Do You Need Pet Insurance?

This one was a tough one because one, I didn't even know something like this existed when we had Koda... but I will tell you from experience that if I added up all of the emergency/accidental type situations that happened throughout the 12 years that we had Koda, the insurance for sure would have helped with a lot of the cost. 

For most plans, you want to make sure that you make your decision based on the type of coverage you want. Do you only want coverage for emergencies? Or do you want insurance that also covers preventative. Think of it like you would your own health insurance. Personally, I don't feel that preventative is something I want to have insurance cover and here's why before everyone gets upset... 

1) If you can't afford the preventative care (semi-annual exams, annual shots, regular testing, etc) then you should step back and think about whether or not you should be investing yourself in an animal. They are just like humans... they need health care just like we all do. 

2) Most pet insurance plans that cover preventative care will only cover certain things and most of them time if you want/need a certain vaccine, it may not be something that's covered under your plan. Therefore, in my own opinion, wellness packages from pet insurance are not worth the monthly cost. 

With that said... emergency and/or accidental coverage IS A MUST. Depending on who you go with, your plan could be anywhere from $40-$70 per month. That's not much when you consider the cost of an emergency. When Koda got sick and we had to take him to the animal hospital for treatment, after him staying overnight for two nights and the extensity of his illness, we ended up having to pay roughly $4000. And in the end... we still lost him 😥

If we would have had the type of plan that we have for Echo now, we most likely would have saved 90% of the charge (not including exam fees as most insurance plans don't cover exams). Although our hearts were broken and we would have paid anything to make sure Koda got the best treatment he could before we lost him... it would have been less pressure for us to not have to shell out $4000. 

So, do I think pet insurance plans are worth it? YES, YES I DO! Find the best one that suits your needs, choose the deductible you KNOW you can afford. Also keep in mind that most insurance plans require a 30 day no claim period. Thankfully, we got an offer from our vet to go to Trupanion and they offered to waive the no claim period. Because of that... when Echo got sick and I overreacted and took him to the ER, we weren't stuck with a $500 bill. 

Treat your pet just like you would your child... 

Until next time!

Jana

(follow us on Instagram for daily pictures! @hearts_4paws)

*All posts by this blog are my personal opinions and experiences. Please consult with a Veterinary or Trainer when it comes to professional advice.