I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
If your dog is constantly needing care, then yeah, pet insurance could be helpful. Does your dog have some kind of chronic condition? That could affect whether or not you can even get coverage.
For a lot of people though, pet insurance is just throwing money away.
My dog was perfectly healthy until he developed Cushing’s disease at 7 years old. Over the next 6 years, I spent more than $15,000 on tests, medications, and monitoring. If I’d had insurance, the premiums over those 13 years would have cost way less.
We also dealt with Lyme disease from a tick bite and surgery to fix shoulder cartilage issues when he was just a puppy. Having insurance would’ve made a huge difference.
Just remember, it’s best to get insurance while your pet is young and healthy. If they’ve been treated for something before you get the insurance, that condition won’t be covered.
We had Nationwide for years, but when our dog got cancer, they only covered as much as the premium we paid that year. They hide the payout limits in paperwork they don’t give you upfront.
My advice? Start putting $500 a year into an investment account, increase it by $100 a year, and use that for any big emergencies.
Eli said:
We had Nationwide for years, but when our dog got cancer, they only covered as much as the premium we paid that year. They hide the payout limits in paperwork they don’t give you upfront.
My advice? Start putting $500 a year into an investment account, increase it by $100 a year, and use that for any big emergencies.
I looked back, and over three years, I gave over $11k to Nationwide for my two dogs. I didn’t file a claim until one of them got cancer, and they only paid $3k for his treatment.
Investing that money when they were puppies would have been a way better idea.
Eli said:
We had Nationwide for years, but when our dog got cancer, they only covered as much as the premium we paid that year. They hide the payout limits in paperwork they don’t give you upfront.
My advice? Start putting $500 a year into an investment account, increase it by $100 a year, and use that for any big emergencies.
I don’t think that’s great advice. If you have one emergency in that first year, your savings won’t be enough to cover it. A vet visit or unexpected surgery can easily cost over $1,000.
I had Healthy Paws, and there was no payout limit. Sounds like you just didn’t have the right insurance.
My wife is a vet, and she recommends getting pet insurance when your dog is still a puppy. She doesn’t make money from recommending it, but it helps her clients make better decisions for their pets without worrying about cost. It might seem expensive at first, but if your pet has health problems later on, it can save you a lot of money.
If your pet stays healthy, great! But if not, you’ll be glad you have it. A lot of her clients thank her for encouraging them to get it, and many regret not getting it sooner.
If you’re someone who can make the hard decision to euthanize your pet when they’re suffering, pet insurance might not be necessary. Just keep an emergency fund for smaller problems.
But if you’re the type of person who would go through years of cancer treatments or surgeries to extend your pet’s life, then pet insurance might be worth it. Just make sure you get it before they develop any health problems.
Denver said:
If you’re someone who can make the hard decision to euthanize your pet when they’re suffering, pet insurance might not be necessary. Just keep an emergency fund for smaller problems.
But if you’re the type of person who would go through years of cancer treatments or surgeries to extend your pet’s life, then pet insurance might be worth it. Just make sure you get it before they develop any health problems.
You make a good point, but what if your dog breaks a leg and you’re faced with a $5,000 bill? You don’t want to have to decide between your pet’s well-being and that kind of cost.
Even though insurance doesn’t always pay out, it gives you peace of mind in those situations.
Denver said:
If you’re someone who can make the hard decision to euthanize your pet when they’re suffering, pet insurance might not be necessary. Just keep an emergency fund for smaller problems.
But if you’re the type of person who would go through years of cancer treatments or surgeries to extend your pet’s life, then pet insurance might be worth it. Just make sure you get it before they develop any health problems.
You make a good point, but what if your dog breaks a leg and you’re faced with a $5,000 bill? You don’t want to have to decide between your pet’s well-being and that kind of cost.
Even though insurance doesn’t always pay out, it gives you peace of mind in those situations.
That’s what my emergency fund is for. I’d use that to cover unexpected costs like a broken leg.
Skyler said:
Denver said:
If you’re someone who can make the hard decision to euthanize your pet when they’re suffering, pet insurance might not be necessary. Just keep an emergency fund for smaller problems.
But if you’re the type of person who would go through years of cancer treatments or surgeries to extend your pet’s life, then pet insurance might be worth it. Just make sure you get it before they develop any health problems.
You make a good point, but what if your dog breaks a leg and you’re faced with a $5,000 bill? You don’t want to have to decide between your pet’s well-being and that kind of cost.
Even though insurance doesn’t always pay out, it gives you peace of mind in those situations.
That’s what my emergency fund is for. I’d use that to cover unexpected costs like a broken leg.
Spending $5k from your savings isn’t the best financial move when you could be paying $50 a month for insurance. It’s the same logic as any other type of insurance.
For most people, accident insurance alone is enough, and it’s cheaper—usually $15-25 a month, based on a quick search. Definitely worth it as your dog gets older.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
Yes, definitely worth it.
My dog has allergies, which we can manage without insurance, but even though we haven’t “made our money back,” I’d rather have the insurance and never need it than face a $10k emergency bill without it.
My partner thought it was unnecessary at first, but he doesn’t laugh about it anymore!
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
Yes, definitely worth it.
My dog has allergies, which we can manage without insurance, but even though we haven’t “made our money back,” I’d rather have the insurance and never need it than face a $10k emergency bill without it.
My partner thought it was unnecessary at first, but he doesn’t laugh about it anymore!
Keep in mind that preexisting conditions won’t be covered, so it’s best to get insurance when your pet is healthy.
My insurance doesn’t cover visit fees either, and those can be expensive, especially at emergency clinics.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
I didn’t have insurance for one of my dogs and ended up spending around $10k on surgeries and emergency vet visits over 12 years. Pet insurance would’ve been a lifesaver.
On the other hand, I have insurance for my other dog, and she’s never needed surgery or an emergency vet visit in 10 years.
If you can’t afford a big unexpected bill, it’s probably worth it. Pets are expensive, just like car repairs.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
Insurance is basically gambling. Most people are paying into it so the few who need it can use it. And the insurance companies make money off that.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
My dog once swallowed part of a leather strap from a shoe, and it got stuck in his stomach. The surgery cost us $6,000, and we didn’t have pet insurance.
Get insurance—it’s worth it.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
My cat racked up $11,000 in vet bills, and I ended up in debt for years. Now I always get pet insurance right when I adopt.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
Absolutely worth it. My dog has a lot of health problems, and we’ve been able to get him the care he needs because of insurance.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
Definitely worth it. My 5-year-old golden retriever has had over $34,000 in vet bills in the past 18 months, and insurance covered 80% after the $500 deductible. Without insurance, I would’ve had to pay the full amount. Having it gave me peace of mind.
Cedar said:
I’m starting to wonder if pet insurance is a good idea. My dog keeps needing trips to the emergency vet, and I really can’t keep paying thousands each time. Anyone have experience with pet insurance?
It really depends on how expensive your vet is and if you have a big enough emergency fund.
Insurance has worked out well for us, though we’ve had some disagreements with our provider about what’s considered a preexisting condition.