With options for pet insurance on the rise, many dog owners are wondering if it's a worthy investment.
More and more people are wondering: does health insurance for my dog make sense, or would it just be a waste of money? Finding the answer is going to take some personal research, to find out if pet insurance is a good fit for you.
If you’ve shopped around for your own health insurance, you know that there are a lot of variables to consider: are you in good general health, or do you have chronic or frequent, acute health issues? How often do you go to the doctor for either preventative care or emergencies? What kind of deductible can you afford? Is prescription coverage important to you? How high of an insurance premium can you reasonably absorb into your budget, and which company will give you the best value for those dollars? When it comes to pet insurance, these same questions will likely apply.
If your puppy has health tested parents and is in good general health, you may only have a handful of well-puppy visits before they are fully vaccinated, and then perhaps only an annual visit thereafter. This expense can probably be met without insurance, and may cost less than an ongoing premium payment, particularly if you also have a deductible to meet or if well-visits aren’t covered, anyway.
The reason why the insurance business exists, though, is because often we are only one emergency away from a large and unexpected bill. If your child leaves a sock on the floor and it gets eaten, your dog’s bowel obstruction surgery could cost you thousands.
Even a puppy with health tested parents and good general health can encounter problems, and none of it is usually predictable. Every breed that contributes to the Golden Mountain Doodle’s genetic make up has its own set of health risks and potential issues. Particularly with age, you may see some of those manifest in your dog. Given the rising cost of veterinary care, pet insurance could be a wise decision.
If you are considering pet insurance, make sure you select a plan from a reputable company. A good place to start might be this USA Today article that compares several plans and gives you the low-down on which is best, depending on what’s most important to you: low deductible, direct vet payment, best reimbursement, preventative care coverage, and more. Of course, you don’t want to make such a weighty decision based on a single news piece, but it can give you a good starting point to begin your own research. It may also be helpful to ask your vet, breeder, and fellow dog parents what they use or recommend.