Anyone who has ever had to rush a pet to an emergency clinic in the early morning hours knows how fiendishly expensive pet health care can be. One little incident can end up costing one thousands of dollars. According to the USA Today, consumers average $651 of yearly veterinarian bills!
Instances like this are drawing more and more people to consider purchasing pet health insurance. Scraping the cash together for health care is stressful enough, but the prospect of not being able to afford it at all– and its potentially mortal consequences– is even worse. Just the cost of basic health care for a pet climbs every year.
Most insurance plans only offer coverage for certain types of pets. This is another consideration when purchasing insurance, especially if you have different kinds of pets and are hoping for multi-pet discounts.
According to American Veterinary Medical Association research statistics, the pets which require the most frequent veterinary visits and thus should be insured most are as follows:
1. Dogs
With proper care, dogs can lead long, healthy lives. Purebred dogs, which are more prone to genetic conditions according to PETA, are especially good candidates for insurance. Dog health insurance tends to be the most expensive because of what comprehensive care is required for man’s best friend. The Humane Society states, “There are approximately 78.2 million owned dogs in the United States.”
The ASPCA ballparks the average yearly medical cost for a medium size dog to be about $235 a year. This is a conservative estimate; the figure can easily range anywhere from $300 to $800 a year or more!
These figures include:
- Office visits
- Labs
- Vaccinations
- Basic parasite preventatives
- A small allowance for miscellaneous expenses
Where you live, where you get your pet’s medical care, and your pet’s breed can significantly change the number. The addition of dental cleanings, surgeries and especially emergency services can also push this cost significantly higher.
2. Cats
Cats have a unique array of illnesses they are prone to and vaccines they must get, but their ASPCA-estimated annual medical costs only come to $160. Dental cleanings and accident protection are also important for your feline friend. Many companies that insure dogs will also insure cats, giving you plenty of options to choose from.
3. Exotic Pets
Insurance for exotic pets such as reptiles, rodents and tropical birds can be difficult to find, but it is available. Your plan choices will be limited, but exotic pet insurance rarely costs more than $20 a month. Almost all exotic pets are lumped into one insurance category instead of having special plans for snakes, birds, and so forth.
The average cost of pet health insurance is between $250 and $1000 a year, not considering any deductibles. The plainest plan covers accident-related charges only for a very low price, while more comprehensive plans cover neutering, heartworm prevention, dental cleanings and illness-related care costs.
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