PET INSURANCE

Neighborhood Vet Hospital strongly recommends all owners acquire Pet Insurance for their pets for unforeseen medical issues and emergencies.  With advancements to human level care for pets, the cost of veterinary care has become very expensive.  In San Diego County, the average visit to an emergency clinic with treatments and diagnostics is over $1000.  Complicated surgeries can run $2000 or more here at our hospital, at specialty hospitals $5000-10000 is all too common.  

We recommend every patient be on an emergency insurance plan.  Most of these plans cover 90% with a client expected to cover 10% and whatever deductible they choose.  All of these plans are reimbursement plans through third party insurance carriers.  You will need to plan to pay your veterinary bills in full and then seek reimbursement through the insurance company.  Veterinary hospitals and clinics don't "take" insurance.  We are here to help you with your paperwork and send documentation to the insurance companies when we are able. 

Ultimately, it falls upon you to know what you have signed up for and the policies required for reimbursement for covered events.  We recommend making sure that limit coverage for emergencies is at least $30,000.  Some companies such as Trupanion have no limit.  Just make sure you are clear on what you are paying for!

Some of these companies offer Wellness plans as well as emergency plans.  It is our current opinion that you are better off simply saving for Wellness.  Average wellness costs per year in dogs are around $450-500 and for cats $375-400.  Currently most of the Wellness plans offered by the Pet Insurance companies are significantly more than that and often have decreased coverage limits on emergencies.

It is CRITICAL to sign up for Pet Insurance BEFORE problems arise.  Pet Insurance companies do not allow pre-existing conditions like human insurance companies.  The best time to sign your pet up is when they are a healthy brand new puppy or kitten!  It is the least expensive time to do so and many of the companies will keep your payment the same from that time onward!  It gets more expensive the later in life you wait to sign up your pet for Pet Insurance.