Guest Post By Susan Wright, DMV – Learn more about Susan at the end of this post.
Owning a pet can be quite expensive – especially after a visit or two to an emergency clinic. If you happen to have an accident-prone dog or simply need to find ways of saving money on your dog’s health care you may want to consider re-shopping for dog health insurance or figuring out if it’s the right choice for you.
It’s estimated that pet insurance can range between $2,000 and $6,000 dollars over your pet’s lifetime – which in most cases that cost is much higher than what is spent on actual procedures. So if you are able and think it could be a good option for you, secure a savings account that you could use for emergency medical procedures for unforeseen accidents or in case an illness develops. Figure out what you would be willing to spend on insurance coverage monthly and deposit it into an interest-bearing account. This way you are only spending money on health care that is actually needed verses just-in-case coverage.
If that option doesn’t sound viable for you, there are a few things to keep in mind for finding cheaper dog insurance.
- 1. Give Health. The first step in getting cheaper dog insurance is to give your dog the gift of health. Provide your pup with adequate exercise and proper nutrition so that he can be the healthiest version of himself.
- 2. Stay Inside. Statistics show that indoor animals live healthier, longer lives than those that live outdoors. It’s believed that animals that stay inside are not able to escape and get into contact with disease or get into an accident. If you must have your dog outside, look into getting an invisible fence to keep your pup on your property and out of harm’s way.
- 3. Basic Coverage. The cheapest pet care coverage is typically the basic plan – which will have restrictions on what is and what isn’t covered. While this is a cheaper option, make sure you read the fine print to determine whether it’s worth spending the money on the coverage – especially if it won’t cover some of the typical reasons you may want pet insurance to begin with, like a hereditary hip dysplasia or something else genetically predisposed to your pet’s breed.
- 4. Start Early. Get coverage on your dog while they’re still young, and look for a plan that locks in a rate. Many providers actually charge more on their policies as the pet ages – if you can find one that doesn’t charge more for senior pets, this is ideal.
- 5. High Deductibles. Select the higher deductible and save on monthly premium cost. This way you are paying the majority of the cost when you actually need the coverage, verses just feeding the provider more money monthly so you can have a lower deductible just in case something were to happen.
Hopefully these tips will help you save money, while providing your dog the coverage you desire. How far you’re willing to go in the medical world for your pet is a personal decision that only you can make. Best of luck!
Dr. Susan Wright is a practicing veterinarian with more than ten years experience. Dr. Wright is the staff expert on invisible fence alternatives for Dog Fence DIY. Susan has authored many articles on proper pet care and pet health.
