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  • Wayland Animal Clinic
  • 6 Winter Street,
  • Wayland,
  • Massachusetts,
  • 01778
  • Phone: (508) 653-1096

Pet Health Insurance

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Is Pet Insurance Right for You and Your Pet?

The short answer is, “It depends.”  The reason to buy pet health insurance is to make sure you can pay for the unexpected emergencies and illnesses that you would otherwise be unable to pay. The insurance can broaden treatment options that may not otherwise be within your financial reach.

If you generally have enough money set aside at any given time to pay for your pet’s ongoing wellness care as well as the unexpected issues that (eventually) arise from time to time, then you may save some time and money skipping insurance.  For others, however, finances may play more into the decisions we must face as pet owners and insurance can be a great relief when unexpected things happen.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet insurance is a lot like “people insurance” in that there are premiums, copays, and deductibles to think about.  In most cases, you’ll pay the veterinarian in full and then submit a reimbursement claim to your insurance company.  Your reimbursement will be paid based on the coverage you have purchased.  Note that, unlike people insurance, pet insurance companies can deny coverage for pre-existing chronic conditions (an incentive to enroll your pet at an early age) as well as hereditary conditions that are common in certain breeds.

Which Insurance Company Should I Use?

Fortunately, there are many pet insurance providers and a variety of rates/exclusions/coverage/etc. so you should be able to find one that suits your individual budget and needs. Because there are so many choices, we generally encourage our owners to do their own research to choose a plan that best fits their own individual situation.  We have provided a list below that covers the most frequently used pet health insurance companies that some of our owners use:

  • Nationwide (formerly VPI)  https://www.petinsurance.com/
  • Trupanion  http://trupanion.com/
  • ASPCA  https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/
  • Healthy Paws https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/
  • Embrace Pet Insurance http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/

 

 

 

© Copyright 2024 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Doctorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health.