Pet Insurance Tales

Choosing pet insurance can be a significant decision for pet parents. Not only is pet insurance a financial choice, but it is also important when it comes to taking care of your pet’s health.

Pet Insurance Coverage: Who Is It For?

One of the many great things about pet insurance is that it can benefit pets and their parents. For instance, whether you have a cat or dog, one pet or five, or have a tight or unlimited budget, there could be a pet insurance plan that fits your needs.

Upon receiving some pet insurance testimonials from the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program customers, it’s apparent how helpful insurance for your pet can be in various situations, such as an unexpected accident or illness.

Pet Insurance for Dogs

It’s no secret that dogs are man’s best friend. Most dog parents want to take every precaution to ensure their pup is safe and healthy. Although there is a long list of ways you can help prioritize your dog’s well-being, signing them up for pet insurance could be an overlooked option.

Thankfully, a senior dog’s old age doesn’t eliminate all of your options for enrolling them in pet insurance. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans don’t have upper age limits for new enrollments. Signing your puppy of at least 8 weeks or older up from a young age can be beneficial for multiple reasons. For instance, most insurance plans will not cover pre-existing conditions. The older a dog becomes, the greater the chance of them developing new health issues. It’s also worthwhile to insure a puppy at a young age since they can be ornery and get into things they shouldn’t. Plus, accidents can happen at any age.

Take our customer Alexis N., for instance.

“When our sweet Goldendoodle, Sunny, was 8 months old she was hit by a car. She was very lucky in that her most significant injury was a badly broken toe, but even so, her recovery was long and required many X-rays and follow-up vet visits, and she was in a full cast for over three months. Thankfully, we had purchased an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance policy for Sunny that covered the thousands of dollars of medical bills which would have crippled us financially if we had not had the policy.”

In addition to the peace of mind that insurance can provide, the financial assistance of pet insurance can be invaluable. (opens new window) Some pet parents may put money aside each month into a savings account instead of paying for insurance. Though this saved money could be helpful in some situations, in an instance like Alexis’s, just one veterinary trip for an accident could use all that money, plus some.

Pet Insurance for Cats

Pet insurance is not exclusively for canines, but it can also be beneficial to felines. Although all the tall tales say cats have nine lives, that doesn’t mean they won’t spend all of them getting into sticky situations.

Similar to dogs, cat parents can insure their best pals from 8-weeks of age or older, since ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans don’t have maximum age limits for enrollment. It’s not uncommon for senior cats to develop more health issues, at which point your veterinary costs and medication expenses may increase. Although most insurance plans will not cover pre-existing conditions, you may still be able to receive some assistance with your cat’s eligible vet bills for covered conditions.

Insuring a kitten can be a great choice as well. Not only can you get them covered before conditions are considered pre-existing, but kittens are notorious for getting into things they probably shouldn’t—as the old saying goes about curiosity and cats.

Our customer Kim E.’s story is a perfect example.

“I was not even aware of pet insurance existing until my cat, after four days of having him, got into a flower that was toxic. I was new to cat life and forgot to throw out the flowers in case he got into them. Well, he got into them, and I did not have insurance. The bill was huge. Thankfully, the vets were able to save him.

I learned about ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan options for my cat, and although it could not help me the first time, I got it immediately after the incident. It helps give me peace of mind knowing that if another unexpected accident like this happens (although I no longer have flowers in my house), he will be covered.”

Beyond the coverage for just one cat, with pet insurance plans provided by the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program, you can enroll as many cats as you have, with the option to customize each plan. In other words, if you have three cats, you can choose to sign one or all three up, and they can each have a coverage option that fits their health needs

Accident and Illness Coverage

When it comes to pet insurance, there are a few different types of coverage. You know your pet best and may already know which option you should sign up for based on whether they are accident-prone or may be prone to common illnesses. The coverage you select may also depend on your personal budget. Either way, it’s always a good idea to research ahead of time and fully understand your options.

