Healthcare foranimals canbeexpensive
You've likely heard of pet insurance, and possibly understand the nuances of how pet insurance works, but is pet insurance worth it? In a still-uncertain world, many of us are wary about the risks we take with our money — and our pets. The good news is pet insurance absolutely can be worth it. Pet insurance can help with unplanned accidents and illnesses, as well as things like routine care. Pet insurance works by reimbursing you for covered expenses after your pet’s care.
Let’s take a look at the most important aspects of pet insurance, and how it can make it easy for you to provide your pet with great veterinary care.
With these stats in mind, let’s take a deeper look at why you may or may not want to enroll in pet insurance and whether pet insurance is worth the cost.
Pet insurance can help cover all sorts of covered expenses — from routine illness exams to medications to annual vaccinations. But where it really can come in handy is with expensive treatments due to accidents, emergencies, and long-term illnesses. Unexpected scenarios — like heartworm, ACL surgeries, and even breed-specific diseases or cancer — could cost thousands.4 Pet insurance can help alleviate some of these costs.
When 8-year-old New York pup Nala began to experience symptoms of liver disease, her parents knew she needed to visit the vet right away. The exam and diagnosis came with a hefty bill — over $12,000. But thanks to their dog insurance policy from MetLife Pet, Nala’s owners were reimbursed for over $9,700!5
We also reimbursed one family $24,200 for thromboembolism care for their German shepherd, and another family $20,700 for bite wound care for their yankee terrier.5,6
Below are some of the most common costs pet owners accumulate over the course of time. 7
What You Can Save 8
You Pay
$250
MetLife Pet Covers
$2,250
Total Vet Bill
$2,500
More resources on skin allergies:
Cost info sourced from How Much Does a Vet Visit Cost? and Average emergency vet costs: what to expect.
The cost of MetLife Pet insurance depends on several factors, including the species, breed, gender,9 and age of your pet, as well as where you live. The good news? MetLife Pet Insurance policies can start at $9 per month for cats and $15 per month for dogs.10,11 Ultimately, having pet insurance can save you money on veterinary care.
With MetLife Pet, you can also put up to 3 dogs and cats together on one policy with a shared deductible. You can even use any licensed vet in the U.S., so there’s no need to change from your preferred vet.
In addition to a monthly premium, you’ll likely have a deductible you’ll have to pay before you can be reimbursed. Deductibles can vary by plan and insurance company, but they ultimately affect how quickly your reimbursements begin to kick in.
Say you have a plan with a $250 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate. Then say your dog needs a $2,000 emergency vet visit. Once you meet that $250 deductible, MetLife Pet Insurance can reimburse you for up to 80% of that visit if it’s covered under the terms of the policy.12,13 This could put up to $1,600 back in your pocket.
Learn more about deductibles and how they work.
Pet insurance can reimburse you for covered veterinary expenses that may accrue while taking care of your pet's health — some of which can be costly. Let’s take a look at what most typical pet insurance plans cover and what they don’t.
For more information, check out MetLife Pet Insurance’s coverage and exclusions to see what we may cover for your pet.
Great question! Many insurance providers offer two types of plans: “accident-only” and “accident-illness” plans. Accident-only plans typically cover accidents, such as broken bones, whereas both accident and illness care are covered under accident-illness plans.
If you have a puppy who’s prone to eating things they’re not supposed to eat or getting into scraps, but isn’t necessarily prone to illnesses too often, you may want to go with an accident-only plan. If you have an older dog, accident-illness plans might make more sense for you, as many breeds could become more illness-prone as they age.
If you’re looking to get pet insurance – or considering when to enroll your pet – you should know that there’s often a waiting period before your coverage begins. Luckily, MetLife Pet has among the shortest wait periods for accident and illness coverage.14
What’s more, competitors can require a 6-month waiting period to get coverage for orthopedic conditions. MetLife Pet does not.10
While it’s true you could get a savings account to help cover vet expenses, that doesn’t replace the need for pet insurance. In fact, it’s a great idea to have both.
So is cat or dog insurance worth it after all?
In many cases, pet insurance can be worth the cost, as it can help alleviate stress that may come with dealing with your pet’s health expenses. Pet owners with young to middle-aged pets may find that pet insurance is especially great for them, as it can help pay for various health issues over the years.
While the need for pet insurance will be based on your unique scenario, one easy way to see if it’s worth it for your family is to get a free quote now from MetLife Pet Insurance. You can also compare MetLife Pet to other insurance providers.
Looking to purchase a policy through your employer? Get a free MetLife Pet Insurance quote for employees here.
No! This is one of the best things about MetLife Pet Insurance for pet parents. Each pet's premium will be unique based on their species, breed, age, gender,9 deductible, reimbursement rate,13 and ZIP code, as well as the coverage amount selected. But it doesn’t increase because you have a claim.
Pet insurance can help with a wide range of veterinarian needs — whether it’s to reimburse you for expenses related to treatment for major ailments, like cancer or a broken bone, or milder conditions, like an ear infection or a hurt paw. It can also help cover the costs of preventive care, which can benefit many pet parents. Pet insurance might help cover expenses up to 90% of the cost, depending on the plan you select.11
If you’ve been impacted by a large vet bill, you may have already researched how pet insurance can help. But don’t wait to have a big bill before getting your furry family member covered. With MetLife Pet Insurance, you have the power of choice, and coverage can be customized to best meet your needs. As the winner of the “Pet Insurance of the Year” Award,15 MetLife Pet is committed to helping you keep your pets happy, healthy, and protected.
Dr. Hunter Finn has been paid by MetLife to discuss the importance of choosing pet insurance. He is an integrative veterinary expert first, and social media star second. America’s favorite veterinarian owns Pet Method in McKinney, Texas, where he cares for pets while prioritizing their emotional well-being. When he’s not at his clinic, he’s starring in viral videos on TikTok (2 million followers) and Instagram (500K followers) — where he’s been known to snuggle puppies and conquer the latest dance trends.
We Can Help Cover Vet Bills While You Focus on Your Pet’s Care