Today, there are many choices when it comes to choosing the right pet insurance for your furry family friend. I know what you may be thinking, “Is pet insurance worth it?” Fair question. When you consider the average cost of a routine pet visit – anywhere from $50 – $250 – it can seem pretty manageable, right? But say your pet needs anything outside of a routine check-up; that’s where your cost may be upwards of four digits depending on the need. Not so manageable anymore.
Finding the right pet insurance is a good option to keeping your pet healthy and to protect you from having to make a wellness decision for your furry friend based on financial factors alone.
The process of shopping for pet insurance is not so different from normal health insurance for people. In fact, much of the same rules apply. There’s a monthly premium with basic needs and co-pays for varying types of procedures. However, unlike human health insurance, for our furry friends, pre-existing conditions are harder to cover.
That’s why shopping for pet insurance and comparing pet insurance costs is important before any health procedures are needed. Nowadays, most pet insurance plans cover pets who are at least six months old. And with websites designed to look up and compare multiple pet insurance plans at once, finding the right fit for your furry friend and your budget is simpler than ever.
With that said, let’s talk about the best practices to find the right pet insurance plan for your furry friend.
#1: Consider the Responsibility
Furry friends make amazing companions. Their unconditional love, innocence, and playful nature is enough to make anyone fawn with adoration. But the fact is that taking care of a furry friend is hard work and the responsibility should be considered prior to being matched with one.
When they are young, their energetic nature will require a lot from you, especially if your furry friend is a dog. When they are older, depending on their condition, they may need regular attention to fulfill even basic needs.
It’s a full-time, lifetime commitment to be a partner to a furry friend. So making sure you have the commitment and energy needed to care for them is paramount. The toil is well worth it, however, there’s nothing like the feeling of having your life impacted for the better than for choosing to bring a furry friend into your life.
#2: Your Furry Friends Have Options
Okay, now that we understand the responsibility, it’s great to know that you have many options to consider in your search for pet insurance needs and costs. In fact, there are now more than 20 providers you can search for online, each with their own basic care plan needs. Just like people health care options, plan are availabe depending on how ofen you think you may need to visit your veteranarian.
Pet insurance isn’t just for cats and dogs either. Depending on where you live, you may also find pet insurance for hamsters, reprtiles, birds, and other furry – and not so furry – friends. The important thing to note is that signing up for pet insurance before you need it will dramatically affect and possibly lower your pet insurance cost. As the saying goes, “early bird gets the worm.”
#3: Consider the Responsibility
Furry friends make amazing companions. Their unconditional love, innocence, and playful nature is enough to make anyone fawn. But taking care of your furry friend is also a great responsibility, one that extends far beyond insurance care cost. In fact, one of the many ways you can keep pet insurance costs down is by managing your furry friend’s – or not so furry friend’s – daily diet and exercise.
Although domesticated, furry friends are still animals, and they need suffcient exercise and time outdoors. And if the pandemic has taught humans anything about being relegated to their homes, it’s that being indoors too long can make you go crazy after a while. So consider your furry firend’s needs for the outdoors now that you’ve experienced what being cooped up is like.
#4: Research Your Furry Friend’s Specific Needs
Like humans, not all furry friends are alike. Breed type and genetics play an important role in overall health and can sometimes be indicators as to what health conditions your furry friend may experience as they age. Talking to your veterinarian is a great way to find out what sort of conditions and ailments may affect your furry friend and help you prepare if the need arises. Establishing a good relationship with your veterinarian and understanding your furry friend’s particular needs will benefit your preparedness and daily caretaking of them.
With this information in mind, it can be helpful to research speicfic pet insurance providers about the types of conditions covered under care. The more you know about what possible needs your furry friend may need down the line, the better you’ll be able to discuss and negotiate with pet insurance providers.
#5: Read Reviews
Reading up on pet insurance reviews online can be a great resource for pet parents to gauge the quality of service and care provided. It’s no surprise that many pet parents feel insecure about pet insurance costs. You want to feel confident that the care you’re paying for will go towards taking great care of your furry friend. That’s where reviews can be helpful. By pointing out the pros and cons for specific service providers, you can feel informed before making a choice.
Closing
Not all pet insurance plans are created equal. Many can fall below the quality of care or service your furry friend deserves, But by garnering the right information and knowledge specific to your furry friend’s needs, you’ll feel more empowered to ask for the quality and care you need.
photo cred: https://unsplash.com/photos/ppKcYi1CXcI
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