Imagine it is a warm sunny spring day and you and your dog are out on a nice brisk walk. He is happily trotting along by your side, and you are enjoying every minute watching him. Then the next day, you notice something a bit odd – Roscoe is now limping and doesn’t have his same vigor. After a visit to your primary care veterinarian, your pet is referred to a board-certified veterinary surgeon for orthopedic surgery to fix a torn ligament in his hind leg.

After a bit of panic, the surgeon assures you that this is the best option for your furry loved one and that he will be back to being a healthy and agile pup. Then the second worry comes in: how am I going to pay for this? But you are immediately relieved because most of Roscoe’s surgery cost is covered through your pet insurance- in fact 90% of it! A few months after surgery and recovery, you and Roscoe are back outside running around, and you’ve even splurged on a few new dog toys.

This is the value of pet insurance: not having to decide between your family’s budget and your pet’s health—a decision we know that many pet owners, unfortunately, have to make.

Why Your Pet Needs Health Insurance

Pet insurance is one of the most valuable investments a pet owner can make for their dog or cat. While annual veterinarian visits and exams might be affordable and manageable for some families, the financial worries from an unexpected emergency or advanced specialty care for a complicated illness or injury can often compound an already stressful situation. However, pet insurance can help ease some of the financial pressure. Most pet health insurance plans pay up to 80–90% after deductible, significantly reducing the cost to your family and the strain on your wallet.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

The monthly cost of pet insurance is not nearly as expensive as human health care insurance and can sometimes be cheaper than your daily coffee budget. And, most importantly, annual pet insurance premiums can be significantly less than even one emergency room visit or procedure. A monthly premium can range from as low as $10 to more than $100, though most pet owners can expect to pay between $30 and $50 per month for a plan with decent coverage. That’s just around $1 per day!

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Most pet insurance plans, such as Nationwide and Embrace, will cover the cost of care after it has been provided. The pet owner pays for the treatment or procedure then submits a claim; after processing the claim, the insurance company sends a reimbursement check. There are also some direct-pay programs like Trupanion that pay the veterinary hospital directly.

Hard Numbers: In 2019, Trupanion covered over $120,000 in veterinary bills for 21 of The COVE’s patients, including one claim of $13,000 for intestinal foreign body.

Like all things with your pet, it is important to shop around. Your pet’s breed and age will impact the annual premiums. You can learn about the various pet insurance plans and compare their features and monthly costs here.

Who Accepts Pet Insurance?

The COVE strongly recommends pet insurance and accepts all pet plans. We are happy to submit claims on behalf of clients who have pet health insurance, or we can provide information for clients who need to submit claims for reimbursement.

Additional Payment Options

What happens if you don’t have pet insurance but your dog or cat experiences an emergency and needs urgent medical attention that is beyond your budget? Don’t worry. You can still have the cost of your pet’s care covered through financing and other payment options. The COVE accepts all major credit cards, cash, and local checks, as well as CareCredit, a low-cost credit card exclusively for health care expenses, and ScratchPay, another low-cost financing plan only for pet health care (the latter two are subject to credit approval).

Pet Insurance Helps Pets Receive the Best Care

Here at The COVE, we are also pet owners, and pet insurance has allowed many of our furry companions to receive the best and most advanced medical care.

Insured pets receive more veterinary care, which can contribute to them living longer, healthier lives. That’s why an essential part of our service is to educate our clients about the value of pet insurance. If you have any additional questions or need assistance with submitting a claim, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 757-935-9111.