So your cute and curious feline companion needs frequent veterinarian visits for checkups or accidents and taking up all your savings? It’s quite common as pets often come with a variety of issues and need us to take care of them. There is a way you can provide your cat with top-notch veterinary care and save your money. A cat health insurance plan may help you with huge vet bills and ensure your cat’s health.
The article dives deep and helps understand why getting cat health insurance is a good idea, the average cost of cat health insurance, and the factors affecting it.
What Is Cat Health Insurance?
Cat health insurance is an insurance plan a cat owner buys for their cat and pays into on a monthly or annual basis, which covers eligible veterinary expenses. The insurance plan you choose will reimburse the total or a part of the amount you pay at the veterinary clinic.
Types of Cat Health Insurance
There are three types of cat health insurance plans you can choose from:
An accident-only plan
It covers eligible veterinarian bills when there is an accident, such as a broken bone.
An accident and illness plan
It is a comprehensive type of insurance plan, which covers accidents and illnesses but at an added cost. The diseases include arthritis, infection, cancer, allergies, and diabetes.
Routine wellness plan
This type of plan pays for routine care, which includes annual checkups, spay/neuter, vaccinations, and other preventive treatments.
It is also essential to understand that pet insurance plans usually have a waiting period for accidents and illnesses, which is the time between your plan being activated and the coverage starting.
Why You Need Cat Health Insurance
Surprising veterinary bills are not so surprising; we have all been there. The veterinary care costs are skyrocketing, and your cat is adamant about getting that fracture - this is where cat health insurance comes in and helps you sort your bills. There are several reasons why you need a cat insurance plan.
Importance of Preventive Care
Preventive care and routine wellness exams at the veterinarian are essential to help your feline companion live a healthy and happy life. This way, you can catch any disease in its early stages, which can be controlled and treated with less expense and more success.
Financial Protection Against Unexpected Vet Bills
Unexpected vet bills can cause trouble, especially when your cat is seriously injured or has a severe health condition. While cat health insurance plans do not reimburse all your costs, they pay around 70% to 90% of your total bill. Cat health insurance works as financial protection against surprise veterinarian bills when you get your cat checked with the vet.
Peace of Mind for Pet Owners
Cat health insurance also provides peace of mind and financial aid during emergencies and guarantees that your cat is treated and looked after. This is a crucial investment in your cat’s health and your heartsease.
Factors Influencing Cat Health Insurance Cost
Various factors influence the cost of cat health insurance, which include:
Breed and Age of Your Cat
Some breeds are more susceptible to certain health conditions, which adds to the cost of their insurance. For instance, if you have a Siamese cat that is more prone to several genetic disorders, such as congenital heart defects and asthma, you will need to visit your veterinarian more frequently, which may increase the cost of insurance for cats like these. You can use a cat DNA test to learn more about possible health risks for your pet to consider when choosing an insurance plan.
Not only breed but age also affects a cat's health insurance cost. Older cats are at higher risk of getting sick or having an accident, which can influence the insurance rate.
Coverage Options
The cost of your cat's health insurance also depends on the coverage or the type of insurance plan you choose. For example, accident-only are typically more affordable pet insurance plans.
Deductibles and Co-pays
The cost of animal insurance for cats is also affected by deductibles and co-pays. A cat insurance deductible is the amount you pay for your feline’s veterinary care before the insurance comes in.
The deductible is a set amount you decide when you buy an insurance plan, like $100, $300, or $500. If you go for an annual deductible, you will only pay this amount once a year. A higher deductible will lower the cost of your cat's health insurance, but you will have to pay more out of your pocket.
And co-pays are your share of the veterinary bill after you have paid your deductible. Let’s say your insurance plan has a 70% reimbursement rate, which means your co-pay is 30%.
Location
Since veterinary care varies in cost across different locations, it will influence the rates of pet insurance cats require. Big cities generally are more costly because of advanced treatment options and lifestyle.
Average Cost of Cat Health Insurance
The premium you pay for pet insurance for cats varies depending on several factors, such as the cat’s breed and age, the coverage you select, your location, the deductibles and co-pays. The cost can be higher or lower than the estimated average.
According to the North American Pet Health Insurance (NAPHIA), the average cost of an accident and illness plan for cats is $383 per year and around $32 per month. Whereas, the average price of an accident-only plan is around $116 per year and about $10 per month.
Conclusion
Keeping your cat healthy and happy is important, and it typically requires regular visits to the veterinarian for essential care, illnesses, and accidents. This is why getting a health insurance plan for your feline friend shares the burden of huge vet bills, provides them with quality care, and provides you peace of mind.
