How important is insurance, really? Not a whole lot. After all, how often do dogs really get sick? That was my frame of thought about 3 years ago when I got my first dog Lucy. I had a dog in the past, but it was a when I was a child and kids don't think about insurance. Why should they, they're kids and the cuteness of their pet, takes top priority.
When I first got Lucy, I thought if anything happened to her it would probably be a one-off situation and I could deal with it when the time came. I figured I'd be prepared somehow and it wouldn't be an issue. I couldn't be more wrong. Illness is definitely not something you can plan. This is true pets, just like it is for people. And to make matters worse Lucy didn't get sick alone, she became ill right along with Ricky, which I adopted about a year later. Yes, two sick dogs at the same time. Do you think I was prepared for that? Not even close. It cost me $650 for an emergency vet visit to get them checked and then leave them both overnight, while their system got flushed. That was just for one night, one check up and one treatment.
Ricky & Lucy at the Vet
Yes, many people have emergency funds for such instances, or can just put it on a credit card and pay it off eventually, but not everybody has these options. If you don't, or even if you do, you may still want to look into getting pet insurance because it will save you money! If it's going to cost $1500, but only $800 with insurance, wouldn't you rather just pay the $800??
Since this site is focused on Chihuahuas (for the most part), I thought I'd include some health issues that can be common for this breed. It doesn't mean they will experience all of these, it may just be one, or maybe none, but they're worth noting. The list also includes what it can cost to treat them.
Luxating Patella - $1,500 to $3,000 (Between 75% and 80% of Chihuahuas that have luxating patellas have an inherited problem)
Heart Disease - $5,000 to $20,000
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Heart Murmur - $5,000 to $20,000
Pulmonic Stenosis - $15,000 to $20,000
Eye Problems - $50 to $3,000 per eye
Dental Problems - $200 to $2,000
Tracheal Collapse - $4,000 to $7,000
Bladder Stones - $50 to $500
Molera
In the past, there were only a handful of pet insurance/medical plan providers for pets, but now there are many more, including premium insurance companies like Nationwide, Farmers and Liberty Mutual (which is actually branded as ASPCA Pet Insurance). There are also medical plans offered by individual vets and clinics like the one I have for Lucy and Ricky from the VCA Pet Clinic in my area. Insurance/medical plans can range from $15 a month, to $50 a month or more. It just depends on what you choose.
This may not be a complete guide of all pet insurance providers, but I say it's a pretty good list with which to get started. I will include links to various providers, as well as links to comparison websites which may also help in your decision making process. Once you've reviewed them, you will be able to pick the one that works best for you and your pet.
If you want a quick review and comparison site, you can visit following websites:
Other "Medical Plans" can usually be found at your local vet office or pet clinic near you. Medical plans sometimes include one teeth cleaning a year, which can cost close to $500 on its own. You might want to keep that in mind when comparing the different insurance plans and medical plans.
Hope this information proves to be helpful, and may you and your pet be well!
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