Are your house, car, and contents insured?
What about your pet/s?
Where do I sign up for pet insurance?
For so long, New Zealand has not been a large provider of pet insurance. However, since 1990, this has become more acceptable for pet owners.
Why insure a pet?
As most pet owners will attest, an animal is prone to either, injuring itself, or being injured, through no fault of its own, and a large vet bill ensues. Or, there is a hereditary condition, that has become problematic later in the cat/dogs life.
Medical and surgical plans begin from $7.15 per month. There is also cover for Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Physiotherapy and Chiropractic treatments for pets who require something that veterinary care cannot provide, or has failed, or, for those who simply want to try an alternative method. Also, varying degrees of repayment for medical procedures, are available, from 70% to 100%, and this is reflected in the monthly fee.
However, in reality, how many pet owners actually commence pet insurance, 2%, 5% or 10%?
It would seem that in these trying times, income has to be divided into areas of priority, food, rent/mortgage, children, and on it goes, so, do we have enough “left over” for our pet?
Do we really need pet insurance?
Can we not take the animal to the vet if/when he/she becomes ill, and then suffer the bill, instead of a monthy account for insurance?
How many of us actually do make the vet appointment, or, shudder at the thought of a $100 account for a consultation and antibiotics? Or, do we rush to the clinic regardless of the cost, because we are so scared of losing our beloved pet?
If we do not enlist for Pet Insurance, do we care, or love our pets less?
If we do not provide health insurance for ourselves, are we doing a disservice to our own health?
Is there a tall poppy aspect to this, for those who do provide insurance for their pets, that they are, “better off” financially than the rest of us? I hope not, they have chosen how they want to protect themselves and their pets from large bills crippling the family budget, while, at the same time, ensuring, that their cat/dog, will be provided the best care should he/she be unfortunate enough to require surgery.
It is, whichever way you look at it, still a personal choice, whether it be house, medical or pet. So, why are the providers not advising us the pros of having this for our pets?
I currently have five animals, and have no pet insurance at all, but that does not indicate that I care any less about them, or would not provide medical assistance for them if required.
There are two companies currently offering pet insurance. Pet n Sur, which is recommeded by the Auckland SPCA and also Ellenco. If you are contemplating using their services, a diligent comparison, would be advisable, due to the number of options available.
What prompted you to insure your pet/s?
I wouldn’t be without insurance in the same way I’m not without my own insurance for health – admittedly I rely on public health services but I pay for those in my taxes. I have found that my pet insurance premiums have so far been almost recouped in fees I’ve had to pay to my vet and it gives me peace of mind that if they were ever hurt or ill I’d have the resources available to me for treatment that they’d need. I also have house, contents and car insurance so maybe I’m just not a risk taker all round.
I have pet insurance and I’m glad I do. Merlin and Poppy had to have some dental work done last year and the insurance covered the cost, theres no way I could have payed for it. We live close to a big road not a good idea when you have cats, if I lived in the countryside I don’t think I have them insured as much as I do.