• Three pairs of shoes, one leather sofa, and the latest Louis Vuitton purse: $5,500
  • Foreign body surgery after your Lab puppy swallows the laces from your newest pair of shoes: $3,000
  • Hospitalization for severe chocolate toxicity after your Lab puppy discovered your secret stash: $2,000
  • Cranial cruciate ligament surgery on both your Lab’s knees: $10,000
  • Routine testing and lifelong medical treatment for your Lab’s hypothyroidism: $600 per year
  • The unwavering lifetime of love from your beloved companion: Priceless

While pet insurance won’t reimburse you for goods damaged by your rambunctious puppy, it can mitigate the costs of a lifetime of emergencies, specialty care, and chronic disease treatment. Some medical conditions can be avoided through routine wellness care, while others can be prevented by keeping your inquisitive pup away from chew-worthy objects, but occasionally an emergency or specialist visit will be necessary, which can rack up a costly bill. To help handle the cost of pet ownership, whether it’s for wellness care, emergency care, or a specialist visit, create a pet-care budget that can tackle any situation.

How pet health insurance can cover the cost of unexpected pet care

Pet health insurance is a wonderful option to help cover those hefty emergency and specialty care veterinary bills. Insurance policies may also cover routine wellness care, but you can likely budget for annual preventive services, and save on the insurance premium. Your pet’s health insurance policy can cover up to 90% of an unexpected veterinary bill, whether your furry pal ate something they shouldn’t have, or suffered an unfortunate accident. 

Before locking into an insurance policy, do your research. Choose features important to you, such as coverage of genetic or hereditary conditions, and direct payment to your pet’s veterinarian at the time of service. Once you’ve researched the pros and cons of your top providers, discuss policy options with the company’s customer service representatives. The friendliness and helpfulness of a company’s customer service is another key consideration, as you will be turning to them with questions regarding your pet’s coverage. 

How to save money on your pet’s care through regular preventive care

While scheduling a veterinary visit when your pet appears perfectly healthy may seem unnecessary, that is the perfect time to check out your furry pal. During a regular wellness exam, we will check your pet from nose to tail, searching for any abnormalities or changes from their last visit. We’ll discuss their lifestyle and exposure risk, to determine the vaccinations necessary to keep your pet healthy. We will also perform baseline diagnostic testing, which allows us to detect subtle variances in your pet’s health status. With an early disease diagnosis, we can much more successfully treat your four-legged friend’s condition, and save you money in the long run with less intensive treatment. 

How to budget for your pet’s routine wellness care

It’s tough to budget for unexpected emergencies or serious illness, but you can help stave off grave disease through wellness care. By planning and budgeting for your pet’s routine preventive care, you can ensure your best friend has the vital care they need to remain as healthy as possible. Each year, or even twice per year, your pet should have a comprehensive wellness exam, lifestyle-appropriate vaccinations, parasite screening and prevention, and baseline diagnostic testing. With the realization your pet will require these necessities, set aside a certain amount from each paycheck into a special pet-care savings account. Add in extra when possible to cover potential emergencies or specialist care. The easiest way to budget for your pet’s health care is to set up a repeating deposit to directly transfer funds to your pet’s savings account on each payday. 

Options for paying for your pet’s care

Many options are available for paying for your beloved companion’s vital veterinary care. Through routine wellness care, we can prevent many diseases from harming your pet, reducing your overall cost over your pet’s lifetime. And, during emergencies and unexpected veterinary visits, you can rely on the various options, such as a bank loan, rescue fund, CareCredit, or pet health insurance, to help cover the cost of urgent care. 

While CareCredit, which does not charge the typical credit card interest fees, is an excellent option for eligible clients, this medical credit card can be used only up to your approved limit. With pet health insurance, you can choose a plan that does not cap its payout. However, keep your deductible, monthly premium, and reimbursement schedule in mind, to ensure you have the financial resources to cover these costs, or to wait for a potentially lengthy period for reimbursement. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed when researching pet insurance policies, contact us for advice. We can recommend the coverage that would best suit your pet’s needs.