The Perks of Employee Pet Insurance

Every generation puts a stamp on the world with innovations, cultural trends, and artistic tastes that are all their own. Millennials are no different. Among their many interests is an abiding passion for pets. According to the research firm Mintel, three-fourths of Americans in their 30’s are dog owners and over half are cat owners. This is due in part to Generation Y putting off marriage and making pets their children. Gale, a business solutions agency, found in a recent study that 44% of millennials view their pets as practice for having children. And many of these pet parents go all out to pamper their animals with expensive treats, a plethora of toys, and anything else that makes them happy. Over half of all millennial pet parents buy gifts for their pets once a month or more. Smart companies recognize the strong bond between younger workers and their pets. They realize that 75% of the workforce will be comprised of millennials by 2025. Attracting and retaining them is of utmost importance. That’s why more and more companies are offering employees pet insurance for their four-legged companions. Think about it—when a company aligns with our passion, they earn our respect and win our hearts. This highly desired perk—which Fortune Magazine has declared the “hottest employee benefit”—is gaining in popularity. According to the most recent employee benefit report by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 11% of organizations provided pet health insurance as a voluntary benefit in 2018. This is up from 4% in 2011.

The Rising Cost of Pet Care

The value of having pet insurance for a furry family member is more important than it’s ever been. Consider that pets are living longer on account of medical advances, and an average dog owner can spend more than $9,000 on veterinary services over their pet’s lifetime (over $13,000 for a cat). According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners spent over $15 billion in 2016 on veterinary services in the United States. And the cost of these services are increasing. The Purdue University Veterinary Price Index found that veterinary services have gone up 10% for medical treatments and 5% for regular checkups since 2015. As more cutting-edge treatments are developed to address pet health problems such as arthritis and cancer, the cost will continue to rise. We’ve all heard countless heartbreaking stories about pet owners being faced with having to deplete their savings in order to save their pet. By offering pet insurance as a voluntary benefit, a company is enabling employees to give their pets the best care available while worrying less about cost. It’s no surprise that employees would jump at this opportunity.

Easy and Affordable Coverage

Beyond its ability to lure a key demographic of workers, pet insurance is less costly relative to other benefits. As a voluntary benefit, pet insurance is typically paid in full by the employee, but employers can also contribute. In one instance where the company offered a 50% contribution for a pre-selected Pets Best pet insurance policy, over 20% of their employees enrolled in the benefit. Pets Best also offers employer discounts for pet insurance to further reduce costs. In addition, minimal administration requirements on the part of the employer reduce long term costs even further. Implementing Pets Best Pet Insurance is made simple as well thanks to API driven integration solutions. Working with leading class benefits administration services like Businessolver and Benefitfocus, the sign-up process is streamlined and automated. Employees enroll as they would any other benefit. Employees can choose to pay for their voluntary pet insurance benefit either directly or you can implement a payroll deduction. Pets Best provides a personalized roll-out strategy to help educate your workforce about the new pet insurance benefit. This includes customized flyers, emails, open enrollment meetings and webinars. Customized web links are even available to your company in order to get your employees enrolled quickly. With no open enrollment period, employees are able to sign up for pet insurance year round. Pets Best satisfies the insurance needs of more than 900 businesses and organizations, and our account managers will happily work with benefit brokers to offer their accounts innovative and cost-effective solutions.

A Plan for Every Need and Budget

Pets Best insurance coverage options are designed with flexibility in mind. Accident and Illness plans cover veterinary bills for unexpected emergencies, as well as medical issues such as illness or cancer. Multiple levels of coverage are available to meet the needs of any pet at any age. For pet owners on a limited budget, Accident Only coverage gives them peace of mind in the event their pet suffers things like a broken leg, a snake bite, or accidental swallowing. The plan is eligible for cats or dogs of all ages and breeds. For an additional premium, Routine Care coverage can be added to any plan. This saves pet owners money on expected and preventative care expenses like routine checkups, vaccinations, blood work, and dental cleanings. Perfect for a new kitten or a new puppy, there’s no deductible to meet with routine care coverage, and benefits are available the day after enrollment. Accident and Illness plans offer a variety of deductible options, while Accident Only plans offer a low $250 deductible. To ensure that your pet is protected for anything that might happen, a wide selection of high coverage limits, including unlimited coverage are offered. When you work with Pets Best there’s no doubt that your company will be able to tailor a policy that fits your needs and budget. We all know that the greatest gift in life, whether it’s for a person or a pet, is health. By giving your employees the comfort of knowing that their beloved pets are cared for, you’ll be giving them the ultimate benefit. Interested in bring pet insurance to your company? Learn more about offering pet insurance as a voluntary benefit to your employees.