The Benefits of Pet Insurance
Animal Theft, Dog Operations, Vet Bills & Kennels and Boarding
Feb 14, 2009
Many pet owners only consider the cost of feeding their animals, but there are a number of hidden costs. Pet insurance was designed to help with these costs, which include animal theft, dog operations, cat operations, vet bills and kennels and boarding in the event of poor personal health.
Pet Insurance Helps Cover High Vet Bills
A poll of dog owners by K9 magazine found that the average vet bill was £62.01. Whilst most pet owners could easily cover this cost, statistics can hide the size of vet bills facing many families. Tesco pet insurance reported that 1 in 10 claims were for between £750 and £2,500 per annum.
Pet insurance was never designed to cover the affordable, it was designed to help regular people with unaffordable vet bills and miscellaneous costs. Sainsbury’s Finance estimated that the lifetime cost of owning a cat and dog today is around £7,200 and £9,000, respectively. It also estimated that 19% of spending on dogs and 21% of spending on cats is attributable to vet fees.
Animal Theft and Pet Insurance
The Missing Pets Bureau found that 38% of those who report their animal missing have actually been the victim of theft. In 2004 a Crufts Champion bitch worth £50,000 was stolen. Pet insurance helps with costs, such as offering rewards for safe recovery, posters and advertising and even offers financial assistance towards the cost of a new pet should the worst happen.
Kennels and Boarding
How would an owner ensure that their animal had somewhere to stay if they had to go to hospital? Whilst a pet owner could ask a friend or family to care for their animals, some people don't like pets or have allergies to them. It could also be an issue if a health problem lasts for longer than expected. A pet insurance policy will help with the cost of kennels and boarding to ensure that they are cared for.
Use a Pet Insurance Comparison Site to Get the Best Price
Many owners buy their pet insurance from the first place they look. Pet insurance prices vary considerably and depend heavily upon a number of factors, including locality. Not surprisingly, the price of pet insurance is highest in central London.
Always use a pet insurance comparison site to get the best deal. Pet insurance comparison sites can be utilised to trawl the entire market and secure the most competitive deal. Many people choosing to take out a pet insurance policy opt to pay an excess. The higher the excess paid, the lower the premiums paid by the pet owner.
With Petplan stating that the average claim is for £715 for a dog and £501 for a cat, it can easily be ascertained how important pet insurance really is. How would a pet owner cope without pet insurance if a vet bill was for thousands of pounds?
Those that found this article useful may also be interested in taking out critical illness insurance or life insurance. Others may be interested in finding practical solutions to credit card debt.
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