One potentially unexpected (and positive) result of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increase in pet adoptions. Shelter Animals Count, a nonprofit that collects statistics from animal shelters across the country, found that shelter euthanasia rates dropped by 43 percent January-June 2020, as shelters took in fewer animals and more people either adopted or fostered pets.
Whether you are a new pet parent or a veteran, it’s important to consider how to care for your furry family member’s health.
Finding the right pet insurance policy may be a smart first step. While the long-term cost of raising a pet can vary, medical bills are inevitable, and pet insurance can be an important investment that makes your life easier. Here’s why you should think about signing up:
- You can focus on your pet’s health
Whether you’re rushing to the emergency vet in the middle of the night or have had weeks to plan for a procedure, you want your primary concern to be what’s best for your pet—not worrying about money.
For example, with MetLife Pet Insurance, you can choose from a variety of plans with monthly premiums as low as $15 a month for dogs and $9 monthly for cats, based on the breed, location, and age of your pet and the amount of coverage you need annually. You can also opt for a routine care rider, which would help cover costs of routine exams and preventive care like teeth cleaning and spaying or neutering.
- It can make budgeting simpler
Pet insurance can also make managing the rest of your personal finances easier. You’ll still want to budget for non-reimbursable pet medical expenses, such as your deductible amount.
For example, you could customize a plan that will reimburse up to 90 percent of the covered veterinary costs with a $250 deductible. Plus, there may be no per-incident caps. That means that if your puppy comes down with Parvo, which could cost $1,108.26 per visit to treat, 90 percent of those vet visit costs could be covered after paying your deductible.
- You could save money in the long run
No one wants to think about their dog getting hit by a car or having heart disease. According to the American Pet Products Association, annual expenses for surgical vet visits for dogs was $426 and $214 for cats. But emergency procedures could cost more. Plus, chronic conditions may require expensive initial diagnostics, as well as ongoing medications and treatment.
MetLife Pet Insurance policies cover some chronic conditions, like diabetes and cancer, and hereditary, congenital issues, if the condition or symptoms appear after your coverage is in effect. And, if your policy doesn’t lapse, the insurance will continue to cover related expenses for the pet’s entire life. You can speak with a friendly MetLife agent, if you have any questions before starting a new policy to make sure you’ll know exactly what will be covered.