• Accident-only pet insurance

  Accident-only coverage is just as it sounds—it only covers unexpected accidents. An accident could be something such as a broken bone, a torn ligament, or a swallowed object. With an accident-only option, illnesses coverage will not be included, though each insurance plan may have a slightly different definition as to what is considered an accident and an illness.

  This type of plan can be more budget-friendly, and eligible diagnoses services and treatments prescribed for unexpected accidents, such as X-rays, bloodwork, or surgery, could also be covered. With accident coverage, waiting periods could vary depending on the plan.

• Illness pet insurance

  Some illness pet insurance plans will also include accidents coverage. However, illnesses are considered to be conditions such as cancer, arthritis, or ear infections—illnesses can be major or minor. Illness plans can also help cover the costs of eligible diagnoses services and treatments prescribed for unexpected illnesses. Illness coverage will typically have a waiting period which could be around a 14-day window.

In addition to accident and illness coverage, check with your insurance provider about plan add-on options. Some providers offer add-on preventive coverage options for an additional cost that could help with eligible costs related to routine wellness care such as dental cleanings, vaccines, or annual wellness exams.

Our customer Diane U. knows all too well how important it is to have the right type of coverage.

“Within our first year as dog parents, we had several illnesses, accidents, and even a visit to the emergency room. We soon realized how quickly the expenses could add up.

We had enough surprises that first year, and after researching various pet insurers, we signed up all our pets that year. In our first year, we had minimal expenses, but for peace of mind, we continued the coverage. As medical issues arose, we counted our blessings that we maintained their policies. One year we had so many claims I feared we'd be dropped from the coverage, but the ASPCA Pet Health Insurance program has been exceptional in every way.”

Keep in mind that as your pet’s health changes over the years. With ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan options, you can customize a pet insurance plan to reflect their specific needs.

Pet Insurance for Chronic Conditions

There are many types of illnesses that can affect cats and dogs, including chronic conditions. Chronic conditions are illnesses that may last many months or even years and most likely multiple plan periods. Items such as diabetes or cancer could be considered chronic. Some accident and illness pet insurance plans will include coverage for chronic conditions.

Our customer Jackie S. is a prime example of how pet insurance can be beneficial if your pet becomes diagnosed with a chronic condition.

“I began insuring my kitty at a young age, and I'm so thankful that I did. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with diabetes, and she needs insulin twice a day. She has had to undergo so much blood work to monitor her condition, as well as the ongoing expenses of insulin and syringes. My ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan has been a lifesaver in helping to keep my costs manageable so that my kitty can get everything she needs.”

Pet Incident Coverage: Budget-Friendly Options

When considering signing your pet up for their insurance plan, a common concern for many pet parents is the financial aspect. However, in many instances, the cost of a plan can be relatively affordable, especially when you consider what you could get in return.

Take our customer Katie P.’s scenario.

“My pup, who is now 10, needed two surgeries for an injury before she was three years old at $2,700 each. I have never gone without pet insurance and, at one point, had three dogs insured. In 18 years, there were only two years I did not make out better financially.”

If cost is not a concern, you can choose the highest plan with some add-on options. On the other hand, if you have a tight monthly budget you would prefer to stick to, you can customize your pet’s plan to reflect a price with which you are comfortable.

Many pet parents weigh the option of saving up money versus paying for insurance. Although that money may be helpful for low-cost procedures and medications, for instances like Katie P.’s, just one surgery could easily take away all the money you saved, and there would still be additional expenses to cover. When it comes to insurance, your dollar may stretch much further than it would if your pet weren’t covered.

One of the many benefits of pet insurance is that it can be accessible to nearly any pet parent—whether you have a cat or dog, need accident or illness coverage, or have a large or small budget. Even from a few of our pet insurance customer reviews, it’s easy to see how many different situations can arise when insurance can be utilized.

_{Testimonials represent individual experience only and the experiences and opinions herein may be unique the speaker. Individual results and pet insurance plans may vary. 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.}