Which country you go, customs you find, but certain things never change: our four-legged friends are an effective part of our family. When moving to a new country, we also need to think about how our pet’s life will change. One of the big differences with Italy is that in the USA the cost of veterinary care can become very high in case of emergencies or illnesses. For this reason, today we will talk about pet insurance: what it is for, how much it costs, what it includes, and what the alternatives are
IS IT MANDATORY TO HAVE PET INSURANCE IN THE USA?
The short answer is no: it is not mandatory to insure your pets in America, but it is highly recommended. The medical expenses that you may incur can be very high, and reach several thousand dollars for emergency procedures or treatment of serious illnesses.
To give you an example, when our dog PK was attacked by another dog in the park, we rushed him to NYC ‘s Animal Medical Center . Fortunately PK recovered thanks to the care given to him, but this obviously came at a considerable cost: the total for the emergency visit, wound cleaning, sutures, X-rays, IVs, and one night’s stay in the ICU have exceeded $3000. Our insurance covered exactly 90% of this sum for us!
INSURANCE FOR DOGS AND CATS: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT DOES IT COVER?
The cost of dog or cat insurance depends a lot on the type of coverage you require. At a minimum, opting for emergency coverage is recommended. This type of coverage can cost $10 a month and up.
Coverage that is more extensive, but still excludes preventive treatments such as routine visits and vaccines, can start at $30-$50 a month. Wellness policies, which also cover vaccines and routine visits, are particularly recommended for puppies, and as they are more expensive, they can then be converted into a cheaper plan at a later time.
If you are an employee of an American company, pet insurance may be included in your benefit package, at a preferential price. For example, our dog insurance is offered as part of the benefit package, giving us a 5% discount on the cost of the policy.
HOW DOES THE INSURANCE WORK?
Dog or cat insurance in the USA works differently from private insurance for humans. When needed, you can go to your trusted veterinarian, there is no “in-network” or “out-of-network”, and the prices to consider are those in the list.
Once the service has been performed, the veterinary facility will make you pay the full amount on the spot. Have the invoice delivered to you, making sure that it includes in detail everything the vet has done for your pet, possibly including the diagnosis. In fact, you will need this document later, in order to be able to claim reimbursement from your insurance company.
After submitting your reimbursement request, the insurance company will analyze the case and proceed with the reimbursement of the services covered by your policy. This process can last a couple of days, in the case of smaller sums, or last up to a few weeks for more complicated or onerous cases.
WHAT ARE THE LIMITS OF PET INSURANCE?
Coverage will vary greatly on the type of policy you choose. For this reason it is advisable to view and check the policy carefully, avoiding unpleasant surprises in times of need.
Important factors to consider are the “deductible”, ie the total amount to be paid before the insurance begins to cover the costs, the amount of “copay”, and any “annual limits”.
For example, if my policy provides a $400 deductible, and a 10% copay, for an emergency visit costing $600, the insurer will reimburse $180, which is 90% of the costs in excess of the deductible for that year.
Also, it is possible that certain insurances have an initial period during which the insurance will not be in effect: this period is usually two weeks, but it can vary according to the company.
Unfortunately, not all animals are insurable, due to advanced age, or the presence of pre-existing conditions. For this reason it is advisable to consult an insurance agent to check the possibility of insuring your pet.
ALTERNATIVES TO DOG OR CAT INSURANCE
In the event that for one reason or another it is not possible to insure your pet, there are some precautions to be taken in order to be prepared for a potential health emergency.
First of all, it is advisable to open a savings account, where you can deposit a sum dedicated to your pet’s health every month, and draw on this fund if the need arises.
Some vets offer the option of paying for treatments in installments, but this is entirely up to the wishes of the individual vet. It is advisable to make sure in advance that your vet accepts installment payments before proceeding.
Another option is to open a Care Credit credit card , with which to pay for veterinary bills. In order to access this option, as with any other American credit card, you must meet the credit history / credit score requirements.
TO RECAP…
Deciding to take out insurance for your pet when you live in the USA certainly has great advantages, given the sums that can be reached for an emergency visit or treatment for serious illnesses.
To avoid unpleasant situations, it is advisable to take out health insurance for dogs or cats, in order to cover any unexpected expenses and guarantee our pet the best care. If it is not possible to insure our dog or cat, there are other strategies that we can evaluate, such as a dedicated savings account, or CareCredit.