BLOGGING THE VIEW: Why it’s worth considering pet insurance

The reality of modern pet ownership is that, unless you have funds stashed away for a medical emergency, your options don’t look great.
Fortunately, in the last few years, we’ve seen the arrival of pet insurance making animal care that much more affordable, and there are now lots of insurers that can meet your budgetary and medical needs.

What are the types of pet insurance?
There are several pet insurance set-ups, with insurance brokers often able to amend policies to meet your individual pet needs. Here are the 4 main pet insurance policies:

1. Accident-only policies
These are affordable pet insurance policies for young and healthy pets, that cover unintended injuries or accidents. They don’t cover pre-existing conditions or illnesses.

2. Comprehensive policies
If your budget allows, this pet insurance coverage is great as it covers all eventualities, including accidents, emergencies, illnesses and pre-existing conditions.

3. Routine care policies
This is a preventative care policy and can be a less expensive option, covering all routine care such as dental cleanings, vaccinations, tick and flee treatments, wellness checks, and spaying or neutering.

4. Time-limited policies
Another cost-effective policy is time-limited pet insurance which covers emergency room visits and check-ups, usually for a one-year period. This is great if you want to try out a policy or if you foster animals.

What are the benefits of pet insurance?
· The biggest benefit is the cost savings and peace of mind this can bring. Vet bills can be exorbitant and having a pet insurance policy will help you cover these costs
· You can keep using your vet, you don’t have to find a new one as you might find with human health insurance plans
· With pet insurance, you have access to after-hours assistance for accident or illness emergencies
· The market for pet insurance has grown so there are many reputable plans to choose from
· You can opt for pet insurance that covers more than just accidental challenges, such as routine care, vaccinations, pre-existing conditions and more.

Owning a pet is a great privilege but factoring in the cost of caring for them is an important aspect. If you’re considering adopting a new cat or dog, it’s worth looking at pet insurance policies before you start on this fun journey.