Is Pet Insurance Worth It? What Does it Cover?

Pet insurance is not a variation of health insurance for humans but is more like property insurance. It primarily covers dogs, cats, and horses because they're the most expensive animals to treat.

It can be customized to cover a wider range of pets, including rabbits, exotic birds, reptiles, ferrets, and certain rodents.

Purchasing pet insurance is like your property insurance than your medical insurance. You take your pet to your veterinarian to have them treated and then submit the charges to your pet insurance company. You'll receive reimbursement if your policy covers the services provided by the veterinarian.

You don't have to obtain approval from your insurance company before treatment. The coverages should be detailed in your policy.

Here's where it looks more like your human medical insurance. Most pet insurance companies offer three levels of coverage.

• Basic coverage is the cheapest and will help pay for injuries and illness in addition to routine procedures.
• Comprehensive coverage is more expensive but covers more, including lab fees, x-rays, tests, prescriptions, office visits, injuries, and illness.
• There's also coverage for preventative visits and vaccinations. Deductibles and maximums are involved depending upon your policy.

The cost depends on how much coverage you want, plus the age of your pet and their health when you purchase the policy.

Older animals will cost more to insure - some companies have age limits - and there might be exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Some companies simply won't cover certain breeds with a history of health problems.

The monthly cost for a dog can range from $20 to $50.

No. Veterinary Discount Plans are membership-based and require you to pay a monthly fee to receive reduced rates from the veterinarians who participate in the plan.

These plans can save you some money for normal vet services. However, in the event of a major injury or illness, you'll still have considerable out-of-pocket expenses, some of which would be covered by a pet insurance policy.

These discount plans are not regulated by the government.

Like any insurance, pet insurance is a benefit in case of an emergency. Dogs will be dogs, so there will be times they get into things they shouldn't. Cats have their share of emergencies, from exposure to toxins to bone fractures.

When your pet needs urgent care, you don't want to have to make a decision based on cost. Pet insurance will help take the cost of care out of your decision-making.

Routine annual care for dogs costs between $200-$400; for cats, $90-$200. The range in costs depends upon where you live, the size, and the age of your pet. The routine costs are simple budget items for most pet owners.

The value of pet insurance is when you're dealing with an illness or injury. Emergency treatment can exceed $1,000, not including possible surgery. Can your budget handle that expense?

Unfortunately no. This is where pet insurance differs from your medical insurance. Any vet can treat your pet because coverage does not require acceptance by the veterinarian.

You pay for the treatment and then submit the costs to your insurance company. Your reimbursement is dependent upon the coverage you have in your policy.

There are some 28 companies offering pet insurance in the US. The number includes a variety of companies, such as Nationwide, MetLife, Petco, and the ASPCA.

Some employers are beginning to offer pet insurance as an employee benefit.

The difference isn't between companies as much as it is between policy coverage. You'll want to look at annual deductible and coverage, reimbursement percentage, and monthly premium.

The policies generally fall into three categories: accident, illness, and wellness. You'll need to take a detailed look at each to determine what works best for you. You'll also have the option of adding dental and prescription coverage.