January can be a time of settling in, enjoying a bit of post-holiday calm and trying out those great gifts you were given. Many people will have welcomed a new pet into their home over the holidays, wether it was a gift to the children or the mutual decision of a new couple. Here is a great article on how to be a responsible pet parent, and ease your new family member’s entry into your home!
Chances are, many people welcomed a new pet into their home for the holiday season, which is wonderful!
Bringing a new pet into your home is an exciting time. There are tons of things you have to do. First, you need to purchase pet beds, food, toys, andperhaps a few extra items. Then, you need to start socializing your pet and getting them used to your routine. Before you know it, the new year has started, and kids are back to school, and you are back to your busy schedule.
Although 2016 is bound to speed by like all the other years, it is important to start the new year off correctly by signing up your pet for pet insurance.Even if your pet has been with you for a while, there is no better time than the present to get your pet insured.
When I was working at the veterinary hospital, a lot of people said that they heard that pet insurance was a scam. For a handful of reasons, pet insurance in it’s early years received a bad wrap. I think partly because pet insurance is structured so differently from our own insurance, and partly because it was a new concept and there were some issues with previous policies. However, pet insurance has evolved, and I think it could be a very valuable tool for most pet parents.
Here are Some of the Benefits of Pet Insurance:
1) Financial Security:
I don’t know about you, but I always set a few financial goals at the beginning of the new year. The new year is simply a great time to try and establish new financial habits.
How does pet insurance fit into this plan and goal? Well, like many other forms of insurance, pet insurance proves beneficial when you need it. For example, one and a half years ago Rooney slipped a disc in his back during a time when my husband and I had no additional room in our budget.
Of course, Rooney’s injury occurred at 5:30 pm on a Friday meaning only emergency veterinarians were still open. Thankfully, Rooney would fully recover from his injury in 3 weeks without needing surgery. However, his overnight stay at the emergency hospital and the subsequent follow-up visits cost us approximately $1500. Thanks to our pet insurance, we later received checks covering 90% of the cost after our deductible and exam fees. Ultimately, we received about 75% of the total cost back.
2) Alternative Treatments:
If you select an insurance that covers a wide array of treatments, if and when the time comes to try something new for your pet’s health, your answer can be yes with no hesitation. I had a patient who suddenly began showing signs of a brain tumor. Her pet parent had taken the time to sign her up for pet insurance when she was 9 years old.
Because he had taken the time to prepare, he was able to take her up to the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital to receive radiation treatments for her tumor. The patient fully recovered and showed no further symptoms within a few months. Additionally, 90% of all costs were covered.
3) Customizable Plans & Options:
Pet instance has evolved significantly in the last 15 years. As a result, pet parents now have access to a variety of plans and options. Not to mention customization. For example, when we had our financial circumstances change, I lowered the monthly payment for Rooney’s insurance, and I have the ability to make adjustments again if I need to.
So what is stopping you from getting pet insurance for your pet?
Republished from 4Knines