Is pet insurance worth it for an American Shorthair?
We love our cats and want the best for them. Getting the right food, giving them plenty of attention, and ensuring they have everything they need are all part of keeping them healthy and happy. A large part of taking care of our cats is by getting the right pet health insurance for them.
Just like any other cat breed, American Shorthair cats are susceptible to certain health issues that may require medical treatment throughout their lives to deal with certain issues. While it is necessary, however, medical treatments for American Shorthairs can become costly, especially for more serious medical ailments. To help you cover the costs associated with treating these issues, you can take advantage of available pet insurance plans.
Pet insurance for your American Shorthair ensures you can afford the treatments your cat needs without having to worry about the costs associated.
Common health issues for an American Shorthair
American Shorthair cats are healthy breeds overall, but just like any other cat breed, they are susceptible to certain health issues. Some of the most common issues your cat may experience include:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: This type of heart disease is one of the most common heart issues for American Shorthair cats. A hereditary issue, this can be determined by a heart murmur.
- Hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia can develop in American Shorthair cats over time as their hip sockets rub against each other, causing damage. This often leads to cats moving and jumping less to avoid the pain associated.
- Renal failure: Renal failure is caused by the kidneys failing to properly cleanse waste from their blood and regulate cats’ hydration.
What does pet insurance cover for an American Shorthair?
Pet insurance coverage will help alleviate the costs associated with medical treatments and procedures for your American Shorthair. Depending on the type of pet insurance coverage you get for your cat, you may be eligible for injury-only, illness-only, or injury and illness coverage. Some of the most common treatments and procedures covered include:
- Torn ligaments or broken bones: If your cat injured itself while jumping or playing, your pet insurance coverage will cover the costs associated with treatment.
- Blood and urine tests: Tests to diagnose your cat’s health issues are often required to move forward with treatment. These tests are usually covered by pet insurance plans.
- Medication: Some injuries or illnesses may require medication to help your cat get better. Pet insurance will cover the costs associated to ensure your cat gets the medication it needs.
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments but does not cover everything. Some insurance providers may not cover certain pre-existing conditions which require a lot of medical attention to treat. Before you sign up for pet insurance, you will want to make sure your cat’s needs are fully covered.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for an American Shorthair?
Pet insurance premiums are determined by a number of factors. Here are some of the main things taken into consideration for pet insurance premiums:
- Age: Depending on your pet’s age, you may be required to pay more or less on average for their monthly insurance premium coverage. The older the pet, the more likely they are to have a higher premium.
- Plan details: The more variety of medical treatments and procedures your insurance plan covers, the higher your monthly premium is likely to be. Additionally, if you’ve got a higher coverage cap or lower deductible, you can expect to pay a higher monthly premium to cover it all.
- Medical history: If your cat has experienced more serious medical conditions during its life, it is likely to have a higher monthly premium for its pet insurance coverage.
Additionally, some pet insurance providers will have caps for the cats they cover under their plans. Old cats, or cats that have certain types of medical issues, may not be eligible for coverage under certain plans. Ahead of moving forward with a plan, be sure to check that your cat will be covered.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for an American Shorthair
Choosing a pet insurance plan for your American Shorthair cat can be difficult, as there are plenty of plans to choose from. To help you make the right decision, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Determine your budget: Various pet insurance plans offer different prices for their coverage that range significantly. Ahead of looking into specific plans, determine a budget that you are comfortable with so you can narrow down available plans.
- Compare plan details: Each plan offers different forms of coverage in what types of treatments and procedures they cover, as well as their specific coverage caps, deductible amounts and more. Compare and contrast different plans to determine which one makes the most sense for your pet, and will cover the most treatments you anticipate your cat needing.
- Read plan reviews: Customers who have your potential pet insurance plan often leave reviews on their experience with the provider. Read these reviews to get a good idea on how the provider handles claims processes, and customer service inquiries to determine what your experience will be like with coverage under these specific plans. We’ve also established a review for these prodcuts that may be benficial for you.