Many pet owners have pondered whether pet insurance is a good option, especially after walking out of a
veterinarian clinic with an eye-popping bill in their hand. Pet lovers shouldn’t miss out on owning animals due to
health expenses they can’t pay for, or even worse, be put in a position where they’re unable to afford life-saving
treatments for their four-legged family members. Is pet insurance the answer? Do the benefits of pet insurance
outweigh the cost? It turns out this question is more complex than pet owners might imagine.
Chyrle Bonk, a member of the veterinarian team on ExcitedCats.com, explains that pet insurance pricing is
incredibly individual. “Whether or not pet insurance is worth it is going to depend on where you live and the kind
of pet you have.” Those residing in larger cities will accrue more costs at vet clinics than in rural areas, which
leads to higher pet insurance prices. Age, breed, health issues, additional pets, and level of coverage are also
important factors that go into calculating the monthly pet insurance costs.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that living in an expensive city with a rare breed automatically makes pet
insurance the right choice. “Pet insurance is mainly meant for emergency or sick veterinary care. Most will
reimburse for things like injuries, illnesses, non-elective surgeries, and medications needed for an illness or
injury,” says Bonk. Some pet insurance companies offer the option to cover preventive care, including things like
vaccines, parasite treatments, and blood work—but this will increase your monthly costs significantly. Most pet
insurance companies will require you to pay the bill up front before receiving a partial reimbursement of up to
80% later.
How much can pet owners expect to pay for pet insurance? Bonk estimates roughly $12-$20 a month per pet. As
a vet herself, the ExcitedCats expert recommends talking it over with your veterinarian who can help you find a
suitable provider. “Not every veterinary clinic is going to work with every pet insurance company, so see which
ones your vet accepts first.”
As pet owners are painfully aware, hospitalization or an emergency visit can cost thousands of dollars. If your
annual vet visits rest between $150-$300, you likely won’t get a lot of utility out of added pet insurance. But if you
have an accident-prone pet, an aging animal, or you just want peace of mind that you can cover hospitalization
charges if the need arises, pet insurance is likely a worthy investment.
The main aim of ExcitedCats is to help readers understand their cats better and offer them the best life possible,
which may mean enrolling them in pet insurance. The veterinarian team at ExcitedCats knows that being a great
cat parent requires having access to all the best veterinarian-approved information. Whether you want to learn
about food, toys, breeding, or health care, ExcitedCats covers it all and more. For more information on pet
insurance for cats and every topic feline-related, check out their site!
