Pet Insurance
Being a regular follower of my posts, you’d all have read my thoughts on the struggles faced by the Vet Industry. Suffering through a vet shortage, it’s clear that a contributing factor is the cost associated with caring for pets.
The technology needed to not only isolate a problem in a sick animal but, to then also treat it can be huge and these costs are starting to hurt vets and owners alike. Something which I believe would help the industry is a better uptake on pet insurance. While it certainly has its critics, having financial support when you’re faced with a big vet bill is something seriously worth considering.
Below is a guideline for some the costs you’re likely to face when treating one of these ailments:
– snake bite – $1,700
– fracture – nearly $3,000
– foreign body ingestion – just under $1,000
As much as you love your best friend, getting hit with a bill like this really hurts.
Like with your own health insurance, there are some restrictions and limitations which you should be aware of. Most companies have a waiting period and won’t cover pre-existing conditions. They’re also unlikely to cover:
– elective treatments
– vaccine preventable illness
– older cats / dogs – will likely cover accident only
Although it may seem a little tough, given you’re likely to most need cover when your pet is in their older years, it’s best to start looking into insurance when you first consider bringing them into your home.
Some people may feel that pet insurance is unnecessary given the limitations some companies put on their policies. If this is something you believe you might prefer to take out a savings account. You can put the monthly payments you’d be making to an insurance company into it, ensuring when the vet bill arrives, you’re not caught short. Personally, I’d suggest getting a savings account AND insurance. That way, you’re covered and for the incidents your insurance excludes, you’ve got the back up of savings.
It’s true that pet insurance may not be the perfect solution however, our reluctance to take it up is seriously hurting our vet industry. Planning ahead and making sure you’re able to cover the vet bill when your pet needs care the most is, in my opinion, the most critical part of being a responsible pet owner.
Shannon Wood, Managing Director S8 Expert Recruitment Solutions. I have over 14 years recruitment experience specialising in the animal health industry across the ANZ region. Areas of expertise include sales and marketing, technical roles (Quality Assurance, Quality Control & Regulatory Affairs) and operational & financial positions. I work extensively in the veterinary, ruminant, monogastric, aquaculture and the pet specialty industries and I look forward to the next 14 years.
