Happy New Year!
Well, it is now 2025. Oh, how I’m trying to wrap my head around that! I’m guessing that you are, too.
And here’s something else that occurred to me during the height of the Christmas/ Hanukkah season… What should our valued friends and clients know about pet health insurance? See, it struck me that some folks might have been gifted with a fluffy fur ball for the holidays. Okay, if proper preparation was made and everyone understood the responsibilities such a gift would entail, that would be a memorable present for sure! But it might also get a new pet owner wondering whether or not pet health insurance is necessary or even worthwhile.
And the verdict? Well…it depends.
I tend to do a little research online when I have these types of questions, and the most helpful article I found is called, “Is Pet Insurance Worth It? We’ve Got the Pros and Cons” by Timothy Moore on a site called THE PENNY HOARDER. (You can do a quick Google search and read the whole thing for yourself if you like, but I’ll break down the basics—with my thoughts as well—for you here if that’s more convenient.)
To begin with, like all insurance, pet health coverage is basically a gamble. You’re betting that your puppy is going to get sick, and that caring for that illness will be expensive. If Oyster never gets sick, then you’re paying for something you’ll never use. That’s obviously not a great way to spend your money. But…if Oyster does get sick and the treatment is covered by your pet health insurance plan, well, then the money you’ve invested is wisely spent. Of course, the operative phrase in that last sentence is, “and the treatment is covered.” That also might be a risk. How do you attempt to manage that risk?
Again, like most other insurance, pet health coverage is tied to the likelihood of illnesses needing treatment. That relates to Oyster’s age, breed, pre-existing conditions (or lack thereof), and health record. If Oyster is young and healthy, the cost of his premium will generally be less expensive than if he’s old and sick and more likely to need interventions. You’ll also want to evaluate exactly how much coverage you might want. A policy that only handles emergencies will generally be more affordable than one that handles other, more routine, procedures.
Here’s when having a conversation with us can help. We can speak about Oyster’s breed in general…and his age and health in particular. Arming yourself with this information can help you make better choices when you begin to look for plans. There are a couple of specific things that Timothy Moore points out that I think need to be shared. One is that, in general, payment for pet health coverage is handled through reimbursement. That means you pay up front for treatment, send the insurance company the receipt, and they send you the amount that your policy covers. (Moore recommends starting a “separate savings fund for vet emergencies,” and I agree with him—having money earmarked ahead of time can certainly be a plus, and helps soften the blow of what could be significant costs.) Moore also reminds readers that most pet plans require deductibles, meaning that you’re probably going to be paying some share of Oyster’s healthcare out of pocket.
Still, because of the way covered expenses are reimbursed, you get to choose your own veterinary professional. That means if you like us, you can keep us…your insurance company won’t be dictating who you can use because they’re “in the network.” That is a big plus. So, how expensive is pet health insurance anyway? The North American Pet Health Insurance Association puts the average cost at around $50 per month, or nearly $600 per year (this, of course, is an average…Oyster’s costs may vary). Okay, I wouldn’t want to toss $600 out of a car window for laughs, but I also know that some of the procedures that we do that are necessary to maybe save your pet’s life cost much more than that. Having pet health insurance in those cases can certainly offer some peace of mind.
And maybe that’s the key phrase: peace of mind. We all love our furry friends—whether they were holiday gifts or not—and would never want to make the choice between their life and the cost of a medical procedure. Having pet health insurance can certainly help with that. And so can preventative care. Have I mentioned that it’s now 2025? (Of course I have.) Whether you have pet health insurance or not, check in with us and see what treatments for Oyster may be coming due. Schedule that appointment! We’ll make sure that he gets everything he needs to keep him healthy—and keep you smiling—in this new year.
Animal Hospital of Sullivan County
667 Harris Rd
Ferndale NY 12734