As a pet parent, you may be wondering if pet insurance is a good investment—and whether or not insurance will be helpful if your dog or cat faces an emergency. In this extensive guide by Sploot Vets, we talk about emergency vet insurance types and important factors to consider when getting your pet insured.
Emergency Vet Insurance: Main Types Based on Coverage
1. Comprehensive Pet Insurance (Accident-Illness)
Comprehensive pet insurance is what many consider the “standard” pet insurance, especially in terms of emergency coverage. The main advantage of getting this kind of emergency vet insurance is its broad scope, encompassing both pet accidents AND illnesses.
Depending on the provider, comprehensive pet insurance can cover the cost of diagnostic tests, treatment, surgery, and medications for sudden illnesses, chronic illnesses, and accidents. A few examples of covered illnesses and accidents include:
- Accidental ingestion of foreign objects
- Poisoning
- Gastrointestinal inflammation
- Bacterial skin infections
- Skin allergies
- Mange
- Ear infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Heartworm infections
- Heart disease
- Glaucoma
- Cherry eye
- Lumps and bumps
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractures
- Hip dysplasia
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Kidney disease
Note: Emergency vet insurance coverage details may vary, depending on the provider. The above list of covered accidents and illnesses is for reference only, based on Healthy Paws’ pet insurance. In addition, chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, kidney disease, and so on are generally excluded by a majority of providers IF pre-existing or diagnosed prior to application for insurance.
2. Accident-Only Pet Insurance Plans
Accident-only pet insurance will provide coverage specifically for injuries caused by unexpected events. However, as the name implies, this kind of emergency vet insurance does not cover illnesses.
The reduced coverage scope of accident-only plans means that their premiums are also generally lower than comprehensive pet insurance plans. A few examples of situations covered by accident-only pet insurance include:
- Accidental ingestion of foreign objects
- Poisoning
- Lacerations/abrasions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractures
Other Factors to Consider Before Getting Emergency Vet Insurance
Aside from coverage, there are also other factors that influence the overall experience you get with your chosen insurance provider.
1. Maximum Benefit Limit
The maximum benefit limit in pet insurance is the total amount the provider will reimburse for a specific condition or across the entire policy. Once the limit is reached, no further payouts are made for that condition or within the policy term, depending on the plan.
2. Deductible: Annual vs. Per-Incident vs. Zero Deductibles
A pet insurance deductible is the amount pet parents need to pay before insurance kicks in. This amount can be set annually, per incident/illness, or (with some rare providers) zero. In any case, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium cost will be. Here are more details about each type of deductible:
- Annual deductibles—this is the amount to be paid per year before insurance coverage kicks in. This resets every year.
- Per-Incident/Illness—this is the amount to be paid per incident before insurance coverage takes over.
- Zero deductibles—insurance will kick-in immediately; however, these plans are less common and generally more costly.
3. Co-Pay Percentage
Once a deductible is met, emergency vet insurance will cover a portion of the cost. The portion that is paid by the pet parent is what’s known as the co-pay percentage. Most pet insurance plans in the United States have a co-pay setup, with the typical range at around 10 to 20 percent. Generally, the higher the co-pay percentage, the lower the pet insurance premium will be.
4. The Age of the Pet
Premiums increase as pets age. This is due to the conditions that are common in older pets, like arthritis, diabetes, and so on. Senior pets may also face coverage restrictions for certain illnesses.
5. Waiting Periods
A waiting period is the time, after the activation of your pet’s emergency vet insurance, before coverage begins. Typically, the waiting period for accidents is shorter than the waiting period for illnesses. Waiting periods for accident coverage can range from 0 to 5 days—and for illness coverage, 14 to 30 days.
6. Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing conditions are illnesses or injuries that existed before the policy’s start date. Most insurers do NOT cover pre-existing conditions. However, some providers may provide riders (more coverage for an additional fee) that will include some pre-existing conditions.
6. Bundle Deals
By insuring more than one pet under the same provider, pet parents may get a discount on their premiums. These bundle discounts may be preferable for multi-pet households.
Final Thoughts: Is Emergency Vet Insurance Worth It?
Whether or not emergency vet insurance is worth it depends on each pet parent’s situation and capacity—as well as the details of the policy. For some pet parents, emergency vet insurance can save thousands of dollars for the treatment of common accidents and illnesses.
To find the best emergency vet insurance for you, here are a few tips:
- Make sure to choose a well-known provider with a good track record.
- You can use pet insurance comparison websites to get a general idea of policy details, side-by-side. However, for the most up-to-date information, look at the official website of each provider.
- By referring to review sites, Reddit, and other forums, you can get an idea of what customers are saying about various providers.
- Ask a trusted veterinarian; they can give insights on various pet insurance types—with insights from their patients as well as their own experience if they have their own pets insured.
Sploot Vets: Emergency Vet Services & More, 365 Days a Year
Sploot Veterinary Care is a trusted veterinary care provider in Denver and Chicago, providing all-in-one care. This means you get primary care, urgent care, and emergency vet services, under one roof. We also accept pet insurance—our team will provide you with all the information you need to process a claim from your insurance provider.
With experienced vets, state-of-the-art vet clinics, dedicated surgical suites, and a Fear Free certified team, Sploot Vets offers top-tier care and a great experience for both pets and pet parents.
We handle more than 95% of your pet’s healthcare needs, with rates up to 60% lower than that of 24/7 vet ERs. Our clinics are also open for extended hours, from 8 am to 8 pm, 365 days a year.
Arrange an emergency appointment at Sploot seamlessly by calling us at (720) 770-8656.
