Is pet insurance worth it for a Bearded Collie?
Bearded collies are known to be good-natured, friendly, and intelligent. They love their families but can be reserved with strangers. They’re also independent and strong-willed. Beardies are prone to barking and may try to herd people and other animals like sheep.
Medical treatment for your Bearded Collie can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more serious issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Bearded Collie 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 you focus 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 a Bearded Collie
Typically, a Bearded Collie has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 14 to 15 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop such as:
- Hip dysplasia: This is a genetic disorder in which the thigh bone does not fit properly into the hip joint. This causes lameness or arthritis. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals evaluates hip X-rays and certifies dogs as free of dysplasia, or rates them as mild, moderate, or severe.
- Elbow dysplasia: This is another orthopedic problem that can affect large-breed dogs, causing lameness and arthritis. As with hip dysplasia, elbow X-rays are evaluated, and dogs certified as free of elbow dysplasia may be bred.
- Allergies: Bearded Collies often get itchy skin from allergies to flea bites, food ingredients, or environmental irritants. Sometimes just switching to a different diet will help; for severe cases, your vet will prescribe medication to help relieve symptoms.
- Von willebrand’s disease: A blood disorder that can lead to excessive bleeding. Most affected dogs have mild or moderate symptoms and can live normal lives with proper management.
- Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. This can lead to such symptoms as weight gain or loss.
What does pet insurance cover for a Bearded Collie?
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 a combination of the two. Based on your plan, you are eligible for the following coverage:
- Diagnostic and blood tests: You’ve taken your dog to the vet for a checkup, but your vet has also ordered blood tests to make sure everything is okay. If your bearded collie needs a blood test or any other diagnostic test, there is a good chance your pet insurance will cover it.
- X-rays and Surgeries: A common injury for dogs is a tear in their knee. This is an expensive surgery, but luckily it’s generally covered by pet insurance plans. Other injuries that are covered include a broken leg or tail, a torn ligament or muscle, or even something that requires eye surgery. Many of these injuries can add up quickly so having coverage is important to reduce your expenses when caring for your furry friend.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: While not all pet insurance companies will cover hereditary or genetic conditions, some do — depending on your plan. some policies do not cover pre-existing conditions therefore if your pet has such a condition you must consider the policy which covers it.
- Medication and hospital stays: If you have ever had to go to the hospital you know how expensive surgeries are and this is the same if your dog has to go in for treatment as well. In addition to hospital stays, many medications are very expensive and if they are prescribed by a vet they are generally covered by most pet insurance policies including medications for allergies.
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. For this type of coverage, you will need to take advantage of a separate wellness plan 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 that were established before you registered your pet for coverage. Be sure to 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 a Bearded Collie?
Bearded Collies are one of the most expensive breeds to insure. Depending on where you live, they can cost between $41-$59 per month to insure and $492-$708 per year.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Bearded Collie?
There are many factors that will determine the monthly premium rate for your Bearded Collie (included but not limited to):
- Age: Pet insurance premiums usually increase as your pet gets older. Puppies and kittens have lower premiums than middle-aged pets because they’re less likely to develop medical conditions as they get older.
- Medical history: pre-existing conditions can result in higher premiums or even exclusions of coverage. Some companies may exclude pre-existing conditions not only for your current pets but also for any future pets you may get. Be sure to ask about the company’s policy on pre-existing conditions and exclusions before you buy a policy.
- Location: The cost of veterinary care varies by state. If you live in a state where veterinary care is less expensive than average, your rates will be lower as well, and if you live in places where veterinary costs are high your rates will be higher.
- Deductible: The amount you choose to pay out of pocket before your plan begins reimbursing you will determine your premium. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums, but they also mean you’ll have to pay more out of pocket before receiving reimbursement from your insurer.
- Reimbursement rate: Less common than it used to be, some companies will allow you to choose between 80%, 90%, and 100% reimbursement rates. You’ll pay a lower premium if you choose to cover less of the bill.
- Coverage amount: This is the maximum amount that the pet insurance company will pay out per incident and per year. Higher coverage amounts mean more expensive monthly payments, but they also mean that a single illness won’t wipe out your lifetime coverage for your dog and leave you with nothing for the future.
- Gender: Males are generally more expensive than females because they tend to be larger, heavier, and have higher claims for injuries or diseases related to their size and their nature by mostly involving themselves in fights than females.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Bearded Collie
There are many pet insurance options available for a Bearded Collie, 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: Pet insurance is an upfront cost. Determine how much you can comfortably spend each month on premiums to ensure you’re getting the best pet insurance plan for your needs. You may have to adjust your budget to accommodate a higher premium because of age or breed.
- Customer feedback: Look at customer reviews of the plan or company to get a better idea of how well they treat their customers. A well-reviewed pet insurance plan that has a large pool of customers typically provides better coverage than one with low customer satisfaction ratings. Do your own research by asking other pet owners.
- Conditions covered: Different plans offer different types of coverage for different conditions, so it’s important to pay attention to what’s included in the plan you choose. Some plans exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage, so keep that in mind when making your decision.
- Reimbursement rate: This is the amount of money you’ll receive back from claims. Look if the plan offers full reimbursement for all expenses, or if it only covers part of them, The higher the reimbursement rate, the less out-of-pocket money you’ll have to pay if your pet gets sick or injured. You should choose a plan with a high reimbursement rate so that you can ensure your pet gets the care he or she needs.
- Conditions covered: Does the plan cover all conditions, including preexisting ones? If your pet has a history of illness or injury, you’ll need a policy that covers existing conditions as well as new ones. Otherwise, you won’t receive reimbursement for any medical care related to your pet’s ongoing health issues.
- Deductible: The amount you pay before your insurance kicks in will directly affect how much you pay for premiums each month. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium and vice versa.