Good grief, Charlie Brown, does Snoopy have health insurance?

Greater love hath no man

We are a nation of pet lovers and, for many of us, Fido, Fluffy, and Fang are like family. If any of them gets hurt or suffers from an illness, we want to be able to provide good health care for them. This can be expensive and it is getting more so as veterinary medicine keeps pace with human medical technology.

Should l get pet health insurance?

Well, not unless you have a pet. Pet health insurance will not cover you even though your vet is the best doctor you've ever met. Over the lifetime of Fido or Fluffy, pet insurance runs from $2000 to $6000. You could opt to set up a special savings account for Fang, but many of us aren't that disciplined. Pet insurance starts at around $10 per month and goes up to about $30 to $40. If you do decide to get pet health insurance, be sure to shop around and read every word, including the fine print.

What will pet insurance cover?

Pet health insurance is much like people health insurance except that there don't seem to be any HMOs. Typically the insurance will pay out 80% of costs and have an annual $100 deductible. Many also have annual caps. Like most human insurance, pet health insurance won't pay for pre-existing conditions and Fluffy needs to have an exam before she can be insured. Certain breeds tend to have certain problems--German Shepards, for example, often get hip displasia and pet health insurance will not cover these risks. Poodles may have a condition called Poodle knee and this many or may not be covered.  Insurance will cover routine checkups, the usual shots, worming, and emergencies. These days Fido may need a CAT scan, an MRI, or an ultra sound and these will be covered. Dogs, especially may need dental surgery and this is covered.