Protect Your Pet With Insurance

I can only say from my personal experience that everyone who owns a pet should get a pet health insurance coverage plan. For the most part they are very affordable and cover a wide range of potential pet health issues. Because each year veterinary medicine takes steps forward, and more options become available to help your pet live a longer, healthier life, some treatments can cost more than most people have available in their savings, or might deplete their savings altogether? Pet health insurance is a sensible way to help make sure that if the worst happens, you’ll be protected in providing necessary high-quality care.

My cat contracted a urinary tract infection and it cost me in excess of $700 to take him to the veterinary clinic and finally have it cleared up! Then a few months later he had some issues with his teeth -- another $345! I only wish that I had pet insurance before this happened! And you'd think that was enough? Medications for both of these procedures were a bit over $250, so collectively it cost me about $1,300 in less than a six month period -- just because I did not have pet health insurance!

In talking to a clerk at the pet store when purchasing food for my "golden" cat, I discovered that my story is not very unique whatsoever... The gal told me of a nightmare she heard concerning a guy whose dog was hit by a car. Apparently the dog, whom was a pure bred chocolate lab, ended up with two broken legs and fractures throughout his back, etc. The total veterinary bill exceeded $9,000 and included physical therapy too. Now I'm not certain if this cost included loss of work for this guy who likely had to nurse his dog back to health, but some where along the line he paid for a pet sitter to watch that poor dog until it was able to walk on its own again! Can you imagine? I've checked the prices for an in home pet sitter, and although its not real expensive, (ranging from $10-15 per visit) it could really rack up to be expensive in a circumstance when your dog can't even walk and probably needs attention at least three of four times daily while your gone to work?


Needless to say I now have pet health insurance for my cat! (I bet the guy with the chocolate lab does too?) I only pay about $170 annually, and there is excellent coverage for most scenarios -- at least from what I know of so far... I have yet to have to use it, but I do know that it also covers home pet sitting, and seeing that I was planning on going to visit my parents in Florida for a few days I will likely use the coverage to offset my home pet care costs. Practically speaking, you can't possibly go wrong in purchasing a pet veterinary health insurance policy. I hope that you don't have to learn the hard way as many of "us" have...

-Kristine