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One of the biggest downsides I’ve experienced with pet insurance is the issue of pre-existing conditions. My current dog had mild allergies before I got insurance. Now, any skin-related issue is considered pre-existing and isn’t covered, even if it seems unrelated to the original allergies. This has meant that even for new flare-ups or infections, I’ve had to pay the full cost, which makes me question the value of the $40 a month I’m paying.
I’ve had Trupanion for my 7-year-old Cairn Terrier for several years. My monthly payment is around $40 now, but it was cheaper when she was younger. A year and a half ago, she got very sick, and after numerous tests, an MRI costing $5,000, and ongoing monthly treatments for encephalitis, my insurance has covered 90% of the costs after my $600 deductible per condition. Without it, I would have faced thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses, and it truly saved her life.
I used to have Healthy Paws, paying around $35-$50 per month for my dog. While they always processed claims and provided reimbursements, I eventually switched to a savings account. Over several years, the premiums added up, and thankfully, my dog remained relatively healthy. I realized that by consistently saving the $40-ish a month, I’d have a growing emergency fund that I could use for any pet-related cost, not just those covered by a specific insurance policy.
With my first dog, I didn’t have pet insurance, and when he suddenly snapped his CCL and had a bad reaction to the pain medication, the emergency vet visit and surgery cost over $8,000. That experience taught me a valuable lesson, and now I will never have a dog without insurance. For my current dog, even a seemingly minor incident like getting stung on his “jewels” resulted in a $2,000 ER bill. Knowing that my Trupanion policy with a $200 deductible per incident and 90% reimbursement covers these unexpected costs gives me immense peace of mind.
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