Is pet insurance worth it for an American Alsatian?
American Alsatians were also bred for their intelligence and calmness. They are very mild-mannered dogs by nature and tend not to be very excitable like other breeds. They make excellent companion dogs as well as family pets.
Medical treatment for your American Alsatian can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick American Alsatian can quickly add up, costing up to a few thousand dollars. In these situations, you don’t want to be in the middle of a crisis and have to choose between your beloved dog and the affordability of their medical treatment.
To prepare for these unexpected circumstances, consider investing in pet insurance. It can help you afford your dog’s medical treatments and procedures while focusing on your recovery.
Pet insurance can also provide peace of mind that your dog can be covered for the necessary treatments when it has an accident, injury, or illness. This includes (but is not limited to) broken bones, cancer treatment, harm caused by another animal, and prescriptions for chronic conditions. Therefore, pet insurance can be essential and beneficial for your pet.
Common health conditions for an American Alsatian
Typically, an American Alsatian has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 12 to 14 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
- Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation in the hip socket that can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints in its more severe form. It is a polygenic trait that is influenced by many different genes.
- Allergies: These are common in all dogs. They can be seasonal or year-round and show up as skin problems or ear infections. They can also show up as respiratory issues or gastrointestinal issues. A dog with allergies should be seen by a veterinarian who can prescribe medications to help alleviate symptoms and make your dog more comfortable while it suffers through allergy season.
- Eye diseases: The American Alsatian is prone to several eye diseases such as cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), corneal dystrophy, and glaucoma. These diseases should be treated as soon as possible to prevent blindness from occurring too early in life for your American Alsatian dog.
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA is a group of genetic diseases affecting the retina. PRA leads to complete blindness, but it is typically not painful or uncomfortable. The condition may start as early as six months of age and can be detected by a certified canine ophthalmologist through electroretinography (ERG) and specialized DNA test.
- Degenerative myelopathy (DM): DM is an inherited disorder that causes the dog’s immune system to attack the spinal cord resulting in weakness in the hind legs and eventual paralysis. The disease usually occurs between 8-and 14 years of age but has been seen in dogs as young as two years.
What does pet insurance cover for an American Alsatian?
Pet insurance covers a range of diagnostics, treatments, and procedures for your dog. Depending on the pet insurance plan, you may be covered for injury-only, illness-only, or combination. Based on your plan, you are eligible for the following coverage:
- Diagnostic and blood tests: Pet insurance can help pay for expensive tests like MRIs or ultrasounds. Blood tests, such as those used to detect heartworm disease or diagnose diabetes, are often covered.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: Some health problems can be inherited, like hip dysplasia or deafness. If your dog develops a congenital disease — even if it doesn’t show up until several years into your policy — pet insurance can help share the cost of treating it.
- X-rays and surgeries: Pet insurance plans typically cover diagnostic X-rays and X-rays taken during surgery. And because surgery is so expensive, many pet owners need coverage for surgical procedures such as cancer removal or bone fracture repair.
- Medication and hospital stays: Pet insurance typically covers medication prescribed by a vet and hospitalization costs for injuries or illnesses that require overnight stays at an animal hospital.
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments, but it does not cover preventative or wellness care. Regular check-ups with the veterinarian will not be covered under most pet insurance plans. You will need to take advantage of an individual wellness plan for this type of coverage or see if the provider has any add-ons for wellness visits. Most providers usually do have it as an add-on.
Moreover, most insurance providers will not cover pre-existing conditions before registering your pet for coverage. Review everything your potential pet insurance plan covers and what types of pre-existing conditions they exclude to ensure your pet will be eligible for coverage.
How much does pet insurance cost for an American Alsatian?
The average cost of pet insurance for an American Alsatian is $52 per month or $624 per year. Pet insurance costs vary based on your pet’s age and where you live — your zip code could impact your annual premium by 50%. Insurers consider American Alsatians to be relatively healthy compared to other breeds, which could help keep their premiums down compared to other dogs.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for an American Alsatian?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your American Alsatian (included but not limited to):
- Age: Younger pets are generally cheaper to insure than older ones. The reason is that young pets have a lower statistical chance of developing long-term, expensive conditions such as cancer or arthritis.
- Location: Pet insurance premiums vary by region. This is because veterinary costs vary by state and vet practices in urban areas tend to charge higher rates than in rural areas.
- Gender: Males are typically more expensive because they tend to be larger than females and require more food and veterinary care overall.
- Medical history: Any existing health conditions or genetic predispositions (for example, if your dog has hip dysplasia) can increase your premium. Continued treatment for these conditions might also increase your premiums over time.
- Deductible: The deductible is how much you pay per year out of pocket before the insurance company pays anything. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium because you are paying more.
- Reimbursement rate: This is the percentage they will reimburse you when they payout. The lower this number is, the lower your premium because you are paying more out of pocket.
- Coverage amount: This is the maximum amount that your policy will pay out in claims over the life of your pet. If you buy a policy with a low coverage limit, you’ll have low premiums — but you might have to pay more out of pocket when it comes time to use your insurance.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for an American Alsatian
Many pet insurance options are available for an American Alsatian, so how do you choose the best one? Here are some key factors to keep in mind as you are deciding on the right plan:
- Budget: You need to establish a budget for your dog’s insurance, and it should be one you are comfortable with. A good way to determine this is to look at how much you spend on your dog in a typical month. That amount will be the baseline from which you can decide the monthly premium you are comfortable with.
- Customer feedback: You’ll want to know if a pet insurance company gives good customer service. Ask potential insurers if they can provide testimonials or references from their customers. Also, ensure that the insurer’s customer service representatives are available by phone or email whenever you need them.
- Conditions covered: What does the policy cover, and what doesn’t it cover? You may want to look for coverage options such as routine care, dental care, and alternative therapies. Look at what’s included under basic coverage and how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your insurer pays its share.
- Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement rate is the percentage of the bills you can expect to get back from your insurer. Many plans offer up to 80% or 90%. But be careful of low rates like 70% or less. They may have higher total costs than those with higher reimbursement rates.
- Coverage amount: This will depend on your preferences and budget and how much coverage you need. If your canine companion has any pre-existing conditions that require regular visits to the vet, then you’ll probably want a higher coverage.
- Deductible: Deductibles are the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in — think of them as the copay for insurance. Plans with lower deductibles will cost more in premiums, but they can help save money over the long term if you file many claims.