Pet Connection – Should You Buy Senior Pet Insurance? – InsuranceNewsNet

When I bought Harper as a puppy 15 years ago, there were fewer pet health insurance options than there are today, and often the coverage didn’t include common problems in Cavaliers King Charles spaniels, such as heart disease. I decided not to buy him, thinking that the heart problems that occur would not be covered and that cancer is not common in the breed.

This is generally true, but cancer is common in older dogs of any breed, and Harper was diagnosed with it when she was about 13 years old. Veterinary cancer treatment has improved greatly since the last time I had a dog with treatable cancer in 1996 and costs have increased accordingly. The insurance would have saved me thousands of dollars in Harper’s care for the two years she lived after her diagnosis.

I figured my next dog would be covered no matter what. However, Sparkles is 10 years old, so insuring her would have been expensive, even though she is generally healthy. But it’s still a good idea. Here’s what to think about if you’re choosing senior pet insurance.

What animals qualify as adults? The American Animal Hospital Association there are guidelines defining different life stages, from puppy or kitten to adult, adult and geriatric. Pet health insurance companies can use these guidelines to identify a pet’s life stage and the conditions that are common during each life stage.

Breed or size may play a role. For example, giant breed dogs such as Great Danes or Irish Wolfhounds may be considered adults when they are 7 years old, while toy dogs such as Chihuahuas, which have much longer lifespans, do not reach that status until they are 10 to 12 years. American Association of Cat Practitioners considers cats to be adults when they are 11 to 14 years old and geriatric when they are 15 to 25 years old.

Different companies have different age limits for coverage. For example, Nationwide will insure pets anytime before they turn 10, while Embrace says pets enrolled after their 15th birthday are eligible for the accident-only policy, which doesn’t cover illness.

See other benefits. Some companies offer veterinary helplines or teletriage calls that can answer simple questions or help you determine whether your pet can wait for a regular vet checkup or needs to go to the emergency room.

Ask questions such as whether the deductible decreases each year you do not have an accident or illness claim recovery; whether treatable pre-existing conditions are covered if the pet has been symptom-free or treatment-free for a year or more; and whether the plan offers significant drug discounts.

“Older pets are a bit more prone to health problems and have chronic diseases or cancer as they get older, so access to affordable medication is one thing to keep in mind,” says Emily TincherDVM, Senior Director of Veterinary Relations for Nationwide.

Conditions you can expect to see in older pets are hyperthyroidism and heart disease in cats and kidney disease, diabetes, pancreatitis, osteoarthritis and cancer in dogs and cats. Some of these are chronic conditions that are manageable, but can be quite expensive over time, Tincher says.

Use pet health insurance review websites such as petinsurancereview.com and pawlicy.com to compare policies. Include your pet’s species, age, breed, and other requested information, and they’ll recommend several plans for you to consider.

Then dig deeper by visiting the company websites or calling to see exactly what’s covered. There may be discounts for covering multiple pets, for example. Companies like Nationwide, which also offer home and car insurance, may offer discounts if you’re already a policyholder. Your company may provide pet health insurance as a benefit. Compare deductible levels and benefit schedules. Your veterinarian may be able to advise you based on their knowledge of your pet’s health and lifestyle.

— Kim Campbell Thornton

Have a question about a pet? Send it to [email protected] or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker. Pet Connection is produced by veterinarian Dr. Marty Beckera journalist Kim Campbell Thorntonand trainer/behavior consultant Michael Becker. ©2023 Andrews McMeel Syndication