A Guide To Pet Health Insurance Seniors

A pet can be a great comfort for senior citizens in their aging years. Pets are a great way to keep seniors happy, active, and motivated; especially dogs and cats. Pets are also a great option for seniors who live alone or for seniors that may have recently lost a loved one or do not live near friends and family because pets offer a great deal of companionship.

Though owning a pet is a great choice for seniors, it can be a costly one. Cats and dogs need to be taken to the vet regularly and there is a risk that those vet bills can be expensive.  Veterinarian bills can be daunting for seniors on a fixed income, especially if those bills come about due to a medical emergency. The elderly may be able to budget for yearly checkups or shots for their dog or cat, but not for an illness or injury. 

With that being said, pet insurance may be a very practical option for seniors that own a cat or dog. This post is a guide to pet insurance and will help senior citizens determine if purchasing it is right for them.

What Seniors Need to Know About Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can be beneficial for any pet owner, however, it may be especially beneficial for seniors as vet bills can put seniors that are retired in astronomical amounts of debt. Pet insurance, in some cases, maybe the make or break thing that determines whether or not a senior’s pet gets the kind of treatment that it needs. As a senior, here is what you need to know about pet insurance.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

If you are a senior, it’s important to understand how pet insurance works before you purchase it. Pet health insurance works similarly to human health insurance. The purchaser of the insurance buys a plan that has a monthly premium. Likewise, there may be a deductible for some care, pre-existing conditions may be excluded from the plan, and certain common ailments may also be excluded.

The most convenient thing about pet insurance for senior citizens who may rely on things such as in-home senior care is that they can add the premium costs into their monthly budget.

Additionally, pet insurance will be convenient if an emergency situation arises. For example, if a senior citizen’s dog gets hit by a car or contracts some sort of parasite, pet insurance will allow the pet to be treated without breaking the senior’s bank account. Pet insurance will give seniors the peace of mind that saving their canine best friend’s life will not put them into too much debt and that their pet will be able to get the treatment that they need.

What Is The Average Cost of Pet Insurance?

The cost of pet insurance per month varies per plan and the kind of animal. Some pet insurance plans cost only $10 a month, while others can cost over $100. However, the average cost is between $30-$50.

Types of Pet Insurance That Senior Citizens Should Consider

There are three basic types of pet insurance that senior citizens can choose from. 

Comprehensive Pet Insurance

This will cover routine care, accidents, and illness. It’s usually the most expensive, and it will often not cover pre-existing conditions. It may be a good option for senior citizens who have older dogs or cats that are still healthy but are likely to need more care as they age.

Accident and Illness Pet Insurance

This insurance will not cover routine care, but it will cover most accidents and illnesses (providing they are not pre-existing). Any senior citizen with a dog or cat breed that is prone to a certain disease in older age may want to consider this type of coverage before the disease presents itself. 

Accident Only Pet Insurance: 

As the name suggests, accident-only insurance for pets covers certain accidents. This may be the best insurance for a senior citizen pet owner whose pet has pre-existing health issues that can’t be covered by insurance but still would like the peace of mind that their pet will be okay if it has an accident.

Shop Around for Pet Insurance Before Buying

Not all pet insurance plans are created equal. Before any pet insurance is purchased, a senior citizen should shop around and understand exactly what the insurance policy covers and what it doesn’t. However, no matter the pet insurance you choose, it will likely be very much worth your while.

About the Author

Kelsey Simpson enjoys writing about things that can help others. She lives in South Jersey and is the proud companion to two German Shepherds and spends her free time volunteering in dog shelters.

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