Last week, we heard one pet owner’s personal experience with pet health insurance, especially when a beloved cat was in serious trouble caused by a simple hairball. Thanks to pet health insurance, Mark was relieved to be able to follow veterinarians’ recommendations for the cat’s care and treatment, regardless of the cost. Pet health insurance gave Mark peace of mind, and weeks later, Mark’s cat is well on the way to a full recovery.
I asked pet owners and pet professionals their opinions: “Pet health insurance—is it worth it?”
Jeff Batdorf (California) We had pet insurance for the first couple of years of our dog’s life. After realizing we weren’t going to get much out of it because he was very healthy, we decided to open a Bodhi savings account and just put the monthly payment for health insurance into it. At $50/month, that was $600/year we’ve been putting away. He’s now 11 and in for surgery today to remove a couple of cysts and to have some dental work done. We’ll still have money in the account after the $1,500 bill. We also use the account to pay for his shots and flea protection, but not for his yearly license. Now, you have to be disciplined enough to not dig into it for personal issues, but we knew he would need more medical attention when he got older, so it was worth it.
Christine Hale Vertucci (Illinois) Absolutely! Both of my dogs are covered. In the past year, one was diagnosed with NM-DCM [nutritionally mediated dilated cardiomyopathy] and sees a cardiologist twice a year for an echocardiogram. My older dog had a major health scare last December requiring a two-night hospital stay, CT scan, multiple X-rays, ultrasounds, and labs. The cost was $8,000. We easily met our deductibles and we are reimbursed 80% of the costs for treatments. It helps to know that we will never have to make difficult decisions based on the cost.
Nyssa Gatcombe (Maine) Definitely. It saved us $6,000 when my dog swallowed a sock.
Photo by Nicole Vaughn
Evee Linden (Connecticut) Yes. Scooby was insured at 10 months; $62/month for 8 years come this month = $5,952. We didn’t need to use his insurance until he was five years old, but in the last three years, we have had three UTIs, a broken molar, and now liver issues that are not responding to treatment (they haven’t even been able to fully diagnose him). Next step is a specialist. So far, with all of this, I’ve gotten about $6,000 back, so I’ve broken even—everything else is just extra. Of course, I wish I didn’t have to use it, but I am so grateful I do have it. By locking in a young-dog rate with Trupanion, it has definitely been worth it. One of my dogs required a $12,000 cancer surgery and that is not even expensive compared to other costs. I will never not have health insurance for them. It’s a financial peace of mind.
As a trainer, I have this discussion with every client. One client dilly-dallied: her dog broke out yesterday and got kicked in the head by a horse. She got lucky—it was superficial and only $400. Once the dog is cleared medically, my client is signing her dog up for insurance. She was looking to save that $60 a month. I love the fact that I can tell my vet to “Do what you have to do!” Even my ball python and my two rabbits have pet health insurance.
Lee Stone (Australia) I have just one dog insured. Even with her ever-increasing premiums—because of her being a senior now—her insurance has paid for itself more than once. She has had two cruciate repairs and then a further three knee operations as the hardware needed taking out after infections (some 18 months later), chronic UTIs, and other bits and pieces over the years. If I’d saved her premiums only, I’d never have been able to pay for all of her surgeries.
Summer Storm Kingery DVM (North Carolina) My experience as a home with 6 to 10 pets—so far, for 7 out of 10 pets, pet insurance has poured more money into my pets than I have poured into pet insurance for that pet. Two pets declined rapidly and pet insurance wasn’t a great help. One hasn’t needed her insurance yet. My JRT’s radiation with chemo + side effects of treatment, which has bought us four years so far, was $11,000. Add in the GDV, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, Cushing’s, nasal FB, glaucoma, trauma, dog attack, hyperparathyroid tumor, acute hypertension, muzzle MCT, a digital bone infection that resulted in amputation after months of trying to save the toe, multiple sarcomas, medial luxating patellas, etc. . . . Well, I’m a vet and get discounts, and still don’t go without pet insurance. I learned my lesson early. Now, I confess, I have TERRIBLE luck as an owner and as a vet. I see lots of bizarre stuff . . . or at least, I test for lots of stuff and thus find it where others might shrug their shoulders and say, “Well, he’s old.”
Shelly Keel (California) It was for me. With an active dog who lived to almost 15, we had a few very costly procedures and then some costly long-term meds. Even taking into consideration that benefits were not used for long periods? Insurance for the win. Pets Best, then Trupanion.
Shirley De Vore (Washington) I have Embrace pet insurance on my dog. They pay 90% after a deductible that I choose. I recently lost a dog that, in a week’s time, had a bill of $3,500. I am grateful I had the insurance, and now have it on my new pup. Regular teeth cleaning is not covered, but if it’s an abscess or broken tooth or a root canal or crown—yeah, who knew, that’s covered! It’s like my health care—I don’t like it, but I appreciate it if I need it. The key is early coverage. A pre-existing condition on most any pet insurance is not covered.
Alison Taub (California) It’s been crucial for me, but I think it really depends on how many dogs you have and what your financial situation is. When my finances were good and I didn’t have insurance, I was fine, but I wouldn’t have a dog without it now.
Therese Kopiwoda (Indiana) YES! I’ve had dogs and a cat with cancer and there’s no way I could have paid for the necessary treatment otherwise. With one of my dogs, she was able to live a happy six years after being diagnosed with cancer. The insurance company paid out about $50K over that six years. I’d have had to make very different decisions without insurance, and the dog likely wouldn’t have had such a good quality of (or long) life without it. Health insurance for my animals is a must. If I can’t afford insurance, I can’t afford the animal.
Dale Ward (North Carolina) I have one dog so, yes. And it’s already paid for itself several times over and my dog is only five. If I had five to ten dogs, I couldn’t afford it. Then again, I couldn’t afford to care for that many dogs even without insurance. No doubt, pet ownership is expensive. Veterinary medicine has come a long way and we can now treat so many conditions successfully, whereas in the past we would have had to consider euthanasia or “let nature take its course.” Not being able to pay for life-saving treatment leaves us riddled with guilt. It’s a terrible situation to be in.
