If you own a pet, should you buy pet insurance?
Nowadays, it is recognized that there are physical, mental and emotional benefits related to pet ownership. Check-ups by a veterinarian help to keep your pet healthy.
But, if your pet should experience a serious injury or illness, treatment can be costly. Pet insurance may be able to help with the potentially high cost of treating an injured or ill pet. According to an article titled “What to Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance” by Holly E. Thomas, “pet insurance has become more popular as the cost of major work in animals has skyrocketed.”
Here are a few questions to consider if you plan to purchase pet insurance in order to cover veterinary expenses related to medical procedures and treatments:
How will you be covered? Some pet insurance policies determine coverage by geography, breed and/or age. It is recommended that you compare insurance quotes and that you consult with your veterinarian.
Will the plan change as your pet ages? It is recommended that you look for plans that offer age-specific treatments to ensure it adapts to your pet's health needs; e.g. coverage of teeth cleaning.
Which plan is the best for your breed? Policies may exclude conditions based on breed. For example, some plans do not cover hip problems in golden retrievers or German shepherds.
For more information, the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association has an information sheet on Pet Insurance. The information sheet covers the following questions:
- Why consider pet insurance?
- What kind of coverage do I need?
- Which company offers the best insurance packages?
- What kind of insurance coverage is available?
- Will pet insurance cover regular veterinary examinations and vaccinations?
- Is pet insurance available for other types of pets?
- Do the pet insurance policies cover pets on vacation – out of the province? Out of the country?
- What is co-insurance?
- What is a deductible?
- What kinds of questions should I ask the insurance provider?
- Ontario Pet Insurance Providers
Pet Insurance Review has a page on Pet Insurance 101. Both U.S. and Canadian pet insurers are listed. This site also allows you to:
- Read reviews and opinions from thousands of customers
- Compare rates and coverage from the leading pet insurers
- Get free quotes from multiple pet insurance companies
- View the site's insurance coverage grid
For information on how to keep your pet healthy, visit the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website. It has Fact Sheets on pet safety, pet travel, cat behaviour and training tips, and dog behaviour and training tips. The Ontario SPCA also offers pet insurance.
You may also be interested in visiting the previous Toronto Public Library blog titled Researching Pet Insurance for additional information on pet insurance.
Furthermore, here are a few titles on pet care at the Toronto Public Library that may be of interest:
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| Small Animal Care and Management |
Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats |
2 thoughts on “If you own a pet, should you buy pet insurance?”
Asking your vet about pet insurance might be helpful, but first find out if they get paid to display info about various insurance carriers, or even get a cut of the money from new enrollees. This might taint the advice you get. Sort of like them selling food that they recommend.
Thank you for the feedback and the additional recommendation.