Buying medical insurance for your pet, is a fairly new concept and many pet owners consider whether or not it is a worthy investment. There are many things to consider as the price on a premium can vary from as low as $10.00 a month to a $100.00. The premium is lower the younger the animal but so are the expenses. A pet health insurance policy that includes
a wellness plan will typically help cover the costs of routine veterinary visits, such as exams and preventive care. It Is important to look at the policy and ensure that it covers the best veterinary care available to your pet. Buying pet insurance is both an economic and an emotional decision that needs to be based on your personal financial situation and what you’re willing to pay for peace of mind.
Consumer groups have a different take on pet insurance. Robert Krughoff, president of Checkbook.org, says “it doesn’t make sense” in most cases. “It’s common to pay $300 a year or more for pet insurance. Over the life of a dog or cat that might be $5,000 or more. Most people are not going to have a big expense like that,” he says.
For its August issue, Consumer Reports compared the cost vs. payout of nine pet policies for Roxy, a healthy 10-year-old beagle who lives near the magazine’s office in Yonkers, N.Y. Roxy’s lifetime vet bills have totaled $7,026 (in current dollars). In every case, the total premiums that would have been paid to those insurance1 companies were higher than Roxy’s medical bills.
“Our conclusion is that for a generally healthy animal this insurance is probably not worth the cost,” says senior editor Tobie Stanger. Consumer Reports believes it makes more sense to put a couple of hundred dollars into a household emergency fund each year for serious pet health issues. An insurance policy on your pet should not be taken lightly. Look at the overall costs versus your monthly payments. Explore all options for your insurance. Costco offers pet insurance for its members and some of the Fortune 500 companies actually include pet insurance in their health plans.