Reviewed by Dr. Fiona Lee
Adopting a puppy is so fun! When you bring home that wiggly little bundle of joy, your home will never be the same.
At this point, probably the last thing you're thinking about is whether or not your puppy could get sick. But investing in pet insurance while your dog is young can be one of the smartest decisions you make because it could reduce the number of pre-existing conditions that wouldn't be covered. If you're considering pet insurance for puppies, here's what you'll want to know.
1. Puppy insurance plans work differently than your health insurance
Pet insurance for dogs can help cover eligible veterinary costs if your little furry buddy has an unexpected illness or accident.1 But unlike your health insurance plan, most puppy plans don't pay the health provider (i.e., your veterinarian) directly. Instead, they reimburse you later.
This means that first, you'll pay your veterinarian bill. Then you'll file a claim with your pet's insurance plan. You may need to include supporting documentation, such as the itemized bill or other veterinarian medical records.2 Your plan will then reimburse you for any services that are covered.
There are a few insurers that offer to pay the veterinarian directly, so you don't have to pay upfront for services.2 Pets Best does offer vet direct pay for eligible expenses. This isn't as common, so when you're shopping around for pet insurance, you'll want to ask how they pay for claims.
Another difference between your pet insurance plan and your health plan: Most insurers let you use any veterinarian you want.1 Ask your veterinarian which providers they have experience with and would suggest looking into.
2. Research the plan's exclusions and deductibles before choosing
When choosing pet insurance for your puppy, you'll want to understand how the exclusions and deductibles work.2
- The deductible denotes how much you have to pay out of pocket before expenses are covered.2
- After the deductible, your plan will cover a certain "reimbursement level," such as 70%, 80% or 90% of the eligible bills.2
- Some plans also have a maximum amount that they will cover per year.2
- Other plans have short waiting periods before accident or illness coverage kicks in, and longer waiting periods for several specific conditions.3
- Most plans have exclusions for pre-existing conditions. 1 If you're shopping for a new plan for your puppy ask if there are any special exclusions.
3. You may need a wellness add-on to get vaccines, spays and neuters covered
When you adopt a puppy, some of your biggest initial expenses are related to vaccinations, spaying and neutering. But most regular pet insurance plans only cover accidents and illnesses.4 So what is the best pet insurance if you want to cover puppy vaccinations and other early-life interventions?
If you want preventive care like vaccines covered, you'll likely need a separate optional wellness plan or add-on. These help cover routine care procedures like deworming, vaccines, wellness exams, flea and tick medicine, fecal tests, spays, neuters and even microchipping. These plans may be structured to cover a fixed amount for each type of procedure. Pets Best, for example, offers two types of dog and puppy wellness plans to better meet their needs depending on age.
4. You'll likely pay less if you get pet insurance early in your dog's life
Puppy insurance plans are a great investment because insuring your pet while they are young can prevent future conditions from being considered pre-existing and excluded from coverage. That means when your dog is older and more likely to need veterinary care, those services will be eligible for reimbursement. This is also why monthly premiums are typically lower during puppyhood, since they are less likely to use the insurance, however, most premiums do increase as your dog ages.5 Other factors can also cause your premiums to increase, such as your selected deductible, your puppy's breed, size, add-ons and where you live.3
5. Pet insurance can save you money if your puppy gets sick or injured
Pet insurance can give you peace of mind, knowing that you can take care of things if your puppy gets unexpectedly sick or in an accident. For example, imagine your puppy suffers a knee injury. Knee surgery can cost thousands of dollars.6 Without insurance, you might need to charge the expense on a high-interest credit card. But with insurance, you'll first have a low deductible to pay (maybe $200), and then your plan could cover anywhere from 70%-90% of the cost. This saves you quite a bit on that knee surgery.
Of course, you're still paying a monthly fee for your insurance, and those fees add up over time.6 But often it's easier to afford a small monthly premium and a small percentage of surgery rather than trying to figure out where to get thousands of dollars up front in an emergency.
Pets Best is here to help
As you can see, puppy insurance can be a great way to help take care of your furry new family member. You can rest easy knowing that if something unexpected happens, you'll have help. Instead of worrying, you can focus on playing with your puppy and enjoying all of her exciting milestones as she grows.
Investing in pet insurance is a great way to help protect your puppy starting early in life. At Pets Best, our dog insurance plans can be customized for your pet's unique needs. In addition, Pets Best policyholders can speak to a veterinary expert anytime through a 24/7 Pet Helpline.
Sources/Citations
1. 5 Questions to Ask When Buying Pet Insurance. Texas Department of Insurance. Updated June 23, 2022. https://www.tdi.texas.gov/tips/pet-insurance.html.
2. Kilroy, Ashley. How to Make a Pet Insurance Claim. Forbes. Updated March 27, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/how-to-make-pet-insurance-claim/
3. Sleight, Mandy. What Is Pet Insurance and How Does It Work? U.S. News & World Report. Updated April 17, 2023. https://www.usnews.com/insurance/pet-insurance/what-is-pet-insurance
4. Alt, Kimberly. Does Pet Insurance Cover Shots & Vaccines? Canine Journal. Updated June 13, 2023. https://www.caninejournal.com/does-pet-insurance-cover-shots-and-vaccines/
5. Knueven, Liz and Asis, Alani. The Average Cost of Pet Insurance. Business Insider. Updated March 3, 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-cost-pet-insurance
6. Metz, Jason. What Does Pet Insurance Cover? Forbes. Updated May 2, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/what-does-pet-insurance-cover/