Should You Buy Pet Health and Dental Insurance for Your Dog or Cat?

The number of owners buying pet health and dental insurance for their dogs and cats is on the rise in America and climbing each year. Concerned owners seem to be trying to make sure they have the ability to pay for the cost of routine care and any unexpected medical or dental emergencies for their pets. Though I am not against health or dental insurance for dogs and cats, I do think there are some good guidelines for helping you make the decision in purchasing insurance for your dog or cat, as well as other options that can help you be able to pay for the routine care of your pet as well as those unexpected emergencies.

Research Before You Buy. There are currently several companies offering pet health and dental insurance for dogs and cats. I highly recommend that you do a lot of research before you buy. Compare prices, read reviews, and thoroughly read through the information of each insurance you are interested in.

Make sure you find out what is covered and what is not. Some pet health insurances will only cover emergency care and not routine care or the other way around. Many will not cover pre-existing or breed-specific hereditary health problems. Some include routine dental care and emergencies, while others don't, requiring you to purchase extra or separate insurance for dental coverage for your pet. Some will not insure pets past a certain age or the price is much higher for older pets.

It is also important that you know what the co-pay, deductible, and monthly premiums are. Then find out if there is a pay cap on coverage that won't go beyond a certain dollar amount. If you have more than one pet, find out if the insurance offers a discount for insuring multiple pets.

Make sure you know the pet insurance you choose inside and out before you buy so you are not caught off guard by unexpected costs or medical and dental care that is not covered. One good site for comparing pet insurance companies is Pet Insurance Review. You can read customer reviews and opinions, compare rates and coverage, and get free quotes from multiple pet insurance companies.

Does the Company You Work for Offer Pet Insurance? There has been a recent rise in companies that offer pet health insurance as an option to their employees. If you don't know if your company offers pet insurance or not, it wouldn't hurt to find out. If your company does offer it, you may get the insurance for less than you would purchasing it on your own. Once again, make sure you know the insurance inside and out before you decide to take it.

Clinics that Offer Low Cost or Free Routine Pet Care. You might be surprised to learn that there may be clinics in your area that offer low cost or free pet care for dogs and cats. Many of these clinics offer low cost or free shots, medical exams, spaying, neutering, and even micro-chipping. When I lived in Chicago, there were clinics that offered these services if you lived in certain zip code areas. I lived in one of those areas and my cat was able to get a complete physical exam and shots for $25 as well as having him neutered for free. The clinic I went to took care of cats and dogs. The dogs that came in were also micro-chipped for free. To find out if there are any clinics like this in your area, you can easily do a little online research or call your local veterinary clinics, shelters, or humane societies to find out if they have any information.

Savings Instead of Insurance. If you're not sure you want to purchase insurance for your pet, but you would like to make sure you have the money in case there is an unexpected emergency, you could always start a savings account for such an occasion. This can also be a good option if the only insurance you can find that will cover your pet costs more than you are willing or able to pay.

Related Content:

National Pet Dental Health Month

How to Brush Your Cat's Teeth

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Sources:

Pet Insurance Review

MSN Money - Pet Insurance