Is Pet insurance worth it?

I read it somewhere recently that 10% pet owners in the U.S. have bought pet insurance and the number is increasing. The number had surprised me.

Do you have pet insurance? Do you think it is necessary and worth it?

I would really think it is dependent on the actual animal. If you keep some of the breeds of dogs or cats that tend to have health problems, allot of the types of bulldogs for example, I would think it to be a good idea. I guess it really depends on the cost of the insurance and what is actually covered/copays. It couldn't hurt, I see some things on TV or the net, And wonder if I would be able to afford some of the surgeries/procedures I've seen on some animals.

I am actually looking into insuring all of my animals. It will partly be mortality insurance, and partly medical, as it is in the best interest of the company to provide easy medical care. There are a limited number of legitimate places to acquire this though. I will probably get something figured out in the next year.

Petco offers pet insurance. I have never shopped from them because there isn't one around here in my area, but they definitely look legit enough as one of the largest chain stores around.

Their insurance page.
http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_petinsurance.aspx

Not that I am really interested in it for my fish, even the thought of insurance for my fish did come up once.

Have to agree with Fishbone in that it depends on the type of animal and breed. Sometimes insurance doesn't come up in conversation because not that many people even know about it. Know that Petco offers it and I think that Petsmart's in-house vet care Banefield might have it as well.

By keeping your animals healthy and eating right can go a long way in actually needing to get those uber-expensive treatments and surgeries.

I think the petsmart/banesfield version is only available if you take the animal into banesfield. I am rather skeptical of them. Simply from what I know of petsmart. I think it is a good idea none the less. I would just be careful what company you choose.

Wasnt there going to make pet insurance compulsary to dog owners? i say they should just to cover our own backs ( dog owners ) just incase someone happens.

Does this cover if the pet bites someone? because I saw a news report recently that said if you're not insured, awards for pet injuries can be as high as $500,000. They showed a video of some kid who got bit in the face by a dog and had to go through a series of surgeries to fix his face.

It depends how vulnerable the animal is to injuries and diseases. Outdoor animals probably should be insured because they are at more of a risk of being injured (cars, animals, etc). Some species of rabbits also have a very sensitive digestive system and can't eat a large amount of pellets or veggies or they could get blockage. We personally don't cover any of our pets because they are all strictly indoor (besides the dog and rabbit).

I would have to say that it is worth it. Caring for your pet and making sure they are up to date on their shots and anything else that may be needed can be very expensive. With insurance I have notice that I have saved tons on both of my dogs. Petsmart insurance plan I have found to be the best ,so if you don’t have any insurance for your pets you might want to get some.

We have pet insurance for ours. It's definitely worth it. One of ours in particular, had to undergo an MRI, spinal tap, and a lot of other neurological testing. It amounted to £3500 in total (approx). We would never have been able to afford to put him through those tests otherwise.

Since he needed meds for one of his conditions, and the fact that he was born with congenital brain damage, I'd say if it weren't for the insurance, his life would have been worse off. We're probably the posterchild for pet insurance, really.