It is no secret pet care does not come cheap. It is true, some people are willing to do whatever it takes/whatever it costs. What about the pet owners who simply draw the line after spending about $500 on veterinary care? Sadly, as costs go up, fewer owners are likely to pay for the care their pet requires. So that brings us to the question, is pet insurance worth it? A common misconception is that if you purchase pet insurance-your pet care costs will decrease. Even disappear! This is not necessarily true. Just like ‘human’ health care coverage as its ‘fine print’ and exceptions, so does pet insurance. There are many things to consider when researching an insurer:
Many insurers will exclude pets’ pre-existing conditions. This can cause a problem when trying to get coverage, or even when renewal comes up. Something that was covered for your pet last year might not be covered this year. Be sure to read the fine print. This comes directly from Embrace, “If your cat or dog has had any of the following conditions prior to enrolling in an Embrace plan any related recurrence
will be EXCLUDED for 12 months from the date of the last episode: (and they list orthopedic injury, diabetes, cancer, urinary issues or chronic conditions among others.)
Insurers often offer expensive ‘add-ons’ which truly, in the end, do not add up to your out-of-pocket expenses.
With these plans, make no mistake. You are the one paying the whole bill initially. The provider THEN reimburses you after the care has been given and a ‘reasonable expense’ has been assessed. Which brings us back to the limits on coverage- you need to see what is & is not covered by your insurer, often it is not until a claim has been denied that this arises. Instead of spending anywhere from 10$-90$ a month on Pet Insurance that may or may not cover whatever circumstance arise in the future, here are a few things you can do to avoid unexpected, high veterinary costs.
Put aside an extra couple hundred dollars a year for pet care. Should the need arise, you will be prepared for your pets expenses.
Neutered animals are less aggressive, therefore less likely to get into fights. Spayed animals are less likely to develop breast cancer.
Keep medicine and vaccinations up to date with annual ‘preventative’ visits to your veterinarian. Besides the really extreme cases, it seems pet insurance does not come full circle. The money put into it is not what you get back, so keep that in mind.
A little money spent now can go a long way in preparing for your pet’s well being and a long, happy and healthy life.
Learn more at West Hartford Pet Sitters. 
