Does Skipping Florida Pet Insurance Save You Money?
You Might Be Surprised at the Answer!
Whether you just adopted a puppy or kitten, or you’ve got a furry family member that’s a few years old, you might not think pet insurance is something you need. After all, if your dog or cat is healthy, wouldn’t getting pet insurance be a waste of money?
The reasons for getting pet insurance for dogs and cats are the same as health insurance for humans—you never know what could happen. Your dog could fall, get injured while playing outside, or may end up contracting a rare disease. Situations can change overnight and it’s hard to predict whether an animal will stay healthy all their life.
According to the American Pet Products Association survey statistics for 2021-2022, 45.3 million people reported they own a cat, and 69 million people reported owning a dog. Despite so many people owning pets, just 4.41 million had pet insurance by the end of 2021, according to The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).
What Are Common Veterinary Emergencies?
The American Veterinary Association reports that there are 13 major vet emergencies requiring immediate care. Some of these are:
- Severe bleeding that can’t be controlled
- Choking, constant coughing, or trouble breathing
- Injuries to the body, face, or eyes
- Signs of stress or extreme pain
- Problems going to the bathroom
- Seizures
- Balance issues
- Prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
- Heatstroke
- Ingesting poison
Though there are many more, the AVMA recommends having your pet seen by an emergency veterinarian as soon as possible if they are acting abnormal or seem to be under health distress.
How Much Do Florida Veterinary Emergencies Usually Cost?
Prices for veterinary care can range widely depending on the needs of your pet, services provided, equipment needed, and how serious the emergency is.
Overnight hospital stays, toxin ingestion, trauma care, surgeries, and birthing complications can range into thousands of dollars. Emergencies like these are good reasons to consider pet insurance, as the cost of annual pet insurance premiums are often much less than just one emergency hospital visit.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
Depending on which plan and company you choose, coverage can vary. The good news is Galezano Insurance is an independent agency working for you, and will help select a plan based on you and your pet’s needs.
Here Are Some Types of Coverage You Can Choose From:
- Comprehensive accident and illness coverage. This covers situations from minor illness to major disease, veterinary emergency care, infections, surgeries, diagnostic testing, injuries, breed specific congenital conditions, thyroid conditions, diabetes, arthritis, and others. This type of coverage has the widest range of benefits.
- Accident-only coverage. This is usually a lower premium option for healthier pets less prone to hereditary conditions and does not cover illnesses. Some policy costs can vary depending on the breed’s chances of certain types of accidents happening.
- Wellness care or preventative care. These often include vaccinations, flea and heartworm prevention, spaying and neutering.
If your plan doesn’t have all the coverage that you need for your pet, some insurance carriers offer add-on coverage for dental care (and treatment for dental injuries or disease), wellness and preventative care coverage, or end-of-life expenses.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Prescriptions?
Some plans will cover certain medications, including flea and tick medications, vaccines, allergy medication and heartworm preventative medication.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It for a Cat?
Cats can get diseases, or get injured, just like dogs can. They also need the same types of preventative care as dogs do, and veterinary emergencies for cats can be just as expensive.
Having a pet insurance policy for your cat can help with these expenses.
Are You Thinking About Getting Pet Insurance For Your Dog or Cat?
It’s best not to wait until an emergency happens, but to gather the information today.
At Galezano Insurance, we understand that your pets are your family members, and we know you want to take the best care of them that you can.
We’re here to answer all your questions about pet insurance coverage and we’ll help you find the plan that’s right for you.
Call us today at 239-202-1233