Veterinarians now offer advanced therapies ranging from radiation treatments to kidney transplants that can cost upwards of US$5,000.
Today, leading-edge examination technologies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening reveal health problems in dogs and cats that in the past would have gone untreated. The non-invasive MRI test alone can easily cost over $1,200.
Pet insurance is relatively new to Canada, where veterinarian coverage has been comparatively slow to catch on. Less than 1% of the 14 million dogs and cats in Canada are currently covered by pet health insurance.
At the same time, costs of veterinary medicine in Canada went up an average 8% this year. This statistic is according to SecuriCan General Insurance, underwriter of PetPlan - Canada’s largest provider of veterinarian pet insurance.
Canadian Dog Insurance Claims
Below are recent examples of the most expensive claims under a PetPlan dog care policy. Also shown is the breed of dog that received veterinarian care.
- Disc & spinal problems (Rottweiler) … US$8,781 (Cdn$9,442)
- Cancer tumours (Rottweiler) $6,274 (Cdn$6,746)
- Cardiovascular illness (Labrador Retriever) … $6,105 (Cdn$6,565)
- Intestinal disorder (Pomeranian Cross) … $4,967 (Cdn$5,341)
- Road traffic accident injuries (Airedale Terrier) … $4,875 (Cdn$5,242).
Why do dog claims dominate the above list? Liz Pulliam Weston of money.central.com explains that dogs require veterinarian care twice as often as cats. In addition, purebreds are born with far more hereditary weaknesses than the average puppy.
U.S. Pet Health Insurance Claims
Demographics magazine estimates that 5% of American pet owners have veterinarian health coverage, up significantly from 1% in 1995. Below are the top 10 claims paid under PetCare’s U.S. pet insurance programs during July 2007.
- Ehrlichiosis (blood infection virus) … US$6,000
- Feline infectious peritonitis (white blood cell infection) … $5,000
- Patella luxation (dislodged knee cap) … $4,407
- Neurological problems (head and neck) … $4,195
- Cruciate ligaments (knee injuries) … $3,000
- Gastric torsion (overstretched stomach) … $3,000
- Broken bones … $3,000
- Uro-genital problems (kidneys, ureters, urethra, bladder) … $3,000
- Kennel Cough (bronchitis) … $3,000
- Lymphosarcoma (lymphoid cancer) … $2,977.
Founded in 1982, Pets Best Insurance is America’s first pet insurance company. Below are current examples of Pets Best’s most costly claims.
- Liver disorder … US$7,000
- Cancer … $6,057
- Tracheal paralysis … $4,315
- Slipped disc … $3,224
- Gastritis (inflammation of stomach lining) … $3,086
- Spinal surgery … $2,724
- Broken leg … $2,556
- Mast cell tumours (skin cancer) … $2,529.
As the above lists show, a wide range of pet illnesses and injuries may be eligible under different plans.
First Read Fine Print in Pet Insurance Policy
Consumers must carefully read individual pet insurance policies to understand specific coverage details, limitations and exclusions.
For example, the pre-existing conditions limitation is one of the most common and contentious claims exclusion. A typical pre-existing clause excludes all illnesses, injuries, diseases or other conditions that:
- began before the pet insurance policy became effective (after any policy waiting periods), or
- were foreseeable in the opinion of an independent, third-party veterinarian.
Before buying pet health insurance, it is also wise to prepare a premium rate comparison based on quotes from a number of veterinary pet insurance companies.
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