Reviewed by Dr. Fiona Lee
Living with a pet can be one of the most rewarding experiences around. It can boost your physical activity,1 increase your cognitive function2 and even reduce anxiety3—not to mention provide you with a regular dose of biscuit-making or fetch. In return, your job is to keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Seems fair, right?
Buying insurance for your pet is one way to lessen the stress out of maintaining your pet's health because you've got coverage you can rely on before you need it. Even very young pets will benefit from regular veterinarian visits, and consistent healthcare throughout their life can help ensure they have the happiest, healthiest, tail-waggiest lives ever.
Read on to learn all about when you should insure your pet, with tips on coverage options throughout their life.
Factors influencing the best time to get pet insurance
The very best time to get insurance for your pet is before they have a health issue—but knowing when that might be is not an easy task. No matter how close you are with your pet, you still can't tell their future. Here are some factors to guide you.
Age of your pet
Just like you, your pet is likelier to need healthcare as they age. That said, there are some real advantages to buying insurance when they're young. Pet insurance gives you the peace of mind that you can provide for them through thick and thin, and as anyone with a puppy or kitten will tell you, young animals can get into both, all the time. You might also have an easier time insuring your puppy or kitten—and even save some money—if you do it when they're young. Older pets are considered riskier, so their policies may have higher premiums.4
Breed-specific considerations
Some animal breeds have a higher chance of certain health risks than others. Persian cats, for example, can be more prone than other breeds to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a potentially fatal kidney condition.5
As a pet parent, you'll want to tailor your pet insurance with breed-specific risks in mind. Let's say you have a Great Dane. Like many big dogs, this breed is prone to hip dysplasia, a painful condition affecting the joints.6 With this in mind, you'd want to select an insurance package that covers hereditary and congenital conditions—and do it as early as possible. That's because many insurance policies won't cover health issues that are considered pre-existing conditions.
Pre-existing conditions
As the name suggests, a pre-existing condition is an illness or injury that originated before you initiated an insurance policy.
If, for example, your cat breaks her leg, you can't buy insurance and have the fracture covered after the fact. Her injury existed before the insurance did. With some pre-existing conditions like arthritis or cancer, the rules are less straightforward because it can be unclear when the illness originated. This is another reason to insure as early as possible.
Note that some pre-existing conditions—like cuts, kennel cough or your dog's broken bone—are curable. Once curable conditions are healed, your pet can typically be covered for them in case they reoccur in the future.
Optimal timing for pet insurance enrollment
As you can see, health coverage for your pet pal is important at every age. Let's dig into what you should keep in mind throughout your pet's life.
Puppy and kitten stage
If you've got a puppy or kitten, consider getting a plan that covers routine veterinarian visits early. With regular checkups, you can establish a health baseline for your pet and make it easier to identify any illnesses early.
Adult stage
When choosing insurance for an adult pet, you may want to be more precise about the coverage you select. With the help of your veterinarian, you can evaluate your pet's lifestyle, overall health and any individual risks. For example, your cat might not need the Bordetella vaccination (unless you have other cats who are infected),7 but they might need dental care. With Pets Best, you can tailor your pet insurance to include dental coverage to meet their needs.
Senior stage
Senior pets have changing health needs, and their insurance coverage should change too. As your furry friend ages, they will likely need more help staying healthy and fit. Among the expenses associated with aging pets are diagnostic tests, dental work and special food.8 The right pet insurance lets you be proactive with your pet's health.
Another consideration with senior animals is end-of-life care. Although you probably don't like to think about it, at some point you'll become responsible for the end of your pet's life. With insurance coverage for the cost of euthanasia, you can make hard decisions based solely on what's best for your pet.
Pets Best has your back at every age and stage
If you're wondering when to insure your pet, the answer is now. An age-appropriate pet insurance package helps you prioritize your four-legged friend's health and make veterinary-informed decisions. Plus, Pets Best policyholders get access to a 24/7 Pet Helpline, putting veterinary experts at your fingertips. That gives you the peace of mind to make the most of every day with your pet, from their wiggly years right through to their golden years. Still have questions? Get answers from Pets Best here.
Sources/Citations
1. "Benefits of Pet's Ownership, a Review Based on Health Perspectives," S.M. Hussein, W.S. Solima, A.A. Khalifa (8/2021), Journal of Internal Medicine and Emergency Research, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353211563_Benefits_of_pets%27_ownership_a_review_based_on_health_perspectives, accessed February 22, 2024.
2. "The Impact of Sustained Ownership of a Pet on Cognitive Health: A Population-Based Study," J.W. Applebaum, M.M. Shieu, T.J. Braley (8/2022), Journal of Aging and Health, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08982643221122641, accessed February 22, 2024.
3. "The Influence of Interactions With Pet Dogs on Psychological Distress," A. Matijczak et al. (3/2024), Emotion, https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2023-97081-001.html, accessed February 22, 2024.
4. "The best age to get pet insurance for dogs," M. Richardson (6/2023), CBS News, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/best-age-to-get-pet-insurance-for-dogs/, accessed February 22, 2024.
5. "What cats get polycystic kidney disease?" L. Youens (9/2022), VetHelpDirect, https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2022/09/18/what-cats-get-polycystic-kidney-disease/, accessed February 22, 2024.
6. "Hip Dysplasia in Dogs: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment," (2/2024), American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/, accessed February 22, 2024.
7. "Vaccines for Cats," K. Williams, E. Ward, R. Gollakner, VCA Animal Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/vaccines-for-cats, accessed February 22, 2024.
8. "Caring for senior cats and dogs," American Veterinary Medical Association, https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/senior-pets, accessed February 22, 2024.