As our furry friends age, they become more prone to health issues and medical concerns. For pet owners of senior dogs, ensuring comprehensive healthcare coverage becomes increasingly crucial. Pet insurance tailored for senior dogs can provide invaluable financial support and peace of mind during this stage of their lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Pet insurance for senior dogs can cover medical expenses and save you money.
- The premiums for older dogs are higher compared to younger ones.
Do Senior Dogs Need Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance for senior dogs is designed to cover veterinary expenses related to illnesses, accidents, and age-related conditions that commonly affect older dogs. These insurance plans typically include various coverage aspects:
Veterinary Costs. Senior dogs often require more frequent visits to the veterinarian due to age-related ailments such as arthritis, diabetes, cancer, or heart conditions. Pet insurance can help mitigate the financial burden of these regular check-ups, diagnostic tests, and treatment plans.
Emergency Care. Accidents and sudden health issues can arise unexpectedly. Senior dog insurance often covers emergency treatments, surgeries, and hospitalizations, ensuring swift and necessary medical care without straining your finances. This is important if you often travel with your dog in the car.
Chronic Conditions. Many senior dogs develop chronic conditions that require ongoing management, such as kidney disease or arthritis. Pet insurance can assist in covering the costs of long-term medications, therapies, and specialized treatments.
End-of-Life Care. In unfortunate situations where a senior dog reaches the end of their life, some insurance plans might cover euthanasia costs or assist with cremation or burial expenses, alleviating some of the emotional and financial burden during such difficult times.
Financial Protection. Pet insurance provides a safety net, allowing you to provide the best possible care for your senior dog without worrying about the high costs of veterinary care.
Peace of Mind. Knowing that your pet is covered in case of unexpected illnesses or emergencies brings peace of mind, allowing you to focus on providing love and care to your aging companion.
Pet Insurance Companies for Senior Dogs
If you are looking for a pet insurance provider for your pet, here are the top options available.
ASPCA
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers two different plans for pet owners: an accident-only plan and a complete coverage plan. The accident-only plan covers accidental injuries, while the complete coverage plan includes treatments, procedures, diagnostics, and exam fees for both accidents and illnesses. However, there are a few exclusions to the comprehensive coverage, excluding pre-existing conditions.
For senior pet owners looking for reliable coverage, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance is a suitable choice. However, it may not be ideal for those seeking unlimited coverage for major medical incidents such as cancer.
Embrace
Embrace also offers both accident and illness coverage, as well as an accident-only policy. It is important to note that dogs 14 years and older are only eligible for the accident-only policy. Embrace provides various opportunities to save money, including a 10% discount for each enrolled pet, a 5% military discount, and a 10% employee discount if your employer offers Embrace.
Additionally, Embrace offers a vanishing deductible, reducing your annual deductible by $50 each year that you do not submit a claim for your senior dog.
Similar to Spot, Embrace distinguishes between curable and incurable pre-existing conditions. If your dog does not experience a recurrence of a prior condition for one year, Embrace will no longer consider it pre-existing.
Fetch
Fetch offers a single comprehensive accident and illness plan. When you choose a plan, you can select from three options for deductible, annual limit, and reimbursement rates. This allows senior pet owners to balance coverage and cost. Fetch also includes coverage extras that benefit senior pet owners, such as vacation cancellation coverage in case your pet becomes ill while you are away.
Pets Best
Pets Best provides an accident-only plan and three levels of accident and illness coverage: Essential, Plus, and Elite. Unlike some other plans, Pets Best determines the coverage based on the level you select, rather than offering add-ons to a base plan. The plans have minimal exclusions and offer comprehensive coverage for senior pets, covering almost any ailment, in addition to preventive care.
Pets Best is our top recommendation for seniors because it offers a combination of value, affordability, and comprehensive coverage. The plans are highly customizable, with deductibles starting as low as $50, and there is an unlimited coverage option to provide peace of mind for senior pet owners.
Spot
Spot pet insurance provides comprehensive coverage for accidents, illnesses, emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, chemotherapy, and prescription medications. In addition, Spot’s standard plan also covers alternative therapies like stem cell therapy, chiropractic care, and acupuncture.
To cover routine veterinary care such as annual checkups, dental cleanings, and blood work, Spot offers an add-on wellness plan specifically for older dogs. Spot has a unique approach to pre-existing conditions; if your pet has a previous condition and goes 180 days without needing treatment or displaying symptoms, Spot will cover it in the future.
Does Insurance Premium Cost More for Senior Dogs?
There are several factors that can impact the monthly pet insurance premium for your senior dog, including:
Age. As your dog grows older, the likelihood of health issues increases, making it more expensive to insure. If you decide to enroll your older dog in pet insurance for the first time, your monthly premiums will be higher than average.
For instance, based on sample quotes for an 11-year-old, medium-sized, mixed-breed dog, a policy with an 80% reimbursement rate and a $500 deductible would cost between $100 and $200.
Breed. The breed of your dog can also influence the cost of pet insurance. Certain breeds have a higher susceptibility to specific conditions, which makes them more expensive to insure. For example, German shepherds are genetically prone to hip dysplasia, making them costlier to insure.
Location. The location where you and your furry companion reside can also impact the price of your pet insurance policy. Insurance providers take into account the average charges of local veterinarians for their services, as well as any insurance regulations enforced by your state.
Pre-Existing Conditions. Most insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. Ensure you understand what the policy considers as pre-existing and how it affects coverage for your senior dog’s existing health issues.
Coverage Limits and Exclusions. All insurance provider plans have restrictions. Review the policy details thoroughly to understand coverage limits, waiting periods, specific exclusions, and any annual or lifetime payout caps that might apply.
How to Save Money on Pet Insurance for Senior Dogs
If you have a senior dog, you understand the importance of providing them with the best care possible. Pet insurance can be a valuable investment to ensure that your furry friend receives medical attention when needed, but it can also come with significant costs. If you’re looking for ways to save money on pet insurance for your senior dog, consider the following tips:
Research and compare policies, Take the time to thoroughly examine different pet insurance policies available for senior dogs. Look for plans that offer comprehensive coverage but at reasonable prices. Compare their benefits, exclusions, deductibles, and reimbursement levels to select the most suitable option for your dog’s needs and your budget.
Get for a higher deductible. Selecting a higher deductible can help lower your monthly premium. However, make sure you can comfortably afford the deductible amount in case your senior dog needs veterinary care.
Consider accident-only coverage. If the cost of comprehensive pet insurance is too high, you might consider opting for accident-only coverage. This type of policy generally covers emergency veterinary treatment resulting from accidents but doesn’t extend to illnesses. While limited in its coverage, it can still provide financial support for unexpected incidents.
Take advantage of discounts. Many pet insurance providers offer discounts for various reasons. Look for multi-pet discounts if you have more than one pet, affiliation discounts for being a member of certain organizations, or discounts for enrolling online. if you can avail of this, the expenses or premiums will go down.
Seek out wellness plans. Some pet insurance companies offer wellness plans as add-ons or as part of their comprehensive coverage. These plans cover routine vet visits, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and other preventive care measures. While they might increase the monthly premium slightly, they can save you money on essential preventive treatments in the long term.
Maintain your dog’s health. By providing your senior dog with the best quality care, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and routine check-ups, you can help prevent potential health issues. Insurance providers take into account a pet’s health when determining premiums, so a healthy dog is more likely to receive more affordable coverage.
Conclusion
Pet insurance for senior dogs is a valuable investment that ensures your furry family member receives the necessary care and attention during their golden years. As dogs age, their healthcare needs change, making comprehensive coverage an essential tool in maintaining their quality of life.
