Why is Pet Insurance Important?
By: Lizz CaputoAre you struggling to decide whether pet insurance might be right for you? Consider the following advice before you give up on your hunt for pet insurance.
We believe that seeking out the best medical care for our pets should be an automatic "yes", given without hesitation. However, top-of-the-line vet care is not accessible and affordable for many. 1 in 3 pets need emergency vet treatment every year, and more veterinary specialists and advanced treatments are being introduced as time goes on. Nearly all carry with them a high price tag. This medical care can often cost thousands of dollars- money that many do not have saved away for such emergencies.
Costly Care
More pets are being saved by advanced healthcare treatments, and that care can be quite costly. And self-insuring is risky because you need enough time to save and build up a pet fund. But what happens if your pet gets sick before you are able to save enough money? Say your cute new puppy eats a sock next month, requiring $3,000 in veterinary care. The unexpected nature of such injuries and illnesses may find you with little-to-no savings to cover necessary treatment expenses. Pet medical insurance gives peace of mind for unexpected pet injuries and illnesses.
Unexpected Accidents or Illness
If you've been a pet parent before, you're likely no stranger to the plethora of accidents or illnesses that your dog or cat can suddenly suffer from. Ear infections, hip dislocation, and even cancer are all sadly commonplace for our companion animals as they age. There's also the scary possibility that your pet may get away from you and get hit by a car, or get into something toxic. We never want a dog or cat owner to choose between an expensive procedure that may save their pet's life and their saving's account.
The Cost of Healthcare for Puppies and Kittens
We spend more on our pets than ever before. Pet parents just like you have spent an estimated $18 billion a year on veterinary expenses alone. While that amount may be shocking, the fact that we are willing to spend so much to keep our dogs and cats healthy isn't surprising. After all, our pets are companions and family—a bond that spans the duration of our lives (and theirs). And when we are faced with an expensive procedure or treatment, without a financial safety net, it can be extremely difficult and even heartbreaking.
Particularly when you're adopting a kitten or puppy, you're pretty much guaranteed to have a hefty vet bill right off the bat. Not only do young animals need lots of exams, vaccines, and eventually a spay/neuter surgery, they also are pretty indiscriminate about what they get into. Our plans cover new injuries or illnesses—so, if that new pup eats some garbage or has a bout of diarrhea, simply visit the veterinarian and submit your paid vet bill for reimbursement. Puppy insurance frees you up to concentrate on more important things, like puppy playtime and snuggles!
You also may want to consider wellness coverage for all those mandatory preventative vet visits within the first year. While you may not be using benefits like dental at such a young age, you certainly will want to get all their shots as well as a baseline wellness exam to ensure they're starting off happy and healthy.
Still not convinced? Maybe this will help. At Figo, we care so much about pet parents investing in pet insurance, even our CEO has said, "pet insurance can make a huge difference in the lives of you and your pet. We believe everyone should have it, even if it’s not from us." Pet insurance is vital to all pet owners, and for dogs and cats of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Our plans average less than $1.50 a day - get a quote to see if Figo pet insurance might be right for you.
Lizz Caputo is a Content Strategist at Figo, animal enthusiast, and owner of a rescued senior American Bully. Her hobbies include checking out new restaurants in her area, boxing, and petting dogs of all shapes and sizes.