Securing Peace of Mind: The Impact of Emergency Pet Insurance

• Encounters with wild animals
• Choking or respiratory problems
• Seizures and loss of consciousness
• Allergic reactions
• Puncture wounds and excessive bleeding
• Severe digestive issues

• Injury incurred by a fight with a wild animal (accident)
• Broken bones (accident)
• Injuries sustained in a car accident (accident)
• Ear infections (illness)
• Skin allergies (illness)
• Cancer (illness)
• Diabetes (illness)
• Choking (accident)

• Percentage coverage: Most reimbursement policies will compensate your medical expenses between 70% and 90%. For example, if you have an 80% reimbursement rate, you’ll receive $800 for a $1,000 medical bill, paying $200 out of pocket.
• Deductibles: If you find a policy that pays the vet directly at the time of treatment, you’ll still have a deductible, which is the portion of the bill you’re responsible for. Deductibles generally range from $100 to $500.
• Annual benefits: This refers to the maximum coverage you can receive over a 12-month policy period. Annual benefits commonly range from $2,500 to $20,000.

According to Emergency Vets USA, the average cost of emergency veterinarian services is between $400 and $2,500, depending on the severity of the condition and the treatment your pet requires. The Federal Reserve’s 2021 Economic Well-Being Report shows that 45% of American households can’t afford an unplanned expense of $400 or more.

The biggest advantage of emergency pet insurance is that it helps you become more financially prepared for these events. Even if you’ve trained your dog well, you can’t fully control what happens to them. Neither do you have complete control over the amount you can save for a pet emergency.

What you can control is finding the best pet insurance for your budget and lifestyle. Whether you want a high-deductible plan with a low monthly payment or high annual benefits, you can customize most plans to suit your needs. Pet insurance allows your pet the care they deserve without jeopardizing your financial security.

Purchasing emergency healthcare coverage for your pet leads to their improved health overall. Have you ever felt tempted to ignore signs of distress in your health to avoid paying a doctor’s bill? According to CBS News, roughly 27% of people forgo healthcare for serious conditions because they can’t afford care.

If you’d put your own health at risk, you’ll likely do the same for your pet, whether you want to or not. Paying a small monthly fee for emergency pet insurance gives your beloved cat or dog a fighting chance against severe accidents or injuries. While they’ll probably recover from a cold without intervention, in the case of traumatic injury, you can still get them the care they deserve.

Have you ever felt paralyzed by financial circumstances? You can probably identify with wanting to give your pet something you can’t afford. With emergency pet care insurance, you won’t have to feel that way about your cat or dog’s health.

Knowing you’ll receive a reimbursement for your pet’s emergency healthcare ensures you can make life and death decisions with a clear head. You won’t have to consider whether you can afford a life-saving procedure or test, meaning you improve the chance your pet will be around longer.

Knowing you’ll have adequate compensation available if your pet experiences an emergency means you’ll spend fewer sleepless nights wondering, “What if?” You can stay fully present when spending time with your pet, and you’ll take joy in knowing they likely have a long life ahead of them.

Forbes reports the average monthly cost of emergency pet insurance is $44 for dogs and $30 for cats. That’s roughly the cost of one meal for a couple at an affordable restaurant.

Spend some time looking over your budget and determining how to make room for this marginal expense. Maybe you can cover the cost by making coffee at home more often or eliminating one night of ordering food a month.

Also, consider your level of savings. If you can pay for emergency medical bills up front, you might save money by purchasing a reimbursement plan rather than one that pays the vet directly. Your level of savings also determines whether you can afford a plan with a higher deductible and lower monthly premium.

Consider the following when deciding how much coverage your pet needs:

• Age: The older your pet, the more likely they’ll experience an acute illness or severe injury and the higher coverage you’ll need.
• Breed: Different breeds of cats and dogs have different health risks, such as a pug’s vulnerability to hip dysplasia. Research your pet’s health risks and how much it typically costs to treat them.
• Lifestyle: If you frequently take your pet hiking in the wilderness or transport them in a vehicle, you’ll need more coverage than if you live a quiet life at home.
• Overall health: If your pet has pre-existing conditions, insurance won’t cover them. However, they’re still important because they can leave your pet vulnerable to more serious emergencies.

Always compare policies and read reviews. Even if a policy looks good on paper, you should consider things like their customer service and how quickly they send your reimbursement.