Insurance for Pets
Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticism - George Elliot
image by: Oneplan Pet Insurance
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I used to think pet insurance was a ripoff. Here’s why I changed my mind.
There are few things I love more than my dog Spencer. He is a goofy, adorable 25-pound rescue beagle from West Virginia. He is always excited to see me. And he rocks a lobster costume like no other canine.
Spencer is also a horrific sinkhole for money. His medical bills this year are higher than mine. I've spent at least $1,677 on veterinary care for Spencer since I adopted him last August. There was the $400 bill in July when he had an unfortunate run-in with a bone, and another $355 when I thought he had a parasite living in his stomach (turns out he is just a very hungry dog). And those are only a few of his run-ins with the veterinary health-care system.
Those…
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More Pet Insurance Policies Are Being Sold. But Are They Worth the Cost?
Americans are increasingly treating their pets as members of the family, feeding them gourmet food, paying for day care and throwing them birthday parties. Family sleepwear sets sold on PajamaGram.com even include matching jammies for the dog. So it’s not surprising that an increasing number of “pet parents,” as they are known in the pet care industry, are seeking sophisticated medical treatments for their animals.
Pet Insurance Can Be Your Wallet’s Best Friend
Here’s what you need to know and what you should look for when shopping for a pet policy.
The Cost of Pet Health Care Could Be Rising Faster Than the Cost of Human Health Care
Pets certainly know how to sink their teeth into a household budget. In 2015, my poodle’s long-lasting stomach virus set my family back by almost four figures. Later in the year we got an even heftier bill for a canine root canal.
A Policy for Fluffy: Pet insurance is a small industry—but it’s poised for big growth in the U.S.
Dog is said to be man’s best friend, and cats are notoriously curious … so what are we doing to make sure these curious, furry friends stay healthy throughout their lives?
As Veterinary Bills Add Up, More Pet Owners Opt for Insurance
Compared with auto, home and human health coverage, pet insurance is the runt of the litter. But that puppy’s growing.
Baby boomers care about retirement plans while millennials want pet health insurance
Differences between generations at work show up in conference rooms, communications styles and job satisfaction levels, as well as the most valued perks.
High-Flying Pet Insurer Faces New Risk
Trupanion shares have more than tripled since the start of 2015. Wall Street analysts have credited its use of referrals by veterinarians for strong patient growth. Critics of the company have said that those referrals violate regulations because insurance can only be sold by licensed agents.
Our Pets, Ourselves
American health care is weird and expensive. Those are about the most sure-fire things anyone can say about the sprawling behemoth of insurers, health professionals, hospitals, clinics, and pharma companies in the United States. Is it good at actually making people healthy? For the most part, but sometimes it depends. Is it the best system in the world? Probably not, but some pieces are really good. Why is it so expensive, and can we fix it? Well, those are the three-trillion-dollar questions. Good luck. A new study suggests that we might consider taking some tips from our pet health-care system.
Pet Insurance Is the Latest Work Perk
It’s a side of the insurance industry that is growing rapidly, said Dr. Carol McConnell, chief veterinary medical officer for Nationwide, the nation’s largest pet insurer. “People find this type of insurance more credible if an employer has vetted it first.”
Pet Insurance: Is It Worth the Cost?
It's almost always better to self-insure your stuff (and your pets) than to buy a warranty or insurance policy. The two big exceptions in my life are home and health insurance. I can't reasonably squirrel away the cash to replace my home, and a catastrophic health event can set me back hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Pets Are Like Family. But as Health Costs Rise, Few Are Insured That Way
Unlike humans, only about 10 percent of dogs and 5 percent of cats are covered by medical insurance, according to a survey by the pet association. And since 2015, the costs of veterinary services have risen over 10 percent for medical treatments and 5 percent for regular checkups, according to the Nationwide/Purdue University Veterinary Price Index. “It’s not what veterinarians are charging,” Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary officer for Nationwide, said. “It’s more what consumers are choosing to pay.”
What medical spending on pets explains about the cost of human health care
Most American pets don’t have health insurance, which means that their owners foot the entire bill. Even so, spending on pet care has grown really quickly over the past two decades. In fact, it has gone up even more than health care spending.
Everything You Need to Know About Buying Pet Insurance
For a lot of people, social distancing and working from home have made getting a pet more appealing (not to mention easier to do). But as any dog or cat owner will tell you, surprise trips to the vet, as when Fido swallows a sock or Felix develops a giant hair ball, can quickly drain your bank account. In an emergency, a good pet insurance will cover medical costs so you don’t have to choose between going into debt and saving your pet’s life.
I used to think pet insurance was a ripoff. Here’s why I changed my mind.
What I learned was that I was thinking about pet insurance all wrong. I was primarily asking myself: How healthy is Spencer? Will I get back whatever I spend on premiums in the claims that I file? That's a question that's impossible to answer; I have no clue what absurd things Spencer will eat — or what other injuries or illnesses could happen to him. Instead, the important question I needed to answer before purchasing pet insurance wasn't about Spencer. It was about me. And it was a difficult question, too: How much would I be willing to spend to save my dog's life?
Pet Insurance Review
PetInsuranceReview's goal is to assist pet owners who are shopping for pet insurance. We believe that by providing information on benefits, pricing and customer reviews, we can help pet owners make the appropriate decision for themselves and their pets.
Policygenius
The easy way to compare and buy pet insurance.
The Best Pet Insurance Companies...
Why did we choose these 10 pet insurance plans? We’ll discuss the highlights of these plans in the following reviews:
MetLife Pet Insurance
PetFirst felt like a great fit for our mission, so we acquired them in 2020 and launched the new MetLife Pet. Our dog insurance and cat insurance policies now protect pets across the country, while helping to reduce some of the financial worries caused by unexpected vet bills.
24PetWatch
We have a range of solutions that can help should your furry sidekick happen to get into trouble.
AKC Pet Healthcare
Join the thousands of pet owners who have chosen our pet insurance to help protect their dog.
Embrace
Pet insurance helps you manage unexpected veterinary bills for your dog or cat. We've created a library of commonsense advice to guide you as you learn more about pet insurance for your cat or dog.
Equine Insurance Center
Our companies have specifically designed an insurance policy to cover the horse owner's legal liability for both bodily injury and property damage to others resulting from horse ownership.
Equisure
The Official Insurance Program Administrator for the American Horse Shows Association and their affiliate organizations.
Hartville Pet Insurance
We take pride in helping our customers protect their pets, so they can afford to get them the care they need to keep them happy and healthy.
HealthyPaws
We are constantly striving to improve our plan and service. We created the first pet insurance iPhone app and did away with requiring a claim form. We made it easier to manage your policy online, add new pets, and change your policy options in our Customer Center. Most importantly, we seek to deliver compassionate customer service especially when you have a sick pet.
Nationwide
Nationwide pet insurance offers the highest value, lowest cost dog health insurance, cat health insurance and bird and exotic pet health insurance policies, all delivered with a customer-first philosophy.
PetPartners
As long-time insurance professionals and pet lovers, the team at PetPartners fully understands our customers' pet health insurance needs and expectations.
PetPlan
To improve quality of life for American pets by becoming the first pet health insurance provider to offer truly comprehensive coverage in the United States.
PetPremium
We care deeply about pets and know that healthy pets equal happy people. Therefore, our mission is to give you the guidance you need to get informed about pet health and pet health insurance.
PetsBest
Provides peace of mind and financial relief for owners of pets who need veterinary care. We are always accessible to our policyholders. We endorse innovation and insight into modern veterinary care.
Trupanion
A Trupanion medical insurance policy has the ability to save you thousands and keep your best friend by your side
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