DO I NEED PET INSURANCE?

This is a question every pet owner asks at one point or another. Things have changed a lot since Dr. Duckworth took over BAH. At that time, she would tell owners if they could draw on about 5000$ at any one time, likely they could get away without pet insurance. That number has increased to $20000.

Since COVID, not only has the cost of life increased exponentially, but the cost of providing care for your pet has gone up too. Not only this, but if something unexpected happens and surgery is needed, the costs go way up beyond what most people can manage. The comparisons below illustrate this fact. (Please Note: The numbers below are intended only to give the reader an idea of costs. These numbers have been taken from discussions about costs within the profession. They are not intended to represent the costs at BAH, nor are they intended to be taken as a quote.) :

SURGERY/PROCEDURE/CARE Before COVID After COVID If Specialist Needed Post-COVID

Dental Surgery with Extractions $1700 $3000 $7000-10000 C-Section $3000 $14000 $16000 -20000 Pyometra $2500 $3700-4000 $5000-10000 Cruciate Ligament Repair (Sm. Pet) $2500-3000 $3000-4500 $5000-7000 Cruciate Ligament Repair (Lrg Pet) $3000-3700 - $5500-8000 Hospitalization for Acute Kidney Failure $1000- 1200 $2500-3500 $6000-8000 Emergency Hospital Visit $140-185 $280-400 $500-700 MRI $1600-2500 - $3000-4000

These are just a few examples of the changes we have seen. So, it will not come as a surprise that Dr. Duckworth is now recommending ALL pets have insurance. In Europe, 85% of pet owners have pet insurance. Here in North America, that percentage is still just 5%. Dr. Duckworth stresses that when she got her own dog, she got pet insurance because she knew if anything happened where she needed a specialist, the cost would put serious pressure on her family’s finances and she didn’t want to ever have to make a decision not to do what was needed.

How Can BAH Help?

The highest times in life when a pet is in need of veterinary care is up to the age of 5, and when they are seniors (so don’t cancel at 5 years old, because this really comes in handy when they are seniors). As insurance companies go, even for humans, anything that has existed or was mentioned prior to your sign up day will be considered pre-existing and won’t be covered by any new plan. Anything not existing prior though may be covered depending on your plan. This is why it is best to sign your pet up when they are young; before anything happens.

Choosing an pet insurance company is like choosing cell phones - best to decide what you want for coverage, and then look for it. Have a conversation with your vet or vet office about what to look for in a plan for your particular pet. Your vet’s experience and knowledge can help guide you on what to ask the insurance companies you are considering, and what to watch out for. BAH can also give you a free start up with Trupanion if your pet is young, and if you end up signing up with them, there will be no wait period. This means that if something happens while you are on the free plan, it will not be considered pre-existing by Trupanion! This is huge! Breslau Animal Hospital works closely with all insurance companies but isn’t affiliated with any of them, so we can give you our honest opinions on what might work best for you.

“What insurance company does Dr. Duckworth have?”, you ask. Trupanion was her choice, hands down. Ask her why next time you are in!