Do I Need Pet Insurance?
- By Alexander K
- Published 11/9/2009
- Pets
- Unrated
You may have come across this article because you're wondering whether you should buy insurance for your pet or not. This is something a lot of pet owners will think about at some point in a pet's life and I’ll try and give you some help with your decision.
There are many reasons you may not want to take out pet insurance. You may for example think your pet will be healthy most of the time and so come to the conclusion that it isn’t worth it. The most common reason for thinking you won't take out pet insurance is due to cost, right? I mean you would no doubt have insurance if it didn't cost a thing, why wouldn't you?
So let's look at the cost then. In the UK you can get pet insurance for as little as 3.98 GBP (based on a cat). This is 47.76 GBP per year. When you compare this annual figure with veterinary costs you might be surprised:
Dental surgery on a cat: 233 GBP
Overnight stay £273
Treatment for a cat that's been in a road accident: 547 GBP. Even a consultation can cost up to 40 GBP. It can all add up, especially if you have to make several visits on a single illness or injury.
As you can see these costs are for cats. For dogs certain procedures can cost a lot more than the cat equivalent.
The Advantages
The advantages are pretty obvious. If your pet falls ill or has an accident you won't pay the full bill. You can rest easy that you will be able to give your pet the best treatment and it won't depend on whether you have enough money. The cost of cover can pale into insignificance when veterinary fees are taken into account – even if you don’t claim for a couple of years.
The Disadvantages
There is a monthly outgoing cost that doesn't stop when your pet doesn't have any health problems at all. So it can seem like you are paying for nothing. Also you'll need to ensure you have suitable insurance cover. You don't want to think you can claim for something and then be disappointed when in fact your policy doesn't include that cover.
Also keep in mind the excess you're willing to pay, as this will affect the price you'll pay for the policy.
The Decision
As the pet owner only you can decide if pet insurance is right for you. You may want to take the risk that goes with being uninsured. That means you'll have to foot the bill if anything should happen to your little loved one. That's a perfectly reasonable decision to come to.
On the other hand you may be someone who wants the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are covered when something does happen. You may also think "why would I want to be in a position where I can't afford treatment for my pet."
In the end the decision is yours.
There are many reasons you may not want to take out pet insurance. You may for example think your pet will be healthy most of the time and so come to the conclusion that it isn’t worth it. The most common reason for thinking you won't take out pet insurance is due to cost, right? I mean you would no doubt have insurance if it didn't cost a thing, why wouldn't you?
So let's look at the cost then. In the UK you can get pet insurance for as little as 3.98 GBP (based on a cat). This is 47.76 GBP per year. When you compare this annual figure with veterinary costs you might be surprised:
Dental surgery on a cat: 233 GBP
Overnight stay £273
Treatment for a cat that's been in a road accident: 547 GBP. Even a consultation can cost up to 40 GBP. It can all add up, especially if you have to make several visits on a single illness or injury.
As you can see these costs are for cats. For dogs certain procedures can cost a lot more than the cat equivalent.
The Advantages
The advantages are pretty obvious. If your pet falls ill or has an accident you won't pay the full bill. You can rest easy that you will be able to give your pet the best treatment and it won't depend on whether you have enough money. The cost of cover can pale into insignificance when veterinary fees are taken into account – even if you don’t claim for a couple of years.
The Disadvantages
There is a monthly outgoing cost that doesn't stop when your pet doesn't have any health problems at all. So it can seem like you are paying for nothing. Also you'll need to ensure you have suitable insurance cover. You don't want to think you can claim for something and then be disappointed when in fact your policy doesn't include that cover.
Also keep in mind the excess you're willing to pay, as this will affect the price you'll pay for the policy.
The Decision
As the pet owner only you can decide if pet insurance is right for you. You may want to take the risk that goes with being uninsured. That means you'll have to foot the bill if anything should happen to your little loved one. That's a perfectly reasonable decision to come to.
On the other hand you may be someone who wants the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are covered when something does happen. You may also think "why would I want to be in a position where I can't afford treatment for my pet."
In the end the decision is yours.
Alexander K
To find the best pet insurance, make a pet insurance comparison at Pet Insurance Comparison where you will find the best insurers, their cover and discounts compared. You don't have to enter any information - you can just compare side-by-side. Original article Do I Need Pet Insurance?
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