Pet Insurance is like Car Insurance

Similarities of Pet Insurance and Car Insurance

Pet insurance and car insurance are more alike than you might think. Why?

Premium Cost Calculation

When you buy car insurance, you must provide the make, model and year of your car, as well as where you live. This allows the insurance company to access the risk of expenses should you get into an accident. Same is true with pet insurance. You provide the species, breed and age of your pet, as well as where you live. The premium you pay correlates to your pet’s risk of expenses. With car insurance, a brand new Lamborghini is going to be more expensive to insure than a 1982 Buick. With pet insurance, coverage for an 8 year old Boxer is going to be more expensive than a 1 year old mixed breed dog.

Out of Pocket Expenses

Your car insurance helps you pay for damage to your car. However, there is still general maintenance you pay for out of pocket. Your car insurance doesn’t pay for gasoline in your car, new windshield wipers, oil changes, or new tires – you know these are expected expenses when you own a car. Pet insurance is very similar. It helps reimburse veterinary costs for accidents and illnesses like ear infections, broken bones and cancer. However, expected expenses like grooming, vaccinations, flea & tick preventative are all expected costs of pet ownership, and generally pet insurance doesn’t cover routine wellness expenses.

You should consider buying insurance as early as possible in your pet’s life. Think about it this way… when you buy a car, you purchase car insurance. When you add a furry friend to your family, consider buying pet insurance to provide a financial safety net should you need it.