Dog Health Insurance

Feb 14

Dog health insurance can be a good investment. If you are a person that pampers your dog and will pay almost anything to ensure he gets the treatments necessary at any cost, then dog health insurance is a must for you.

Why it is Needed Now more than in the Past

The need for dog health insurance has increased because of the improvements in technology and veterinary science. Because of these improvements, many treatments that have never been heard of before are now a possibility. However, these treatments are highly costly.

The average person may not be able to afford the treatment that could save their pet’s life, and this can be unnerving for those that feel their dog is another part of the family. Dog health insurance can help to ensure you will be able to afford the treatment available to save your dog’s life.

Conditions that were once considered to be fatal are now able to be treated. Some of these treatments include radiation therapy and kidney transplants. These two treatments alone can cost thousands of dollars.

Costs do not only apply to treatments, but to tests that can now be performed to diagnose a problem. Vets now have access to more sophisticated diagnostic tools, such as MRIs that can detect problems that would have once never been discovered; therefore, left untreated.

The tools and procedures that are now available have created an inflation, which reflects on you. The choice is up to you; however, in the past dog owners never had the option of prolonging their pet’s life. Now, you may have that option. Do you want to be in the position of not being able to afford to save your dog’s life? Dog health insurance can help you make this decision.

How to Buy Dog Health Insurance

The majority of health insurance companies require your puppy to be at least 8 weeks old and be certified as healthy by a veterinarian. Never purchase dog health insurance without shopping around. Generally, the younger your dog is the lower the premium will be. Buying early can save you money.

Evaluate what your intentions are for dog health insurance. Are you looking for something to cover only the expensive treatments and tests, or are you looking for a complete plan that will help with check-ups, shots, and sick visits? Your intentions for the insurance will affect the cost of the premiums.

Choosing the Best Dog Health Insurance Company

When trying to determine which company to use, check the company’s rating and track record. You can do this by doing an online search or by contacting the Better Business Bureau. You will type in the name of the company with the word “review” behind it to find if people are happy with the company or to find any complaints against the company.

Be careful of the source. The company can make up its own reviews. Make sure the reviews are from a reliable source and from actual customers. Your veterinarian may have some suggestions on reliable dog health insurance companies.

Difference between Dog Health Insurance and Dog Life Insurance

Dog life insurance is not to be confused with dog health insurance. Dog life insurance is insurance that will help to cover expenses once your pet has died. Dog health insurance is to help cover the expenses that are incurred during the life of your dog. Dog life insurance will cover expenses, such as: euthanasia, burial or cremation, as well as bereavement counseling for the owners.

It is recommended that you truly consider whether dog health insurance is for you. While this may not be something you have considered in the past, dog health insurance could be something that will help you save your dog’s life today because of the many different expensive treatments and tests that are now available.

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About Me

Hi! My name is Rachel and I’ve been a dog owner since I was 10 years old! I started this blog so I can jot down some of the things i’ve learned in my passed experiences AND because I just got a new puppy :-). Please help by writing comments and giving me your experience and advice. I’ll try to highlight your comments if I believe it to be helpful. Thanks all!

Comments

Shelly
April 6th, 2011 at 9:44 PM
I always thought that dog health insurance was something silly. After all, most people in America don’t have health insurance, so why should dogs.
But, when we got our Yorkie, Speedster, we were amazed at how much it cost to take care of her. Sure, we budgeted for food and annual visits to the vet, but unexpected illnesses and other medical issues really cost us a lot of money. We love our dog, so it is not like we are going to deny them the treatment they need.
After about 3 years of ownership, we finally decided to get dog health insurance. When we did our research, we were surprised at how little it actually cost. During the past few years, it has saved us a whole lot of money and has kept Speedster healthy!
Doug Caldwell
May 16th, 2011 at 6:36 AM
Shelly, you’re absolutely right. We’ve owned five dogs so far and we figured out the insurance thing after three dogs. Our last dog that we had to put down cost us $3500 plus. We did the research on what it would have cost if we got pet insurance for him when he was a puppy. Adding in all the things it covered, it became obvious that this was a financial no-brainer. Currently we have a Terrier mix and less than two months after we got him insured, one of our 8 year old kids tripped over him and broke his leg. It was covered. We saved a lot of money, a lot of stress and since our choice was to fix the leg or amputate, that insurance was a real blessing.
Jay Markson
May 30th, 2011 at 5:35 AM
Around $8000.
That’s what health insurance for our dogs has saved us so far. Although you might consider our dogs unlucky, they are now alive and healthy because of their health insurance.
Chips (Spaniel) was actually surprised by a coyote who somehow managed to get into the backyard. Although I dispatched the coyote quickly, by the time I got over there Chips was in pretty bad shape. We rushed him to the 24 Hour Animal Hospital and he was under surgery for 3 hours. With the exception of massive scars (they don’t show through the fur), he’s now a healthy, happy dog. Total cost? Around $4500.
June, our Terrier, got in the way of our teenager while going down the stairs and they took a tumble. Teenager broke his wrist, but June snapped her leg so badly it was flopping around. They put a rod in her leg and since she was a puppy, the bone basically grew around it. The cost? Around $3600
Health insurance paid for both. Now THAT’S a good investment.

Dogs Paws