7 Ways Pet Health Insurance Helps Your Puppy's Wellbeing

Puppies provide us with hours of playful fun and warm snuggles, and we want them to live long, happy, and healthy lives. Regular veterinary visits are an important part of the care we’re more than willing to provide for them. But urgent or emergency visits are often needed as well.

Pet health insurance can lower your out-of-pocket costs for vet visits, including emergencies. Want to learn more? Read on to discover how pet insurance can help you provide the care your pup needs without breaking the bank.

Infection and trauma are the leading causes of death in young dogs. The cost of treating accidents and illnesses can take a bite out of anyone’s wallet, particularly new pet parents.

Pet health insurance provides a financial safety net that ensures that you won't have to choose between paying for your pup’s care or your own essential expenses.

During their first year of life, a puppy sees the vet for regular checkups often. These routine visits ensure that illness is detected and treated before it has a chance to overwhelm the young dog’s fragile systems. Early detection can greatly improve the puppy’s chance of recovering from both hereditary and acquired diseases.

Most pet health insurance plans won't cover pre-existing conditions. Insuring your puppy as early as you can increases their chances of being eligible for coverage and helps you afford their healthcare throughout their life.

It costs quite a bit more to take your pup to the vet these days. The rising costs of veterinary school, clinic supplies, and staff are pushing fees higher and higher, causing pet parents to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets. Also, dogs (especially smaller ones) are living longer, extending the time they’ll need veterinary care.

An emergency veterinary visit can cost more than $2,000, especially if x-rays and specialized tests are needed. Expensive MRIs and CAT scans are becoming more common diagnostic tools for pets as well.

Pet health insurance can bring peace of mind to pet parents by providing financial assistance for the many situations in which a visit to the veterinary clinic is necessary. With accident and illness coverage, you’ll be able to meet these rising costs and take good care of your pup.

While many of us have enough cash on hand to cover routine exams and vaccines for our pups, emergency services are often beyond our budget. Some of us have special savings accounts dedicated to unexpected dog care costs, but it’s difficult in today's economy to accumulate enough, or to even anticipate how much will be necessary.

Pet care credit cards can be expensive if the balances aren't paid off on time and interest accumulates. These and other alternatives to pet insurance aren't often reasonable or viable for many pet parents.

No one wants to face serious vet care debt or the inability to pay for their fur-baby's treatment. Pet care insurance can alleviate your worries about not having enough money on hand to pay for your pet’s healthcare costs.

Some breeds are susceptible to various conditions throughout their lives. For example, large dogs like German Shepherds and Labs may develop hip dysplasia, while some smaller dogs like Chihuahuas are vulnerable to tracheal collapse. Thyroid problems are common among almost all breeds, and lifelong medications to treat the condition can cost over $400 per year.

Surgery for hip dysplasia is an effective treatment — but some pet parents may not be able to afford surgery on top of the already costly specialist and veterinary visits. This means suffering for the dog, which can be prevented by enrolling in an insurance plan from a young age.

Some pet insurance plans cover hereditary diseases like hip dysplasia. Be sure to check out Wag!’s guide to the best pet insurance plans for 2022 to see which plans cover hereditary and breed-specific conditions.

Modern pet insurance companies offer more flexible, affordable plans compared to insurers of the past. With more competition comes unique and responsive plans, giving you more freedom to choose the right one for your budget.

For example, many pet insurance providers offer customizable deductibles and coinsurance, as well as generous reimbursement rates. Monthly premiums range from $10 to $100 on average.

It’s a good idea to do some research to see which combination of benefits is right for you and your pup. The cost of insurance, as well as the procedures and conditions covered, can vary widely. But the ability to customize your plan is more possible than ever before.

Many pet insurance plans don’t cover routine treatments and exams. For instance, microchipping, vaccinations, and spay/neuter procedures are usually not covered under a basic plan.

The good news is that some insurance plans offer optional wellness packages that include these services, along with dental exams and other treatments. For a small additional premium, these lifesaving packages protect your dog from infections, dental problems, and other illnesses. Many also cover alternative treatments like acupuncture and hydrotherapy.

While some insurance plans don’t offer preventive care, more and more are beginning to get on board. Injury and illness can be a large expense for pet parents, but long-lasting preventive care can stop them from happening, diagnose them promptly, and treat them effectively.

One of the newer advantages of buying pet health insurance is that some (though not all) plans offer 24/7 vet helplines. Have a question or concern about Fido? Contact a vet online through your insurance company to get quick, insightful answers and suggestions.

A vet helpline can provide advice that help you avoid costly visits to the emergency clinic and get your fur-baby back on track. The provider will also let you know when immediate face-to-face care is necessary so you don’t spend a lot of valuable time considering and worrying.

Some of the providers that offer 24/7 vet helplines include (but are not limited to):

• Nationwide

• Lemonade

• Figo

Pet health insurance may seem like an added expense to already tight budgets, but it’s well worth the investment when it brings peace of mind to pet parents. It could mean the difference between obtaining lifesaving treatment for your pup or not.

Insuring your puppy as soon as “pawssible” is essential for preventing high vet care costs. Start comparing insurance plans from leading insurers like Healthy Paws and Embrace and save over $270 a year.