The answer is yes and no, but bear with me here, let me first quickly tell you what happened…
Our dog Bobby has been known to eat things that aren’t food. Over the years we’ve lost the odd sock or two, and once we found him trying to chew down a swimsuit! This behavior is called Pica.
Not too long ago Bobby wasn’t looking too well. The loud belly gurgling and eye-watering smells told us he’d probably eaten something he shouldn’t have.
We hoped he’d pass whatever he’d eaten but as time went on we began to worry. He wouldn’t eat or drink and he couldn’t get comfortable.
So it was off to the vet to get him checked out…
A few hours later Bobby had a C-section and gave birth to our 8-year-old boy’s Spiderman sock.
Let’s just say Spiderman had seen better days. And so had me and my husband when we were told what it would cost us!
The following day we left the vet with Bobby and his cone of shame, plus $4800 added to the credit card. Eek!
I told the vet he could keep the sock🙄
Of course, there was no choice in getting the surgery done… Bobby is one of the family!
My husband did mention the unmentionable, though, and tragically this is a choice many people are forced to make every day. It’s so common they even have a name for it: economic euthanasia.
Some pics of our Bobby:
So let’s get back on topic…
We got hit badly with an unexpected vet bill and I sure as heck didn’t want to go through that stress again. Especially with how expensive everything is these days.
And so it was time to research the unexciting topic of pet insurance, and if it was actually worth getting.
I think the real question isn’t is pet insurance worth getting…
The real question is what are the chances you will be hit with a massive vet bill during the life of your dog?
I got digging and found some scary stats!
- 1 in 3 pets in the USA requires urgent vet care every year
- Every 6 seconds a pet owner is faced with a vet bill of over $1000
- A pet receives emergency medical care every 2.5 seconds in the USA
- The most common illness for dogs is stomach-related and can cost owners upwards of $7000
- 30% of over $100 billion dollars spent on pets is attributed to vet bills
These statistics show that at some point it’s very likely you will be hit with a massive vet bill.
The reason for these shocking stats is no doubt attributed to the huge number of reasons a dog can require veterinarian treatment.
There are in-fact over 170 of them!
Here is a graphic with some of them listed:
Now, what did I mean by yes and no when it comes to pet insurance being worth it?
Well, some pet insurance is worth it.
There is the insurance that saves you from a soul-crushing bill… and then there is the Wellness Insurance, which is usually added on.
Wellness Insurance is about routine care like teeth cleaning, vaccinations, regular tests, etc…
I looked at how much this type of insurance costs compared to the cost at a vet and the amount you pay for this insurance just isn’t worth it.
On the other hand, Accident and Illness insurance is now very affordable. And with the rising costs of vet care now, it’s not only worth it, it’s a must-have for all us dog owners.
That being said, you definitely need to pick the right one!
Which are the good ones?
Pet insurance is a crowded market these days. And that is actually a good thing for us dog owners!
Competition means lower premiums and better coverage options. But it also means we need to sift through one insurer after another searching for one with a good rate and coverage.
I called several insurers and visited more insurance websites than I can count. I also got several quotes for our Bobby.
And I came to this conclusion: There are only three pet insurers I’d recommend.
So let’s get down to why I chose these three and which one is my number 1 choice.
Here are my top three:
- Lemonade
- Healthy Paws
- Embrace
My Number 1 Choice
Lemonade is relatively new and they bring a modern approach to the old world of insurance. In fact, very quickly they have become America’s top-rated pet insurance.
They’ve made it much faster and easier for setting up a policy and for making claims. This is a big one for me! I have 3 kids and have no time to be on hold.
You can get a quote in under 5 minutes, which is much faster than the others I got.
Although there are many reasons to like Lemonade, here is the number one reason I like them:
Rating: 4.9 Stars – 63.2k reviews.
That is their rating on the ios App Store!
I don’t know about you but when it comes to buying anything, reviews tell me more about a product or service than anything else.
People who have Lemonade insurance are absolutely satisfied!
And of course there’s the cost. Lemonade was by far the cheapest quote I got for Bobby, too.
