What’s the best pet insurance for a new puppy, and is it worth it?
I have a 12-week-old puppy and have been researching pet insurance options. I’ve looked into Trupanion the most, but I’ve heard some negative feedback about it on Reddit. I’m also considering Fursure because I like that they offer a debit card for funds. The Trupanion plan I’m interested in costs $60 per month.
When did you decide to get insurance for your dog, and do you think it’s worthwhile for a young puppy? My pup is calm, well-behaved, and generally a great dog, but you never know what might happen.
I’ve had Nationwide for 14 years, and I wouldn’t recommend them. It’s definitely worth getting insurance for your puppy because if any health issues arise, they won’t be excluded from your plan. Since your puppy is so young, it should also be quite affordable. Sometimes paying annually is cheaper than paying monthly, though this isn’t always the case. Check if your insurance company offers any discounts with certain agencies. My husband’s old job provided a discount, which was a nice bonus. It’s also helpful to research common health issues for your puppy’s breed, as this can guide you in choosing the right plan. For example, dental disease is common in my dog’s breed, so it was crucial for us to have dental care covered, which many insurance companies don’t include. Good luck.
Pet insurance generally works best if you get it when your pet is young. This is because most policies have exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so waiting longer can lead to more exclusions and might make the insurance less valuable.
However, a young pet typically doesn’t need extensive vet care for chronic illnesses or aging issues, so you might end up paying premiums without making many claims in the early years.
Of course, young pets can still get sick or injured, but insurance companies assume the risk is lower with younger animals, which is why the rates are cheaper.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if you’re willing to invest in insurance even if you don’t see immediate benefits. Consider whether the peace of mind is worth it, if it fits your budget, and how you’d handle paying up front and waiting for reimbursement.
There are also risks, like people who paid for years into Nationwide only to have their policies canceled recently. Weigh this against the rising cost of vet care and your ability to cover emergencies. Some choose to self-fund if they have significant savings set aside for their pet’s care.
It really depends on your budget and risk tolerance. Good luck, and your pet is absolutely adorable.
Initially, we were unsure about getting pet insurance, but the possibility of an emergency convinced us to move forward. We were considering Metlife, Embrace, and Spot, and ultimately chose Spot because of the flexibility in their plans. Looking back, I wish we had signed up as soon as we brought our pet home. Personally, Spot has provided excellent customer service and valuable benefits.
Now that my 4-year-old lab has been diagnosed with IBD, we’ve already spent over $1,000 on testing, and his new prescription food costs $150 for a 25 lb bag, compared to $90 for 40 lbs of his previous food. Spot’s coverage for prescription food has been a lifesaver for us.
We have MetLife for our pet insurance. We set it up the night before we brought our puppy home to ensure there were no pre-existing conditions. Our puppy is a 9-week-old French bulldog, and since this breed can be prone to health issues, the insurance wasn’t cheap.
We have Embrace insurance for our Yorkie and signed up as soon as he was eligible. A few years ago, he required an ultrasound and related treatments that would have cost around $4,000 without the insurance. It has also covered some vet visits and medications for various issues, from diarrhea to ataxia.
However, I’d recommend skipping the “wellness” package, as it’s essentially a savings plan that doesn’t carry over into the new year.
I had to pay out of pocket initially, but their turnaround times are quite reasonable. I charged the amount to my credit card and used the reimbursement to pay it off. To my knowledge, no pet insurance pays the balance directly upfront, unless you’re able to pre-approve expenses, which isn’t an option with Embrace.
