Pet Insurance Can Curb Big Vet Bills
Soaring Costs Worry Some Owners
Due to many high-priced advances in medical treatment for animals, pet owners may want to consider buying a health-insurance policy for that other member of their family.
These days, pet hospitals offer many of the same procedures as hospitals for humans, but you may squawk when you hear about the costs.
For example, it costs for pets, on average, $7,000 for a kidney transplant and $2,500 for a hip replacement.
So, whether your dog has a broken leg, your cat has cancer, or your hound needs a new hip, veterinary hospitals can offer treatment.
The question is whether you can afford it, and whether pet insurance may be for you.
Although pet insurance is becoming more popular, still only about 1 percent of pet owners have it.
It works like other insurance. You pay a monthly premium and you are then protected, especially if any catastrophic costs come up.
For about $30 a month, or $360 a year, you can get full coverage for a dog, which includes regular checkups, emergency room care, and treatment for diseases such as cancer.
However, pet insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions, or problems common to certain breeds, such as hip replacement surgery for larger dogs.
Barry Stupine, the director of the veterinary hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, says pet health insurance offers better care for pets. For example, it sometimes prevents animals from being put to sleep because owners can't afford expensive treatments.
"Your dog breaks a leg," Stupine said. "You can splint it, tape it or do the right thing."
For example, it costs for pets, on average, $7,000 for a kidney transplant and $2,500 for a hip replacement.
So, whether your dog has a broken leg, your cat has cancer, or your hound needs a new hip, veterinary hospitals can offer treatment.
The question is whether you can afford it, and whether pet insurance may be for you.
Although pet insurance is becoming more popular, still only about 1 percent of pet owners have it.
It works like other insurance. You pay a monthly premium and you are then protected, especially if any catastrophic costs come up.
For about $30 a month, or $360 a year, you can get full coverage for a dog, which includes regular checkups, emergency room care, and treatment for diseases such as cancer.
However, pet insurance will not cover pre-existing conditions, or problems common to certain breeds, such as hip replacement surgery for larger dogs.
Barry Stupine, the director of the veterinary hospital at the University of Pennsylvania, says pet health insurance offers better care for pets. For example, it sometimes prevents animals from being put to sleep because owners can't afford expensive treatments.
"Your dog breaks a leg," Stupine said. "You can splint it, tape it or do the right thing."
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