In the United States, the cost of seeing a pet is not low. Faced with the risk of bills of thousands of dollars, the importance of choosing the right pet insurance is self-evident. How to provide maximum protection for the health of pets has always been the focus of pet owners. The following survey will help you choose the most suitable pet insurance plan.
- The importance of pet insurance
In the United States, medical expenses have always been a considerable expense, especially pet medical care. The basic cost of a single veterinary clinic for dogs is about $200, and the cost for cats is about $160. If it is an emergency such as sudden illness or accidental injury, this price may even double. In addition, as pets age, the cost of care and the possibility of illness will increase, and the treatment of some major diseases can even reach tens of thousands of dollars. In this case, it is undoubtedly a financial burden for the owner. High-quality pet insurance can save you from having to pay huge out-of-pocket expenses-this also means that you will not make the heartbreaking choice of being forced to say goodbye to your pet because you cannot afford it.
- Pet insurance categories
In the United States, there are two types of items we can buy for pets, one is Wellness Plan, and the other is Pet Insurance.
Wellness Plan: Wellness Plan is not really "pet insurance" because it applies to expected veterinary expenses and daily health care. The content usually includes exemption of outpatient fees, routine vaccinations, comprehensive pet physical examinations, preventive care, sterilization, etc., which is suitable for daily health maintenance. Pet Insurance: Pet Insurance is suitable for paying veterinary expenses to diagnose and treat unexpected situations, such as injuries and diseases. Each pet insurance company offers different insurance plans, but they generally include
① chronic diseases, such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, etc.;
② genetic diseases;
③ major unexpected medical expenses;
④ partial health care.
Such policies generally do not include routine preventive examinations, routine physical examinations, and vaccine costs. Small pets that are usually healthy and have regular physical examinations can give priority to buying only Wellness Plan, which can save a lot of insurance premiums. If the pet has been injured in the past or has a long-term disease that requires regular examinations and treatment, it is better to buy both plans to prevent sky-high pet medical bills. Huhu suggests that owners can choose a Wellness Plan for puppies and kittens first, and then switch to Insurance after vaccination, sterilization and slow growth. However, everyone should make a specific choice based on the actual situation of their pets.
The coverage terms of cat insurance and dog insurance are basically the same, but dog insurance is relatively more expensive than cat insurance because the veterinarian who treats dogs will charge a higher fee. In the United States, the average cost of dog insurance is about $18 per month (accident insurance only) or about $50 per month (accident insurance and disease insurance); the average cost of cat insurance is about $11 per month (accident insurance only) or about $28 per month (accident insurance and disease insurance).
What factors affect the price of pet insurance?
- The average frequency and cost of visits to the doctor for pet breeds of dogs are higher than those of cats, so the premiums for dogs are usually higher than those for cats. And those pets who are more likely to suffer from genetic diseases will also have higher premiums. For example, Labrador dogs have a higher risk of joint and eye diseases.
- The age of the pet The premiums for older pets are usually higher because they tend to have more health problems.
- Where your pet lives In areas where veterinary care is more expensive and the risk of accidents is higher, pet insurance plans will also be more expensive. Faced with these risks, insurance companies will charge higher premiums. For example, in areas such as New York and Boston, pet insurance costs are higher.
- Deductibles Choosing a lower deductible will increase your premiums. Although a lower deductible means you have to pay less for your pet's medical bills, you will also spend more on premiums. If your pet is in good health and is less at risk of facing emergencies, you can consider choosing an insurance plan with a slightly higher deductible.
- Maximum payout ratio Choosing a higher payout ratio will increase your premiums. Although a lower payout ratio will reduce your pet's premiums, in the case of high bills, the difference in the amount of protection can be thousands of dollars. Tiger Tiger Pet Insurance offers a 90% maximum payout ratio, providing maximum protection for all pet owners. 6 Annual payout limit Choosing a higher annual maximum limit will increase your premiums. Although a higher annual payout limit makes people feel more at ease, taking cats as an example, survey research results show that more than 97% of cat pet owners claim a total of less than $7,000 each year. You can choose as needed.
- Coverage It costs more to choose a plan that covers more coverage. If you choose additional coverage such as physical examinations and vaccines when purchasing insurance, the premium will be higher.
When should I buy pet insurance?
When insuring your pet, the younger the pet, the more cost-effective the insurance. Usually, the insurance will not cover diseases that occurred before the pet insurance takes effect. Once you have a certain disease, no insurance can reimburse it, and you will have to pay out of your pocket if it recurs. So it is better to buy insurance as early as possible! Accidents or illnesses can happen at any time, so huge veterinary bills are easy to occur. Currently, most insurance plans of pet insurance companies in the United States can reimburse 70% to 100% of the expenses. If your pet is prone to serious and unexpected health problems, then buying pet insurance is worthwhile and necessary.
Pet owners who want to reduce the cost of pet insurance should pay attention to the following points:
- Shop around: Every insurance company weighs risks differently, which is why they all give different quotes. The only way to know which one offers the most affordable price for a given pet is to set aside some time to get quotes and compare them.
- Take advantage of discounts: Pet owners who think they qualify for any of the above discounts should look for pet insurance companies that offer these discounts.
- Choose a lower reimbursement percentage: Choosing a lower reimbursement percentage will reduce the cost of premiums, but will increase the owner's out-of-pocket expenses when making a claim.
- Choose a higher deductible: Increasing the deductible will also reduce monthly premiums, but at the same time, if the pet gets sick, the owner must be prepared to pay higher out-of-pocket expenses.
Things to note when buying pet insurance
Buying pet insurance is the same as buying other insurance. You need to pay attention to the following points:
- Carefully review each insurance clause to confirm whether the insurance will pay for the treatment services needed by the pet and whether the deductible is a single or annual one.
- Shop around before deciding to buy. In addition to comparing prices, you should also pay attention to the insurance company's after-sales service (especially the efficiency of compensation and communication).
Pet insurance plans from different insurance companies in the United States generally have a waiting period of 14 days to 1 month. Bills generated during or before this period will not be reimbursed. Moreover, if the condition is a pre-existing condition, the same disease will not be reimbursed in the future. Therefore, everyone should also pay attention to the length of the waiting period for the disease when purchasing insurance.
Pet Insurance in the United States
When buying pet insurance, everyone must find a reliable insurance company, because reliable insurance companies can provide appropriate compensation scope and smooth claims services. At present, there are mainly the following pet insurance companies with good reputations in the United States: Pumpkin, Spot, Lemonade, Trupanion, Embrace Pet Insurance, Pets Best, Healthy Paws, Nationwide, Figo, Fetch by The Dodo, etc. Each pet insurance company has its own characteristics. Huhu recommends that when purchasing pet insurance, carefully compare the charges, regulations and customer feedback of each type of insurance to choose the most suitable insurance for your pet.
