Pet Insurance
What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance is a type of health insurance for pets that provides coverage for different kinds of treatment your pet needs at when visiting our vet clinic in Bend. A pet insurance policy helps you with the costs associated with an unexpected vet bill as well as provides coverage for treatment that may otherwise cost more than you can afford. Policies come in different configurations that enable you to get a policy that meets your needs and falls within your budget. Most veterinarians recommend pet owners get an accident-only policy at the very least to help aid with the costs of an unexpected emergency. Following is a look at pet insurance, how it works, and why you should consider getting a policy for your pet.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
The most common type of pet insurance is known as accident-only which covers emergency visits to the vet clinic in Bend, but other types of policies are available that offer more health care coverage. According to the National American Pet Health Insurance Association, the average premium for an accident and illness (AI) plan in 2020 was $49.51 for dogs and $28.48 for cats. The most basic type of health insurance, known as “accident only” (AO) was $18.17 for dogs and $11.13 for cats. If you want to get wellness coverage, you can expect to add at least $10 a month to the cost of the premium at a minimum.
The cost of pet insurance for dogs is more expensive mainly due to their size and breed-related health issues. Cats can sometimes need intensive pet care, but they’re much smaller than dogs and require less in the way of effort for treatment. However, regardless of the species of your pet, you should consider getting them insured. Not sure about the type of coverage you need? Talk to one of our veterinarians in Bend about the type of pet insurance coverage that makes the most sense next time you’re in for a routine veterinarian visit.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover and Exclude?
The amount and type of coverage provided by pet insurance is dependent on the type of policy you purchase. Pet insurance comes in accident only, accident and illness, and wellness formats. An AO policy can also be viewed as a catastrophic injury policy in that it only covers the cost of an accident that requires an emergency trip to the animal vet in Bend. Some of the incidents covered by an AO plan include:
- Car accident
- Poisoning
- Bloat
- Sprains
- Insect bites
- Bite wounds
- Eye injuries
Accident and illness coverage covers all these issues as well as:
- Allergies
- Cancer
- ACL injuries
- Hypothyroidism
- Digestive issues
Pet wellness plans typically cover:
- Spay or neuter
- Wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Parasite prevention
- Blood work
Benefits of Pet Insurance
Pet owners can frequently find themselves out of pocket for large amounts very quickly when their pet has an emergency. Even a routine visit to the veterinarian in Bend can get expensive. Purchasing a pet insurance policy helps reduce these bills and makes the cost of bringing your pet to the vet clinic in Bend easier to handle. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that your pet can get the care they need, when they need it, even if you have a simple AO policy. Some kind of coverage is better than none, and there are pet insurance plans available to fit every budget.
One thing to keep in mind when looking at pet insurance policies is the fact that most of them work on a reimbursement model. That is, you pay for the vet visit out of pocket, and then submit the bill to the insurer for reimbursement. Some insurers pay the vet clinic directly but require extra paperwork to get payment to the vet authorized. Both types of payment models may have you out of pocket for a short while, but you wind up not paying as much as you would without insurance.
How to Compare Pet Insurance Policies
You can begin comparing pet insurance policies by looking at the website of the insurer or calling an insurance agent. Some insurance agents sell pet insurance policies alongside their other offerings and can help you find a policy that suits your needs. Another option is to look at a pet insurance aggregate website to look at their comparison charts. Last, but not least, you can ask the staff at the vet clinic in Bend for insight. Veterinary staff handle pet insurance claims on a regular basis and can give you their opinion based on their experience with pet insurance companies.
Make sure to pay attention to the reimbursement ratios along with the coverage provided before you agree to a policy. It’s better to know the kind of coverage you have for your pet before you head to the veterinarian in Bend for any reason.
Blue Sky Veterinary Clinic accepts all pet insurance. Call us today to get your pet coverage. Here are a few of the most used pet insurance companies:
- Trupanion Pet Insurance: 1-888-733-2685
- Embrace: 1-800-511-9172
