Adopting a rescue or shelter dog not only gives a home to an animal in need. It can be a playmate for your kids, a jogging buddy for you, and a loyal companion for everyone to snuggle up with on the couch. But a new pet can also come with unexpected vet bills, which is why you may want to consider pet insurance.
Pet insurance policies can help pay for care if your furry friend becomes ill or injured. In some cases, they may also cover vaccinations and other routine care. Here’s how to decide if pet insurance is right for your rescue dog.
ESTIMATED COST OF VETERINARY CARE
It is impossible to know what medical problems a given animal might have in the future. However, researching the breeds you’re interested in can help you get an idea of which health problems are most likely to arise, says Dr. Antonio DeMarco, chief medical officer of GoodVets, a chain of veterinary hospitals with locations across the United States. . illnesses can be both serious and expensive to treat, he says.
For example, large breed dogs like golden retrievers and Labrador retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, a deformity of the hip joint. Some dogs may need surgery to treat it, costing thousands of dollars.
A local veterinarian can advise you on potential health problems and the cost of managing them. They can also help you estimate the cost of routine care.
UNDERSTANDING PET INSURANCE
Pet insurance probably won’t reimburse every dollar you spend at the vet. For example, most plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions that your dog had before you purchased the policy. So, if you adopt an older diabetic dog, you will have to pay for the treatment yourself.
For the same reason, you cannot simply wait to purchase an insurance policy until your veterinarian diagnoses an injury or illness. DeMarco has had pet owners ask if they can get insurance after their dog tears an ACL. (You) sure, but it’s not covered, he told them.
Most pet insurance plans cover treatment for illnesses and injuries, but won’t help with routine care unless you purchase additional coverage. This coverage might be worth adding for some dogs, says Maureen Sosa, director of pet support at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC. Small dogs are more prone to dental disease and benefit from regular cleanings, which wellness plans can help pay for.
When shopping for pet insurance, check deductibles and co-pays. Let’s assume your plan will pay 80% of your expenses once you meet the $500 annual deductible. That means you’ll have to spend $500 on your pet’s treatment in a given year before your plan starts reimbursing you.
Your policy may also have a maximum payment limit, such as $5,000 or $10,000 per year.
GET PET INSURANCE QUOTES
The average cost of accident and illness coverage for a dog is about $640 per year, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association. However, you may pay more or less depending on where you live, the coverage options you choose, and the breed and age of your dog.
You can get quotes online from most pet insurers. Check rates from at least three companies to make sure you’re getting the best price for the coverage you want.
Pet insurance is not worth the cost of every rescue dog. Insurance policies can be prohibitively expensive for older dogs, especially if they already have chronic illnesses that the policy doesn’t cover. In these cases, it might be best to skip insurance and create an emergency fund for veterinary bills.
CONSIDER YOUR PEACE OF MIND
One of the biggest benefits of pet insurance is avoiding heartbreaking financial decisions. Sosa has seen owners forced to abandon their pets because they couldn’t afford to treat their health problems. The economy is in very bad shape, she says. This trickles down and affects what people can afford.
Worse yet, some owners may have to euthanize their dogs if treating a serious illness is simply too costly, DeMarco says. As veterinarians, this is the worst case scenario for us.
You can go years without having to use your pet insurance. But in a crisis, having this policy can give you peace of mind, DeMarco says. You will know that if such situations arise, you will be able to manage them financially and will not have to make decisions based on finances rather than what is best for your pet.
