It is National Pet Health Insurance Month

We all love our pets. In fact, for many, pets are an integral part of the family. Like us, they require health care in order to maintain a healthy life. This care can range from the basics such as annual exams, vaccines and flea preventatives, to advance disease processes, emergency surgery and acute health problems. Additionally, advances in veterinary medicine now provide our pets with many more medical options when seeking treatment. That said, the cost of the care can add up quickly if you are not prepared.

As part of National Pet Health Insurance Month, the team at Bothell Pet Hospital wanted to take this time to share with you a handful of the benefits of pet health insurance:

Emergencies– Are you ever truly ready for a pet emergency? We would all like to think our pets will not need emergency care, but odds are they will and, chances are at the most inopportune time. With a health insurance plan in place, you will know that you have the support you need and can make those difficult veterinary care decisions based on the pet’s needs without having to weigh the financial costs as well.

Family Veterinarian– Unlike many human health insurance policies, most pet insurance plans allow you to secure your pet’s care from the veterinarian or veterinary practice of your choice. You would just need to submit your pet’s bill to the insurance provider for a reimbursement of qualified expenses.

Costs – Pet insurance provides an easy way to help budget your pet’s veterinary care costs and, in the end, can help save you money depending on the advanced care your pet may need.

Chronic Care– Having pet insurance allows you to provide the care for your pet based on the pet’s needs as opposed to what is within the family’s finances (as addressed above). Care for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. can be cost prohibitive. Your pet insurance plans will cover a majority of the care costs after the initial deductible. (Review care options with the provider before making your final decision.)

No Age Restrictions– Most pet insurance policies do not discriminate against a pet’s age or breed. Of course, it is highly recommended that you obtain pet health insurance as early as possible in their life as it does help lower the premiums, but you can often insure even a senior pet you may have just adopted. Just check with the provider for the best option. (It is important to note that most companies do not cover pre-existing conditions and the premiums for older pets may too be cost prohibitive for most families. Again, review the best options for you and your pet.)

Employee Benefits– We highly recommend checking with your employer about the pet health insurance plan option. Many companies offer subsidized pet health plans to their employees as an added benefit. An example of local companies that offer this option are Boeing Employee’s Credit Union, Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union, RealSelf and Amazon.

Like our health insurance, pet health insurance comes in many different forms including the size of the deductible and what expenses will be covered. It is important to do your research to ensure a health plan is the best for you and your pet. Here is a selection of our top five (5) recommendations:

As always, the team at Bothell Pet Hospital strives to remain an invaluable resource for you and your pet. If you have any questions about your pet’s health or potential tools and resources, please do not hesitate to give us a call at 425.486.3251.