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Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Insurdinary Editorial Team | Fact Checked by Rhonda Gary -->
Every pet owner wants their beloved companion to stay healthy with routine vet visits and, of course, plenty of love and care at home. However, just like their human best friends, all animals run the risk of getting sick or sustaining an injury unexpectedly. If it comes to emergency care and the various costs involved, it’s often much easier if you’ve prepared for any scenario by taking out comprehensive emergency pet insurance.
Preparation starts with learning more about your options for pet health crisis protection so that you can face the potentially high costs of emergency veterinary care more confidently. In this in-depth guide, Insurdinary shares everything you need to know about rapid-response pet insurance and why you should consider it.
Whether you're a first-time pet owner or a seasoned menagerie owner, enrolling in a robust pet insurance policy is a great idea. The type of policy you select can make an impact, lowering some of your key veterinary bills with emergency animal medical coverage and more.
These pet care plans are often split into three categories:
If you opt for a policy that only covers general wellness, you'll save on routine veterinary exams and common procedures like spaying, neutering, or microchip insertion. Having an insurance provider reimburse you for these costs can certainly make a difference in your yearly pet-related expenses. However, the more expensive treatments include medication or surgeries for illnesses with hospitalizations.
There's no guarantee your pet won't need emergency care at some point in their lives. Pet owners often find these veterinary bills amounting to thousands. Emergency pet insurance offsets the cost by a large percentage.
Why not enroll in immediate care pet insurance to give yourself a financial cushion? Depending on your policy and the emergency, you’ll pay the vet bill upfront and make a claim afterward, but it covers everything.
Emergency pet insurance covers a wide variety of treatments and procedures. If you can’t easily pay for the following treatments as they arise, knowing what type of pet medical care is involved might change your decision about getting a policy:
You know when your pet is healthy and when something is wrong. If your furry four-legged friend is vomiting late at night and not acting like themselves, why delay a trip to the vet? A 24/7 vet clinic is what they need, but it will cost you more than your normal veterinarian.
With a robust pet insurance policy that covers emergency care, you won’t have to worry. You'll get a reimbursement for what the vet charges, including your pet’s treatments.
Let’s say your visit to the emergency vet results in the diagnosis of a chronic disease. Your pet will need ongoing treatment via medications to relieve their symptoms and provide comfort.
Has your veterinarian prescribed medicine? You can file a claim to cover the cost.
Sometimes, your pet gets so sick that the vet needs to keep them under close watch for a day or two. When this happens, it's a relief to know that your pet insurance policy will cover the costs.
Hospitalization coverage is one of the most valuable parts of emergency pet insurance, and to nurse your best friend back to health, many vets require follow-up visits, too. Comprehensive insurance plans will cover both.
Some accidents and illnesses require your pet to have surgery. Many pet insurance policies cover such treatments along with the aftercare that goes with them.
For example, your vet might feel a lump beneath your dog's skin during a routine physical exam, run tests, and find a non-cancerous mass. Although the mass doesn't pose a threat to your dog, the vet recommends removing it so it doesn't get bigger. Many insurance policies will cover this type of treatment, which is one of the most common surgery dogs need in addition to the following:
Cats commonly undergo surgery for tooth extractions, bladder stones, and benign skin masses.
Note that emergency pet insurance will not cover elective surgery, such as declawing or tail docking. Policies also exclude treatment for any pre-existing conditions your pet has.
Let's say your dog or cat becomes ill, and you aren't sure what's wrong. You bring them to an emergency vet clinic for care, and, while the vet can restore your pet's health, the final bill can total thousands between the following:
Understandably, emergency medical care can get extremely costly for pet owners. Many Americans are realizing this with each passing year, which is why the number of insured pets is on the rise. The American Pet Products Association also finds that pet owners in the U.S. spend around $39.9 billion on veterinary care every year, second only to what they spend on pet food and treats at $58.1 billion.
According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, the total number of insured U.S. pets jumped from roughly 2.5 million to over 4.8 million over the course of four years. Dogs make up the largest percentage of insured pets at 80.1%, while cats make up the remaining 19.9%.
How much does emergency pet insurance cost, and how much does the policy cover? There is no one-size-fits-all answer since different providers each set different premiums and deductibles. However, pet insurance can be extremely affordable and end up saving you thousands on emergency veterinary bills.
The three main aspects of your potential pet insurance policy will include the following:
The premium, or the amount that you pay each month for insurance, depends on the three factors above, as well as your pet's age and breed. Dogs and cats over a certain age tend to cost more to insure, given their higher risk of health issues such as:
Industry data shows that dog owners pay less than double the annual insurance coverage compared to cat owners (that’s approximately $20 more per month for dogs). These average premium rates are based on a standard policy, which would typically cover up to $5,000, a $250 deductible, and reimbursement of 80%.
Exactly how much can you save with emergency pet insurance? Let's look at an example where a policy has unlimited coverage, a $500 deductible, and a 90% reimbursement rate.
Your vet performs surgery on your dog to treat a torn ACL, which ends up costing $2,000. You must pay the vet this amount and then file a claim with your insurance company. They'll remove your deductible from the claim coverage, leaving you with up to $1,500 they can reimburse.
Your 90% reimbursement rate means they'll give you $1,350 back.
You'll need to consider a few factors before committing to a pet insurance plan. As a start, ask yourself questions like:
You can't go wrong with a general wellness plan at any time. Your pet's regular health checks will fall under this coverage, which is especially beneficial for owners of young puppies and kittens.
For the best overall coverage, choose a policy that covers accidents and illnesses. You can supplement it with wellness coverage for maximum savings.
You love your pet and never want to deny them the best care possible, but you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars out-of-pocket to keep your four-legged friend healthy. Invest in emergency pet insurance, and you'll get what you both need. Let your insurance provider reimburse you for the majority of your pet's health care costs, and enjoy peace of mind as your pet ages.
Why not explore emergency pet insurance policies via Insurdinary? Our easy-to-use platform connects you to pet insurance plans so you can find the one that best suits your needs and budget. Check out the website or contact the team’s insurance experts for more information!