Is pet insurance worth it for a Belgian Tervuren?
Medical treatment for your Belgian Tervuren can become very expensive, especially if you encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Belgian Tervuren 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 a Belgian Tervuren
Typically, a Belgian Tervuren has a longer lifespan than the average dog. You can expect your dog to live somewhere between 10 – 12 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
- Hip and elbow dysplasia: This genetic condition affects the hip joints. Signs include limping and pain. It is one of the most common orthopedic conditions in dogs and is especially common in large breeds like the Belgian Tervuren. This condition is characterized by malformed joints resulting in painful arthritis later in life.
- Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD): This affects the growth plates between bones. It usually happens when the bone is stressed during growth periods, such as when the dog is too active or their diet is not optimal.
- Cataracts: It causes the eye lens to become cloudy, impairing vision. The condition often occurs in old age and sometimes can be surgically removed with good results.
- Autoimmune thyroiditis: This is an inherited autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the thyroid gland and prevents it from adequately producing hormones necessary for normal function.
- Cancer: Belgian Tervurens have a high rate of cancer, 50% of the breed dies from cancer. It usually strikes in middle age and can take many forms. The most common is lymphosarcoma (lymphoma), cancer that starts in the lymph nodes or other lymphoid tissue and quickly spreads throughout the body. Other cancers include hemangiosarcoma (cancer of blood vessels), mast cell tumors, and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). There’s an association between a Belgian Tervuren and mammary cancer, too.
What does pet insurance cover for a Belgian Tervuren?
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: 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: If your pet has a broken bone or needs an operation, you might be able to claim these costs from your pet insurance company.
- 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 separate 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 a Belgian Tervuren?
Pet insurance costs vary widely, depending on the pet, age, health, and coverage. The average monthly premium ranges from $40 to $80 for dogs.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Belgian Tervuren?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Belgian Tervuren (included but not limited to):
- Age: Younger pets typically have lower premiums because they’re less likely to need as much treatment. Older pets can still get insurance, but their premiums will be higher.
- Location: If you live in an area where the cost of veterinary care is higher, you’ll probably pay more for pet insurance. For example, if you live in New York City, you could pay more for the same coverage than someone in a rural area.
- Gender: Males typically cost more to insure than females since they are more playful and frequent to injuries.
- Medical history: If your pet has previous medical issues, expect to pay even more.
- Deductible: The deductible is what you’ll need to pay before your insurance company pays for covered treatments. Higher deductibles mean lower monthly premiums and vice versa.
- Reimbursement rate: Pet insurance companies typically offer several reimbursement rates, such as 70%, 80%, or 90%. The higher the reimbursement rate, the more expensive the premium.
- Coverage amount: The amount an insurance company will provide varies. These can range from $5,000 to unlimited.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Belgian Tervuren
Many pet insurance options are available for a Belgian Tervuren, 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: How much can you afford to pay for your pet’s medical care? That’s what you need to figure out first. Then you can look for plans that will cover as much cost as possible without breaking the bank each month.
- Customer feedback: Ask for references from other veterinarians and friends with pets.
- Conditions covered: Some pet insurance plans don’t cover hereditary or pre-existing conditions, while others do. If your dog has health problems, select an insurer willing to help shoulder medical costs associated with those issues.
- 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.
- Coverage amount: 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.
- 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.