If you have an Australian Terrier, chances are they’ve already become a loved member of your family. Keep them healthy and safe by considering quality pet insurance for expensive veterinarian bills. To help you with this process, we’ve looked at the top choices for coverage, discounts, reimbursements, and overall quality.
Pumpkin offers high-quality pet insurance plans for cats and dogs as well as an optional non-insurance preventive care plan for vaccinations, key tests and wellness exams, which will help to keep your pet happy and healthy through their life. You can travel with your pet in Canada or the US and can get access from any licensed vet in these countries. The platform is entirely digitized and serves as a one-stop-shop for all your pet's healthcare needs.
Pumpkin will cover up to $20,000 for dogs and $15,000 for cats annually.
What we like
Extensive coverage on multiple health issues
Optional preventive care plan that reimburses in full for annual wellness exams and vaccines
Pumpkin Advertiser Disclosure: Pumpkin Pet Insurance policies do not cover pre-existing conditions. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/insurancepolicy. Products, discounts, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Pumpkin Insurance Services Inc. (“Pumpkin”) (NPN #19084749) is a licensed insurance agency, not an insurer. Insurance is underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, a Crum & Forster Company (NAIC #21113, Morristown, NJ) and produced by Pumpkin. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not an insurance policy. It is offered as an optional add-on non-insurance benefit. Pumpkin is responsible for the product and administration. Pumpkin Preventive Essentials is not available in all states. For full terms, visit pumpkin.care/customeragreement. Paid Endorsement.
Lemonade has earned a stellar reputation in the pet insurance industry with its affordable monthly premiums and fast reimbursement of claims with its AI technology. This technology has attracted thousands with its customizable policies and provides comprehensive coverage on illness and accidents to dogs and cats.
What we like
Customizable plans so you only pay for coverage that your pet needs
Claims are reimbursed in minutes
Affordable monthly premiums starting at $10/month
Comprehensive wellness plans to keep your pet in good health
Pawp offers pet owners an emergency fund up to but not exceeding $3,000 annually. The platform is different from other traditional pet insurance agencies as it does not require you to provide a medical examination report before enrolling your pet. Whether your pet is healthy or has been diagnosed with a pre-existing condition, you can still enroll it and access the emergency fund when the need arises.
With no deductibles and low monthly premiums as low as $24, the digital platform will protect your furry friend during an incident and save money from large vet expenses. Although the agency does not provide any limitations on age, it is best to insure your pet while still young and be prepared in advance when an emergency occurs.
What we like
Monthly premiums as low as $24
Allows coverage on 6 pets for $24 a month
Allows enrollment of pets with pre-existing conditions
24/7 unlimited access to Pawp’s virtual vet doctors
What we don't
Coverage is restricted to healthcare emergencies only
Does not offer wellness coverage
Emergency funds can be accessed only once per year
Prudent pet has excellent coverage for your pet regardless of their age. The insurer can customize your plan from illnesses, medications, accidents to preventive care that will fit your pet's needs and financial situation. This plan will give you peace of mind that you won't break the bank with unlimited coverage if an emergency occurs since treatments tend to be more expensive for older pets.
What we like
Older cats and dogs are covered
Customize your plan to fit your pet's needs and financial situation
Customers from US can get covered in Canada as well
Unlimited live vet chat if an issue occurs with your pet
Is pet insurance worth it for an Australian Terrier?
Medical treatment for your Australian Terrier can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more serious issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Australian Terrier 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 dog’s 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 important and beneficial for your pet.
Common health conditions for an Australian Terrier
Typically, an Australian Terrier has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 12 to 15 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
Patellar luxation: This common knee problem occurs when the kneecap slips out of place. It can be painful and cause lameness in the affected leg. If severe or becomes troublesome for your dog, patellar luxation can be repaired surgically.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: The hip joint socket doesn’t form properly, so the head of the upper thighbone crumbles, causing hip pain and lameness. The condition is treated with surgery to remove the damaged bone ends and stabilize the hip joint.
Epilepsy: Seizures occur because of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can be treated with anticonvulsant anti-seizure medications.
