund expenses or rely on an emergency fund.
Is your dog at a high risk of injury or illness?
Pet insurance is most helpful for dog parents who find themselves with an unexpectedly sick or injured dog. Vet bills can quickly reach thousands of dollars—especially if your pet is struck by a vehicle, ingests something that causes an intestinal blockage, or suffers from a chronic condition. If your dog never needs more than routine care, though, chances are you'll pay more in monthly premiums than what you get back out in coverage.
Make no mistake, life is full of surprises. It's hard to plan for everything! That right there is the point of insurance in the first place: To guard against the unexpected.
You can make a few guesses based of your lifestyle and individual dog's history, though. These questions can help you decide if pet insurance is something you want to get at all, and if so, what type of coverage might be the best fit.
- Are you an avid adventurer? Hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, and more are great activities to share with our dogs! But they might increase the chance of an unexpected injury or infection. If your dog is more of a homebody, you might be less worried about out-of-the-blue vet expenses.
- Do you know your dog's full medical history? Ethical breeders do their best to breed healthy parents free of heritable conditions (that can involve costly treatment as your pup ages). You might not know where your dog came from, though, or have family history to look at.
- What kind of environment do you live in? What risks are present day in and day out? Dogs who live with small children, for example, might be more likely to ingest a foreign body (like a kid's toy) than dogs who live in quieter homes.
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Does your pet have any preexisting conditions?
Pet insurance usually doesn't cover preexisting conditions. This means you'll only be reimbursed for new injuries and illnesses that happen after you enroll your pup in a specific policy. If your pet already has a chronic medical problem, you'll be on the hook foe veterinary care related to it—which means pet insurance might not be the most cost-effective option for you in the long run.
Do you have an emergency fund?
If you can afford an unplanned expense (sometimes upwards of several thousand dollars) if something happens to your dog, you might opt to self-fund veterinary treatment instead of signing up for pet insurance. You’ll likely pay thousands of dollars in insurance premiums if you keep a pet policy throughout your dog's entire life, so costs might even out if you don't encounter tragedy.
If you know you wouldn't be able to cover unexpected costs, though? Paying a consistent monthly premium to know you're taken care of can provide important peace of mind. Many pet owners have saved huge costs—and even saved their dogs' lives!—because they had insurance coverage for bills they otherwise might not have been able to pay.
You might decide to get pet insurance if:
- You feel your dog is at a high risk of injury or illness.
- Your dog doesn't have preexisting conditions.
- You don't have an emergency fund that could pay a large vet bill.
- You want the peace of mind!
You might decide not to get pet insurance if:
- You think there's a low chance your pup will get seriously injured or sick.
- Your dog has preexisting conditions that wouldn't be covered anyway.
- Your dog is in their senior years.
- You could finance an unexpected veterinary bill.
- You’re comfortable risking a large healthcare expense and don't want to pay monthly premiums for coverage you might not end up using.