In 2016, the North American Pet Health Insurance Association reported that the average premium for Accident & Illness Plans were roughly $41 a month. Not bad. But truth be told, premiums vary widely.
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Like all other types of insurance, pet premiums depend on oh-so-many factors, including:
- Species (cats are generally cheaper to insure than dogs)
- Breed
- Where you live
- Coverages you purchase
- Pet health
- Deductibles (what you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in)
That said, coverage for your Chartreux might be in the range of $16 a month, while a pet plan for your French bulldog could be somewhere around $60. For this reason, it's not a bad idea to shop around and compare quotes — just like you would for health insurance, say, or an auto policy.
How does a pet plan work?
It's simple: you pay the vet, send your claim, and Petplan pays you back (up to your chosen reimbursement on your policy).
All Petplan policies cover the treatment your vet recommends to get your 4-legged pal back on its paws after an unexpected illness or injury (up to your policy limits, as long as the condition didn't pre-exist the policy or occur during the policy waiting period).
Treatments your pet could be covered for include:
- Prescription medications
- X-rays, MRI, and other imaging
- Laboratory and diagnostic testing
- Hospitalization and surgery
- Cancer treatment
- Hereditary conditions
- Dental conditions
- Long-term chronic conditions (like diabetes or hip dysplasia)
- Alternative treatments (like acupuncture or hydrotherapy)
How do reimbursements work?
Filing claims with Petplan is easy and can even be done via their easy-to-use mobile app. Just log in, upload photos of documentation, and hit submit. Simple as that.
Your reimbursement will be based on the actual amount you paid to the veterinary clinic, instead of a benefit schedule or a fee determined by the insurer.
That means you'll never max out per-incident or per-illness caps on coverage — because there aren't any. Instead, there's a simple annual limit of up to $22,000, depending on the coverage package you choose.
Once your pet is covered with Petplan, they're covered for life. While many insurers exclude chronic conditions as pre-existing once the policy term expires, Petplan covers chronic conditions year after year — with no individual price increases based on claims activity — as long as the policy is renewed each year without a break in coverage.
In other words, Petplan never raises your premium just because you've made a claim.
Is pet insurance worth it?
If your pet suffers serious illness or injury, it can be extremely stressful — both emotionally and financially. And costs for treatments like intensive care, meds, tests, and IV fluids can add up quickly. A pet plan, however, could cover most of those costs so you can focus on helping your pet make a a full recovery.
To be sure, there's no one-size-fits all package. As with most insurers (and anything, really), you have to balance quality with quantity. As a trusted Esurance partner, Petplan helps you tailor coverages around the specific needs of your pet so you get quality protection you need.
Find all the answers to your insurance questions here.