The joys of sharing life with a cat are limitless. Cats have an amazing ability to provide us with love, fun and play, while also bringing many important health benefits into our lives from relieving stress, preventing allergies, calming our nervous system and more. While these independent animals can be considered a low maintenance pet, caring for one is still a major commitment. Too often, we hear from veterinarians across the country about instances of pet parents struggling to balance the care their pet needs with what they can afford. While millions of Americans choose to share life with a pet, the true cost of ownership has historically been incredibly vague.Continue Reading
When it comes to caring for our feline friends, most cat parents will go above and beyond to make sure their cats are well taken care of and in the best possible health. Pet insurance can ensure cats get needed medical treatments while also minimizing surprise vet bills for accidents or illnesses.
However, not all pet insurance policies are created equal. Understanding what to look for when shopping for pet insurance is crucial for finding the best plan for your cat.Continue Reading
Could you easily afford to pay $1000 to $3000 if your cat had a sudden medical emergency? Could you cover the cost of a prolonged illness, which can easily run into several thousand dollars? Can you easily pay for your cat’s annual or bi-annual exam, preventive lab work, and dental cleaning? Costs for routine exams vary depending on location, and can range anywhere from $50 to $150. Routine dentistry can cost $500; add in a few extractions or other problems, and you’re looking at $1500 and more.Continue Reading
I could have ended the headline for this post at the question mark, but since I’m not a fan of click bait headlines, and since I’m a firm believer that every cat guardian should at least look into getting pet insurance, I decided to give you my bottom line right from the start.
Could you afford an unexpected $1000 or $2000 for a medical emergency, or even more for a chronic serious illness?
If your answer to this question is no, you owe it to yourself and your cats to look into pet insurance.Continue Reading
I’ve previously written about why I got pet insurance for Allegra and Ruby after being on the fence about it for many years. I looked at a lot of different plans, and found that there is a huge variety from plan to plan both in terms of what’s covered and what’s not, and in terms of how much is reimbursed. After making my decision and talking to people about it, I found that there are a lot of misconceptions about this topic out there. Today, I’m addressing five of the most common myths about pet insurance.Continue Reading
I can’t imagine anything more heartbreaking than a cat getting out of the house and going missing. I’m a firm proponent that all cats should be indoors, but I also realize that keeping cats indoors can be a controversial topic. But even with indoor only cats, accidents happen, and a cat may slip out and disappear.
With the advent of GPS tracking collars, finding a lost pet has become much more likely than it ever was before.Continue Reading
I’ve been on the fence about getting pet insurance for a long time, mostly because I’d rather put my money in a savings account than pay it to an insurance company. I’m pretty disciplined about putting money aside for Allegra and Ruby’s regular veterinary care. At five and four years of age, they’re both young, healthy cats. They get regular check ups twice a year. Continue Reading
If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me this question, I’d be a wealthy woman! What most people don’t realize is that, relatively speaking, veterinary care, especially when compared to human healthcare, is actually not at all unreasonable. As a former veterinary hospital manager, I can give you some behind the scenes insight into what makes up the cost of veterinary care.
Your cat’s veterinarian is not just your cat’s “family doctor”
Your cat’s vet is also her surgeon, radiologist, dentist, dermatologist, neurologist, ophthalmologist, psychiatrist, ears/nose/throat doctor, and pharmacist, all rolled into one. I’ve always felt that a veterinarian’s training and schooling is far more rigorous and complex than that of a physician. Not only can their patients not talk to them and tell them what’s wrong, but they have to study more than one species. During the first years of veterinary school, students also have to study large animal medicine, even if they know they’re never going to practice it. And even within the small animal track, there are multiple anatomies and disease processes to learn for each species, be it cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, or even scaly critters.
Responsible cat guardianship includes ensuring regular health care for your cat throughout his life. All cats should have annual wellness exams, and older cats should see the veterinarian twice a year. Costs for routine exams vary; depending on what part of the country you’re in, they will range anywhere from $45 to $150 (exam only). And that’s only for well cat care. Illnesses and accidents can quickly increase these costs. The average cost for a visit to an emergency vet can easily run between $1000 and $2000, depending on the severity of the problem.
Additionally, advances in veterinary medicine make it possible to treat medical conditions in pets that would have been a death sentence a decade ago. From chemotherapy to kidney transplants, pets can now receive almost the same level of medical care as humans. Of course, all of these treatments come with a price tag.
As a result, pet insurance has become increasingly popular over the past decade. Continue Reading
One of the most important aspects of being a responsible cat guardian is ensuring regular health care for your cat throughout his life. All cats should have annual wellness exams, and older cats should see the veterinarian twice a year. Costs for routine exams vary; depending on what part of the country you’re in, they will range anywhere from $45 to $150 (exam only). And that’s only well cat care. Illnesses and accidents can quickly increase those costs, the average cost for a visit to an emergency vet can easily run between $1000 and $2000, depending on the severity of the problem.
Additionally, advances in veterinary medicine make it possible to treat medical conditions in pets that would have been a death sentence a decade ago. From chemotherapy to kidney transplants, pets can now receive almost the same level of medical care as humans. Of course, all of these treatments come with a price tag.
As a result, pet insurance has become increasingly popular over the past decade. There are several companies offering a variety of plans, and deciding whether pet insurance is right for you, and choosing the right plan, can be overwhelming.
How do you determine whether pet insurance right for you?
Could you afford an unexpected $1000 or $2000, should your pet become ill? If your answer is no, pet insurance may be a viable option. You may not like paying a monthly premium, but, just like human health insurance, you may be glad you paid the premium if you ever need to use the coverage for your pet.
Pet insurance is all about risk management. Some clients may pay more in premiums than they receive in reimbursements (and they would be the lucky ones with healthy pets), but they’ll know that should something catastrophic happen to their pet, they’ll be covered. Pet insurance companies are in business to make a profit, so they need to generate more money in premiums than what they pay out to pet owners.
Some pet guardians may prefer to put aside a certain amount of money each month into a savings account dedicated to pet care expenses instead of paying monthly insurance premiums. The advantage of doing so is, of course, that, if your cat needs little beyond annual well visits, the money belongs to you, not the insurance company. The risk is that you may end up with unexpected and expensive vet bills, should your cat need additional care. Saving for pet care expenses may also require more financial discipline than paying a monthly premium bill.
If pet insurance seems like a viable option for you, do your homework. Research the different plans carefully. Read the fine print. Premiums and coverage vary widely from plan to plan.
The following questions can help you choose a pet insurance provider:
Is the company licensed in your state?
Does the company have a good reputation? How long have they been around?
Is the policy information easy to understand?
Does the company offer customer service during business hours?
Can you see any veterinarian you want?
How much have premiums increased over the last few years?
Will premiums increase as your pet gets older?
What is covered and what is excluded from coverage?
What is the company’s policy on pre-existing conditions?
Does the company cover benefits for wellness visits and preventive care?
Does the company cover holistic care?
Is there a waiting period before coverage becomes active?
Is there a maximum age for enrolling your cat?
Are there reimbursement limits per case, per year, per lifetime?
Is a physical exam required prior to enrollment?
There is no one size fits all answer to the question of whether pet insurance is right for you and your cat. It is a personal decision that needs to take your financial situation and your risk tolerance into account.
