Is Pet Insurance A Good Idea? The Pros And Cons
Posted on: 8 June 2015
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Part of being a pet owner is taking care of the animal's health, whether good or bad. A normal, scheduled trip to the vet can be planned and fit into your budget. However, there may come a time when you need to get your animal to a vet hospital with no previous warning. The cost of this trip may not only give you sticker shock, but may be something you just cannot afford at the time. To ensure that your pet can always receive the medical attention it needs, you can purchase pet medical insurance with a deductible that is comfortable to you. Of course, like any insurance, you may find that you pay the premiums for years without ever needing it. To help you decide if you should purchase pet medical insurance, here are some pros and cons of having it.
Pet Emergencies
If your pet has been hit by a car, been involved in some other type of accident or been in a fight, a trip to the vet hospital is needed. Knowing you have insurance will not only help with the bill, but will allow you to concentrate on caring for your pet.
If your pet is an indoor pet, only allowed outside on a leash, with you, paying a monthly premium for pet insurance may be an unnecessary expense.
Pet Illnesses
If your pet wanders around outside and off your property, there is a chance of it contracting an airborne disease. This is when you will be glad you have health insurance for your animal. As your pet ages, it may develop chronic diseases such as diabetes or arthritis that will require continual medications that the insurance will cover. There are also congenital diseases for different breeds of cats and dogs that can cost quite a bit of money to fix that may be covered by insurance.
Luckily, pets are not like children. They do not hang out with friends, go to school or attend events where other sick animals can spread a disease. If you keep your pet's vaccinations up-to-date, it is unlikely it will get sick enough to warrant a trip to the hospital. If your pet has any congenital issues, your insurance may not cover them, be sure to ask about this specifically when shopping for your policy.
The bottom line is your pet's health. Unlike human hospitals, vet hospitals do not have to do anything to an animal if you cannot afford to pay the bill. Even if the odds of an accident or illness are slim, having insurance is the best way to ensure your pet will receive the care it needs.
Contact an animal hospital like My Rancho Bernardo Pet Hospital to learn more.