Advantages of Lemonade
- Super short payout periods in comparison to competitors (Process is fast and easy)
- Lower premiums
- Up to 90% reimbursement (Higher than most competitors)
- Easy-to-use app available on Apple or Android
- Huge range of coverage
Disadvantages of Lemonade
- Lemonade is only available in 38 states (Go to Lemonade to check if you qualify), but they’re working on it!
- There is an age limit of 14 years – depending upon breed (Once insured, coverage continues without age restriction)
Unlike other insurance companies, they don’t keep the money not paid out in claims. At the end of the year, Lemonade distributes any leftover funds through their Giveback program. With this, you pick a cause you want your excess premium dollars to go to.
Lemonade also offers a 10% discount for bundling a pet insurance policy, as well as a 5% multi-pet discount to cut costs further.
What People Say About Lemonade
Alex, NJ
I am extremely satisfied with the service I have received from Lemonade so far. My claims were approved instantly. I had a small problem with part of one of my claims and the customer service I have received was exceptional. Could not recommend highly enough.
Sara, CO
We recently bought Lemonade insurance for our little Pug, Pancake. The process was super easy but thorough, and the customer service was TOP NOTCH. Since buying, we have already filed a claim and received money back and we did it all through the app! Thanks, Lemonade!
Jennifer, CA
Ok, so we have a French Bulldog who is prone to like…EVERYTHING. Lol. Lemonade has been OUTSTANDING to work with. Everyone has been nice, service has been awesome and FAST and it’s SUPER EASY to file claims on the app. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
[/fusion_text]
[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]My Number 2 Choice
Healthy Paws Insurance offers a single plan for dogs that covers accidents, illnesses, and injuries. This includes emergency care, cancer care, breed-specific conditions, and hereditary and congenital conditions. There are also no limitations or caps on coverage.
One feature I love for Healthy Paws is its coverage of alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic care. But be careful with this, if it’s not something you will use stay away from the extras.
Advantages of Healthy Paws
- Easy to understand plan (This I like, some of them are so complicated!)
- Competitive premiums (Cheaper than most, premiums starting at $20)
- Positive reviews (On Consumer Affairs, they hold a rating of 4.3/5 with 514 reviews)
- Claims processed within 2 days (Faster than most)
- Offers alternative therapies
Disadvantages of Embrace
- Doesn’t offer multiple pet discount
- Doesn’t offer a Preventative Care Plan (If you have a puppy, this can be good to have if it’s affordable)
- 15-day waiting period
Bonus: Healthy Paws doubles as a non-profit that provides care to homeless pets
Kenn
My dachshund has had bladder stone surgery 2X. In both cases, Healthy Paws paid for most of the costs promptly. I’m so glad I got this insurance when my dog was a pup.
Kristen
I highly recommend Healthy Paws pet insurance to anyone. I have a rescue pup with some health issues and their claims department has processed all claims quickly and fairly. The online claim submittal process is easy to use.
My Number 3 Choice
Embrace Pet Insurance is now well known in the industry having been around for 18 years. They provide pets’ accident and illness coverage up to 15 years, which is older than most.
They also offer a yearly shrinking deductible, so for every year you don’t claim, they reduce your annual deductable by $50. This is great, if you don’t make a claim for years your deductible evaporates!
They have a wide range of policy options and offer a multiple pet discount.
Advantages of Embrace
- Deductable goes down every year you don’t make a claim (One of the few who do this)
- Many options to customize your insurance to suit your needs
- Available in all 50 States
- Optional Wellness Plan (Only good for puppies and if you’re using it)
- 24/7 Pet Telehealth Line (This is a nice touch and I like the idea of having this if needed)
Disadvantages of Embrace
- Monthly installment fee if you’re not paying upfront
- Doesn’t offer an unlimited coverage cap option
Bonus: Embrace donates $2 to charity for every policy sold
Overall Winner
I like these three insurers as not only do they offer great policies, but they have a conscience, too!
Overall you can’t go past Lemonade though, for pricing, speed of service, and most of all, ease of use!
They came from the tech world, rather than the insurance world, so they bring a fresh approach and the results are evident in their reviews.
The take-away is don’t be like me and run the gauntlet, because eventually you’ll get hurt, and it could leave you in an awful position. Peace of mind is invaluable.
