Pet Insurance for Cats

Pet insurance for cats may not be at the forefront of a pet parent’s mind when they are shopping for their feline. However, pet insurance can be a gift that keeps on giving. No matter your cat’s size or breed (or how many cats you have), cats 8 weeks of age or older can be enrolled in a customized insurance plan.

Accidents and illnesses can unexpectedly affect any cat, so knowing that your cat is covered can help provide that extra peace of mind. Before diving in and selecting a plan, it can be helpful to learn more about the specifics of pet insurance for cats.

Is Pet Insurance Worth It for an Indoor Cat?

This is a common question that many pet parents can’t help but wonder. When a cat is roaming outside, there are many apparent hazards, such as cars, wildlife, and parasites, to name a few. However, with an indoor cat, there are still some risks, although they may look slightly different. Dangers such as falling down the stairs, landing badly after jumping, or ingesting something they shouldn’t, could all result in accidents or illnesses that could require a veterinary visit, which pet insurance may be able to help cover. Not to mention, illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, can affect any cat too.

The benefits of cat insurance go far beyond the accident and illness coverage that it provides. By signing your cat up for a plan, you may also gain,

• Peace of mind

  Having that added sense of security and reassurance that your cat is covered by insurance can go a long way in providing you some peace of mind. With insurance, you may feel more comfortable scheduling wellness exams or other preventive procedures, such as dental cleanings.

  Plus, if a major accident or illness were to occur, you can focus more on the treatment options and which one will be best for your cat instead of basing your decisions solely on cost.

• Financial assistance

  Whenever your cat falls ill or has an accident, of course, one of your primary concerns is getting them the medical care they need. Quickly following may be the thoughts about how much the veterinary visit may cost you. Plus, if your cat needs medication, surgery, or another form of treatment, your mind may be racing about how you will afford it.

  When you sign your cat up for a pet insurance plan, you will already know your monthly cost for their coverage, and it will be easier to plan and work into your budget. After your pet is covered and an eligible incident occurs, although you still may have to pay a portion of the bill, you can be reassured that your cat’s insurance will help cover the eligible cost.

• Customizable plans for everyone

  One of the many fantastic elements of most pet insurance is that you can get a customized plan—double-check if your provider offers this option since not everyone does. Being able to cater your cat’s insurance to their needs is also wonderful news for pet parents with multiple felines. If you have one accident-prone cat, you may wish to sign them up for the highest coverage possible, while your couch potato cat may only require a basic plan.

  As a part of customizing your pet’s insurance plan, some providers offer accident-only plans or add-on options (such as preventive care) for a small, additional price. Of course, a part of the customization options includes the price. Pet insurance can fit into all different types of budgets, allowing pet parents to choose the option that works best for them.

After signing their cat up for coverage and seeing all the benefits pet insurance can provide, it’s easy to see why so many people continue to sign all their pets up for a plan.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover for Cats?

Pet insurance can cover an array of treatment and diagnostic options for unexpected accidents and illnesses, but the specific items covered will depend on the cat’s coverage plan.

That said, something most plans have in common is a waiting period. This is the timeframe between when you sign up for a plan and when the coverage officially goes into effect. For some, the waiting period may only be two weeks. Most insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions, though different plans may define these differently.

Pet Insurance Plans for Cats

As you research pet insurance providers, be sure to look at the plans available for your cat—each provider’s options may be different. For instance, the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program’s Complete Coverage℠ plan can help cover the eligible costs for exam fees, diagnostics, and treatments for accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, and behavioral issues.

Another option for coverage through the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program is Accident-Only Coverage. This plan offers coverage for the eligible costs of exam fees, diagnostics, and treatments for accidents while excluding illness-related costs.

Some insurance providers may also offer add-on options, such as the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program’s preventive care coverage options. These options can be added to your base plan for a small additional cost.

How Much Is Pet Insurance for Cats?

The cost of pet insurance for cats can vary, and many factors could affect the price. These could include:

• Your cat’s breed
• Your cat’s age
• The number of cats you enroll
• Your geographic location
• Which insurance provider you choose
• The specific plan you select
• Whether you select add-on options

However, to better understand your cat’s insurance price before you sign up, check to see if your pet insurance provider offers free quotes for your convenience.

How To Get Pet Insurance for a Pet

When you’ve selected a pet insurance provider and individual plan that will work best for you and your feline friend, your next step will be signing up, which is a relatively simple process. For instance, if you choose an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan and you’ve already completed a free quote, you can go online and select the one you want and customize your options. In addition to providing some basic contact information for yourself, you will also provide details about your cat.

You will then have a brief 14-day waiting period, after which your coverage will go into effect. Once your waiting period is over, you can submit a claim as soon as you would like. Even the process of submitting a claim is rather easy. You can do this online, via email, fax, or mail, and if possible, on your provider’s app—the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program uses the free app, My Pet Insurance. All you have to do on the app is include a photo of your invoice and some information on what happened.

Using the app, you can continue to track the progress of your claim. If your incident is eligible for reimbursement, you will receive your reimbursement via your preferred method of direct deposit or a check in the mail.

Should You Get Pet Insurance for a Kitten?

Although many pet parents may not think that their kitten needs coverage, since health issues are often associated with older age, that is not to say that your kitten won’t benefit. There are many health conditions (especially hereditary) that can pop up no matter a cat’s age. With kittens being active, they may also run a higher risk of obtaining a physical injury, whether from jumping too far or accidentally falling down the stairs.

One of the reasons pet insurance providers encourage people to sign their kittens up for a plan sooner rather than later is that at a younger age, there will be fewer chances of developing pre-existing conditions. By continuing to wait until your cat is older, there is a higher chance that they will develop new health conditions that will then be considered pre-existing and thus will not be covered by most providers’ plans.

Can You Get Pet Insurance for an Older Cat?

Pet insurance can be equally as beneficial to older cats. Whether you adopt a senior cat or you’ve never gotten around to getting coverage for your current feline friend, it’s never too late to sign your best pal up for a plan.

Although not the case for every older cat, some are more likely to develop new health ailments or have accidental injuries. To keep a better eye on their overall condition, taking them to the veterinarian more than once a year may need to become a part of your routine.

Between all of the various caretaking needs of your older cat, having pet insurance coverage could be of great benefit. You never know when you may begin using your insurance more than you ever have in previous years. Plus, some pet insurance plans can help with end-of-life costs.

One of the great benefits of most pet insurance plans is that you don’t have to worry about finding an in-network veterinarian. With an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan, you can use your coverage for eligible care from any licensed veterinarian, emergency animal clinic, or animal specialist in the US or Canada. This can save you some hassle and stress of finding someone to go to whenever your veterinarian is unavailable, or you are out of town with your cat.

There’s a long list of benefits that cat insurance can provide, both to you and your cat. Though insurance can seem intimidating at first, after learning more about the process, it’s easy to see why so many cat parents sign their feline friends up for pet insurance every year.

_{An ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan can help you with eligible costs for covered conditions like surgery expenses for accidents and help provide peace of mind that your pet can receive the care they need. Check out our online resources to learn more about your insurance options and get a free quote today. The information presented in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute or substitute for the advice of your veterinarian.}

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