Thirty years ago, as a new veterinarian, I saw companies emerging and offering pet insurance to owners. Premiums seemed high, and I felt if owners put a little money aside each month it would cover anything the veterinarian could offer a pet in an emergency. As time passed, my opinion has swung completely around, and I believe every owner should have pet insurance. Pet insurance companies have plans ranging from those covering only emergencies with high deductibles and low premiums to plans that offer comprehensive wellness programs for pets.
Today, if you go and acquire a new pet at a shelter, rescue organization, or as a registered purebred, you will likely be offered a free trial period. The Canadian Kennel Club offers six weeks of insurance to anyone acquiring a purebred registered puppy. Most clinics have several brochures for pet insurance and some insurance companies offer trial insurance to new puppies and kittens coming into the hospital hoping the owner will sign up for the long haul. Some specific breeds and older pets are assessed on an individual basis and most companies require a client to release their pet’s medical records to assess the pet for pre-existing or genetic conditions. A new client starting insurance on a pet with severe chronic skin disease will find it unlikely any company will take this pet on without an exclusion for the pre-existing condition. Some chronic issues will have caps put on insurance paid out. This is not unlike some of the rules and protections we might encounter if we were acquiring our own health insurance. My experience has been that most companies with a new pet on the books will look at something like a mild pre-existing ear infection and remove an exclusion if the pet then remains clear of further ear infections for six months. Read the fine print, insurance companies do want to make money but the relief of knowing catastrophic illness or accidents are covered is priceless.
Expensive insurance plans cover everything under what is often referred to as Wellness Plans. These are comprehensive plans covering all preventative medicine, annual exams, vaccinations, specialized medical diets, and everything else. Today, in Calgary, your pet can get an MRI, CAT scan, be treated with chemotherapy for cancer, and be referred to almost as diverse a group of specialists as you will see at the Foothills Hospital. There are alternative practitioners offering acupuncture and homeopathic treatments. Rehabilitation facilities exist with underwater treadmills. All of this can be covered under the premium plans. Plans are available which include nail trims, dental cleanings, annual blood work, kenneling, the expenses incurred if you lose your pet, and even holiday cancellation insurance if your pet becomes ill.
Less expensive plans only cover illness and accidents, not preventative treatment. The least expensive plans only cover emergency accidents. With the advent of urban leash laws and cat bylaws, the frequency of pets being hit by cars, something I once saw on a weekly, even daily basis two decades ago, is rare. Insurance premiums can be lowered by having high deductibles or the company paying a lower reimbursement percentage. Every company assesses every pet and client as an individual to meet their needs and budget. Do your research.
I once overheard a client ask for their receipt to make a claim from their insurance company. As I paused to greet the client, she told me that she was not insured through one of the companies I was familiar with. Her husband’s employer has a group health benefit plan for all staff. This plan recognizes that studies show that people with pets are healthier and live longer. Therefore, the group benefit plan covered the veterinary care of the employee’s pets. As an ardent believer in the Human-Animal Bond, I am astounded by the evolution of pet insurance in our society. May you and your pets be safe and well and never need the emergency part of your pet insurance.
