Pet Health Insurance for Cats

Pet health insurance may provide you with some peace of mind and allow you to provide the best possible health care for your cat. If you are considering buying health insurance for your cat, you may wonder whether it is worth the cost. The answer to that question depends on your individual situation.

For many people, deciding to purchase health insurance for their pets comes down ensuring that they will never have to euthanize an animal because the cost of health care is too great. For this purpose, you probably need only a low cost plan that can protect you against a serious illness or injury that would cost thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Alternatively, you might want a more comprehensive (and more expensive) plan that provides coverage for routine medical bills as well as illness or injury. The actual premium, or cost per month, of a health insurance policy for your cat will depend on the deductible, benefit limits and amount of coverage you would receive for things like veterinary visits, lab tests, x-rays, medication, surgery and hospital stays.

When choosing health insurance for your pet, there are a few things you should consider.

First, be sure that the company is reputable and will be there and able to provide the coverage it promises if you do end up needing it.

Find out what the premium is (cost per month), whether there is an annual limit for the amount that the plan will reimburse you and whether certain conditions are excluded from coverage. For example, many pet health insurance plans will not cover or will limit coverage for conditions that are considered hereditary or preexisting. Some plans cover routine (wellness) visits and tests; some do not.

Plans also vary in terms of deductible, reimbursement rate and cost of copayments. If you have an older cat, you can expect the premium for pet health insurance to be higher than it would be for a kitten or young cat. Some companies will not insure a senior cat at all unless you have had coverage since the cat was younger.

Click the link for an overview of two of the more popular pet health insurance plans.

An alternative to traditional pet health insurance is the Pet Assure savings program. This is a membership program that provides a 25% discount on veterinary bills from participating providers as well as discounts of up to 50% on food, grooming, supplies and services. The company also has a lost pet recovery service. The 2007 membership rate for a single cat is $6 per month or $59 per year. A family plan that covers up to four cats is $13.95 per month or $149 per year.

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