Pet Health Insurance – Is it worth it?
Pet insurance doesn’t come cheap but it can be extremely valuable to have. Like any insurance plan, it can give you peace of mind to cover the unexpected.
Cost of pet insurance
The cost of pet insurance can vary by age, location, and insurance company. Here are some things to consider when you are selecting a pet insurance policy:
- What is the deductible for the policy?
- How much does the rate rise as your pet gets older?
- Are claims paid as a reimbursement or direct to the veterinarian?
- Is there an annual maximum?
- What is covered in the policy?
- Spaying/Neutering
- Microchipping
- Wellness visits
- Surgeries
- Hospitalization
Comparison of Pet Health Insurance Policies
We looked at five pet insurance companies to see what they cover and cost.
We compared coverage with each website’s quick quote calculator available as of December 2017 to get a rough idea of cost and coverage. Note that rates will vary, so it is best to enter all the details for your pet to get a more accurate quote and what best fits your needs.
Sample plan for our comparison:
- Breed: Labrador retriever
- Age: 4 years
- Gender: Male
- Location: Colorado
| Deductible | Monthly Cost | Coverage | Pre-existing conditions | About the plan | Annual Maximum | |
| Trupanion | $200 | $109 | 90% reimbursement | No | Doesn’t cover exams, covers costs like injuries, surgery, and hospital stays. | Unlimited |
| Nationwide – Whole pet with wellness | $250 | $80 | 90% reimbursement | No | Covers exam fees, surgery, hospitalization and more. | Unlimited |
| Healthy Paws | $250 | $66 | 80% reimbursement | No | Covers illnesses, injury and surgeries. | Unlimited |
| Petplan | $300 | $77 | 80% reimbursement | No | Covers illnesses, injury and surgeries. | $15K, option for unlimited at higher premium |
| Petsbest – Plus Plan | $200 | $60 | 90% reimbursement options to change with higher premium | No | Emergency, hospital and more. | Yes – $5000 |
Pet insurance can be a great thing to have to give you peace of mind.