Last year, veterinary care cost Americans over $10 billion. To help offset these costs for pet owners, many insurance companies are adding, or even specializing, in pet insurance. Growth in the purchase of pet insurance plans is on the rise.
The increase the purchase of pet insurance policies is predicted by Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA) to be over $1 billion this year. There are a variety of plans available to consumers, as well as other options in lieu of insurance policies.
There are some considerations to keep in mind when shopping for pet insurance. You want to keep your costs affordable, your coverage fair, and not limit the veterinarians you can take your pets to. Consider your pet’s average life span, along with his health, before you commit to a policy that costs you a monthly fee.
When searching for policies, also consider whether you need coverage for illnesses, accidents, routine care, and chronic illnesses. If adding surgical coverage, think about whether it is important to include coverage for removal of swallowed items or other smaller surgical procedures your pet may need. Good places to compare the different insurance coverages available is to visit: http://www.iii.org/articles/pet-insurance.html or http://www.petinsurancecomparison.org.
If you decide that pet insurance is just not in your budget, there are other options available to you. First, some vet’s offices offer discount or wellness packages that you can purchase for routine vet visits. Tobie Stranger, of Consumer Reports, feels that another choice for many is to set up a separate savings account, putting a little in each month instead of paying an insurance premium. Many states also have financial aid available for veterinary care and certain services. You can learn more about that at: www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html
