Is pet damage insurance worth it?

Asked by: Erika Satterfield  |  Last update: October 31, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (7 votes)

Pet liability coverage is one of the best ways to protect yourself financially if your pet causes damage or injury to someone else. Without insurance, you can be held responsible for others' medical and repair bills, and your legal costs.

What is a disadvantage of pet insurance?

Pet insurance reimburses you for veterinary expenses, meaning you have to pay them upfront. Pet insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, meaning once your pet is sick, it's too late to sign up. Not all health issues are covered by pet insurance.

Is pet insurance worth it or should I just save money?

Ultimately, pet insurance can be helpful for many situations, especially if you want to reduce the stress and difficult decisions that can stem from unexpected vet bills. In general, you want to shop for pet insurance sooner than later so that it's more cost-effective, but even older pets can be insured.

Can you claim pet damage on insurance?

Homeowners and renters insurance don't typically cover pet damage caused by your own pets. However, the liability protection provided by those policies may cover you if your pet destroys someone else's property. You can also seek compensation from another person's insurance if their pet damages your things.

What are the most common claims for pet insurance?

In 2021, the five most common pet insurance claims included skin conditions, gastrointestinal issues, ear infections, seizures, and urinary tract infections.

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? A Veterinarians Advice

18 related questions found

Does pet insurance cover known issues?

Pet insurers generally don't cover pre-existing conditions. They also may require waiting periods before your pet is eligible for different types of coverages. It's best to get pet insurance early in your pet's life to help ensure any conditions they develop later in life will be covered.

What does accidental pet insurance cover?

It covers pet injuries and emergencies like bite wounds, broken bones, swallowed objects, and toxic ingestions. It also covers all sorts of diagnostic services and treatments prescribed for accidents, such as X-rays, MRI, ultrasounds, blood work, sutures, medications, hospitalization, and surgery.

What is pet accidental damage?

Accidental damage sometimes comes as standard on premium policies, but it's often sold as an added extra on more basic policies. It may cover accidents like your dog's waggy tail knocking over an expensive vase, but many specifically exclude pet damage caused by chewing, scratching, tearing and fouling.

How long do you have to claim many pets insurance?

You have up to one year from the vet's diagnosis or the date an accident happened to make a claim. We'll not be able to pay claims submitted later. If you decide to cancel your policy, you'll have 12 months to let us know of any treatments that took place before the cancellation date.

Does pet insurance cover if my dog bites someone?

Pet insurance companies may offer liability coverage in case your dog bites someone or destroys someone else's property. Those types of incidents are generally covered by your homeowners insurance.

Is pet insurance a wise investment?

Pet insurance can help pay for a pet emergency, but it may not cover everything. An animal companion has a way of enriching your life, but if they're hurt or sick, you'll need to cover the financial fallout from their medical care. If you don't have hundreds of dollars on hand, this could put a strain on your budget.

Why would you want pet insurance?

Pet insurance helps cover the cost of medical care for your furry friend. It can reimburse you for expenses like cancer treatment, emergency care, prescription medications and surgery.

Why do people need pet insurance?

Pet health insurance can help by offsetting some or most of the costs of diagnosing, treating and managing your pet's illness or injury. There's no magic formula to tell you if pet health insurance is right for you and your pet. Talk with your veterinarian about it, and research your options.

Should I get pet insurance for my indoor dog?

Does my dog really need insurance? If you aren't worried about how to pay for a large vet bill, your dog doesn't need insurance. But the cost of a vet visit can add up quickly and pet insurance can reduce what you pay in veterinarian bills, which can give you peace of mind.

How does pet insurance really work?

Pet insurance works mostly on a reimbursement basis. This simply means that you pay the vet up front and then file a claim for the reimbursement of eligible expenses.

Why are dogs more expensive to insure?

For example, because dogs are larger and usually require more medication and sedation than cats, pet insurance premiums are typically higher for dogs than cats. But costs vary widely depending on the breed of your cat or dog.

Are pet insurance deductibles annual?

The most common deductible that other pet insurance companies offer is the annual deductible. Annual deductibles: You must meet your deductible every year before you get reimbursed. Lifetime per condition deductibles: You must meet your deductible once per medical condition before you get reimbursed.

Does pet insurance get more expensive each year?

It's true that you can generally expect your pet's insurance coverage cost to increase each year, along with their ever-increasing age. However, this doesn't mean that there aren't things you could—and sometimes should—consider changing about that coverage as time goes on.

What is a max annual payout?

A maximum limit or payout per year (also known as Annual Limit) is the maximum amount of money a pet insurance provider will reimburse you for eligible claims within a given year.

Is accidental damage worth having?

So if you're a little clumsy, or have a habit of spilling things, it might be worth it. You'll have to weigh it up against the added cost. Without accidental damage cover, you'll have to pay the cost of repairs or replacements yourself.

Does having a cat affect homeowners insurance?

Pets alter the cost of homeowners insurance policies because they are considered liabilities.

What to do if your dog has accidents?

Mistakes happen
  1. Without a lot of drama, immediately take them to their outside bathroom spot. Praise your pup and give a treat if they finish there.
  2. Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, just clean it up. ...
  3. Clean the soiled area thoroughly.

Does pet insurance cover CT scans?

Pet insurance policies may offer coverage for X-rays, imaging tests (such as MRI and CT scans), and other diagnostic procedures, depending on the specific policy and the circumstances surrounding the test.

Does pet insurance cover flea medication?

In general, pet insurance plans are designed to provide you coverage for unexpected illnesses and accidents, such as a pet being hit by a car. Most standard plans do not, however, pay for routine or preventative care, such as annual exams, teeth cleaning, or flea and tick preventatives.

Does pet insurance cover snake bites?

Snakebites. There are several different types of venomous snakes in California, so you'll be happy to know that Nationwide pet insurance covers snakebites. Keep an eye out for snakes when outside, and keep dogs leashed so they don't go nosing through the brush.