What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

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What Does Pet Insurance Cover? Pet insurance covers different types of treatments depending on the plan. Accident-only policies only pay for bills that result from an injury, for example, if your pet is hit by a car or ingests a foreign object. Accident and illness policies cover these injuries in addition to most illnesses, from common viruses to serious diseases like cancer.

Some insurers give pet parents the option to add on wellness coverage, which pays for some or all of your pets preventive care costs like vaccinations and annual checkups. Without a wellness rider, however, these treatments generally arent covered by a standard policy.

Is Pet Insurance Expensive?
The cost of pet insurance depends on many different factors. First and foremost is your pets age, size, and breed, which can affect the likelihood that they will become sick or require veterinary attention. Your monthly premiums will also depend on the annual limit, deductible, and reimbursement percentage you choose when you sign up for coverage. Finally, of course, each company sets its own pricing. Among the top pet insurers we reviewed, average costs for a two-year-old dog ranged anywhere between $11.95 and $47.18 per month.

Is Pet Insurance Tax-Deductible?
Unfortunately, pet insurance is not tax-deductible in the vast majority of cases. The only exception may be if you rely on a guide dog or service animal for a disability. According to the IRS, the costs of feeding and caring for a legitimate service animal fall under tax-deductible expenses, which might include an insurance policy that helps pay for veterinary expenses. This rule does not apply to emotional support animals.

Is Pet Insurance Worth the Cost?
Its impossible to say whether pet insurance will ever pay for itself simply because no one can predict the future. Ideally, your pet will never suffer a major illness or injury that requires extensive veterinary care. But as with all insurance, the idea is that by paying a nominal fee for coverage, youll eliminate the risk of having to pay thousands in the unlikely event that your pet does face a critical emergency. Many pet owners feel that this cost is worth knowing theyll never face a time that they cant afford a life-saving procedure for their beloved four-legged family members.

For example, lets say your pet is hit by a car and is rushed to the nearest veterinary hospital. After an emergency surgery, the total bill comes to $2,500. Without pet insurance, youd be on the hook for the full amount. However, if you had a mid-tier policy with a $500 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate, youd only be responsible for $900 out of pocket.

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