Have you ever considered pet insurance to care for you beloved cat or dog? Basically speaking, pet insurance is the same as health insurance for humans, except it’s meant specifically to cover the veterinary costs of pet health. Pet insurance may benefit the policy holder (the pet owner) by shouldering a portion or all of the costs associated with screening, treating, and managing injury, illness, and disease in pets.

Many pet owners consider pet insurance too expensive, however should your pet require an expensive surgery or develop a chronic disease (i.e., diabetes mellitus), it may put your anxiety at ease and help you cover sudden and unexpected veterinary costs. Pet insurance policies vary as far as the specifics of coverage, however, they offer coverage in 3 distinct categories, which pet owners can choose from or opt for coverage under all:

1. Pet illness coverage
Depending on the age of your pet (just like humans), insurance premiums tend to get higher and more limited in nature. However, signing up for illness pet insurance when your cat or dog is still young will cover the cost should your pet develop a chronic condition such as allergies, arthritis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and even cancer.

2. Pet wellness coverage
Considering that a single routine veterinary check up can cost upwards of $300, pet wellness coverage may be a good investment. This covers the cost of out of pocket expenses for general veterinary check ups and appointments. Depending on the specifics of your plan, pet owners pay the insurance company a wellness premium to avoid paying for these routine in office veterinary costs:
Tick, flea, and heartworm treatments and heartworm screening

• Spaying or neutering
• Teeth cleaning
• Vaccinations (i.e, parvo, lyme disease, giardia, rabies, DHLP, etc.)
• Fecal screenings
• Urinalysis
• Routine blood tests
  Annual exams

3. Pet accidental coverage
Accidents are just that, accidental in nature. However, just like you have car insurance, you can also secure pet accident insurance coverage in order to ensure your pet is cared for in case of a broken bone, bite, ligament tear, and other unforeseen tragedies. Planning ahead in case of an emergency will ensure your beloved furry friend receives the necessary care and surgery should an incidents occur.