Portosystemic shunt (PSS): This occurs due to abnormal blood flow between the portal vein and systemic blood circulation. The blood bypasses the liver, which means that toxins are not removed from the body by the liver.
Hip dysplasia: This is a common problem among many breeds of dogs and involves a malformation of the hips, resulting in arthritis later in life. Dogs with hip dysplasia may show a mild limp or some reluctance to move after rest periods.
What does pet insurance cover for an Australian Terrier?
Pet insurance covers a range of diagnostics, treatments, and procedures for your dog. Depending on the pet insurance plan you get, 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: Vets can carry out a range of tests to diagnose the problem with your pet. These include tests for heartworm, tick-borne diseases, and diabetes, among others, and most insurers will cater to these costs.
Hereditary and genetic conditions: Some pet insurance companies cover hereditary and genetic disorders, including hip dysplasia, congenital heart disease, cataracts, and elbow dysplasia.
X-rays and surgeries: Many policies cover your pet having routine X-rays and other procedures as part of the examination process. In some cases, these may be considered medically necessary and therefore covered.
Medication and hospital stay: If your pet is recovering from surgery or illness, they may need to stay in the vet’s hospital for a few days. You can also claim your pet’s medications from some insurers.
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 a different 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 established before you registered 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 Australian Terrier?
Pet insurance is affordable for most dog breeds, and the Australian Terriers is no different. The average cost of monthly pet insurance for an Australian Terrier is $41 per month, which is $493 yearly. However, many factors will change your rate.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for an Australian Terrier?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Australian Terrier (included but not limited to):
Age: Younger dogs will pay less in premium than older dogs because younger dogs generally need fewer vet visits, while older dogs may be more susceptible to illness and injury. Older dogs are more prone to diseases compared to young pets.
Location: Where you live can affect your premium rate because the cost of healthcare varies from region to region. In parts of the country with higher medical costs, premiums will be higher.
Medical history: Pets who’ve had major medical problems that required treatment are likely to see higher premiums than those who haven’t needed any significant medical care in the past year or two. They’re more expensive to insure because insurers anticipate paying out more in claims for them.
Deductible: The amount you choose to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage starts. Typically, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
Coverage amount: This is how much money your policy will cover for each incident you file a claim for, regardless of how many fees are involved. The higher the coverage amount, the higher the premium. The coverage amount is usually $5,000 to unlimited.
Reimbursement Percentage: The percentage of your veterinary bills your policy will reimburse, typically 70% to 90%. Generally, the higher the reimbursement percentage, the higher the premium.
Gender: Female pets tend to be less expensive to insure than male pets because male pets are prone to certain conditions that females don’t have. Also, male pets involve themselves in various fights, so they can easily get involved in accidents.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for an Australian Terrier
There are many pet insurance options available for an Australian Terrier, 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 can find pet insurance plans at many different price points, ranging from fairly inexpensive to fairly expensive. If you have a limited budget, you might benefit from an inexpensive plan that covers only major conditions like cancer or heart disease. But if your pet has any pre-existing conditions, such as allergies or thyroid problems, be sure to look at more comprehensive plans that include those conditions in their coverage. You’ll have to determine what’s best for your budget.
Customer feedback: Ask for references from other veterinarians and friends with pets.
Coverage amounts: You may want to consider a higher coverage amount, so you won’t be responsible for paying as much out-of-pocket when your pet receives treatment. You can save money by purchasing a lower policy limit, but if your dog ever has a severe accident or illness and the costs go beyond the limit, there won’t be much help from the insurer.
Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement percentage tells you how much of the vet bill you will receive after meeting your deductible. Choosing a plan with 80% to 90% coverage will give you some cushion in case the costs come high from the vet.
Conditions covered: If your Australian Terrier has any pre-existing conditions, try to see if those can get covered. Usually, most companies won’t cover it. Also, some companies will cover hereditary conditions if diagnosed after you’ve had coverage for a certain period (usually between 6 months and a year).
Deductible: Higher deductibles save money on premiums, but they also mean that more of your veterinary bills will come out of pocket before the policy kicks in. Choose a deductible that makes sense for your budget and usage.
Ultimate Guide to Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy
Learn how to provide the best care for your furry friend with practical tips and expert advice in this FREE comprehensive e-book.
