Is pet insurance worth it for a Boerboel?
Boerboel is a strong breed with a powerful jaw, so it can be easy to damage themselves or their surroundings. They’re big dogs, meaning they could do real damage if they hurt themselves. Think about how much it would cost to treat a broken leg, or worse, for a Boerboel! All dogs, even sweet ones, get sick from time to time. Therefore, pet insurance would be an ideal solution!
Medical treatment for your Boerboel can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Boerboel 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 essential and beneficial for your pet.
Common health conditions for a Boerboel
Typically, a Boerboel has a longer lifespan than the average dog, and you can expect your dog to live somewhere between 10 to 12 years. However, like all dog breeds, there are certain medical conditions that your dog could develop, such as:
- Hip dysplasia: Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball doesn’t fit snugly into the socket in a dog’s hip joint. Signs of hip dysplasia include difficulty rising and walking, limping, stiffness in the rear legs, and reluctance to exercise. Treatment varies depending on severity.
- Elbow dysplasia: This is a common genetic condition among large dogs like Boerboels. Symptoms include lameness in the front legs, and your vet will be able to diagnose it through X-rays.
- Heart disease: Boerboels can have issues with their heart valves, like mitral and tricuspid valve dysplasia. This condition causes blood to leak backward into the heart during contraction, which can cause symptoms of heart failure.
- Ectropion (eyelids sag outward): Boerboels’ eyes are so deep-set that their eyelids are prone to sagging outwards. This condition needs to be treated surgically since it can cause irritation and corneal ulcers.
- Entropion (eyelids roll inward): Like ectropion, entropion occurs when the eyelids roll inward instead of staying flat against the eye’s surface. The lids can rub against the eye and cause pain and irritation, so it’s essential to treat entropion with surgery early.
What does pet insurance cover for a Boerboel?
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: Some plans cover the cost of medical exams, X-rays, ultrasounds, blood tests, and other screening procedures required to diagnose your Boerboel properly.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: Many policies will offer some coverage for hereditary or congenital conditions. This varies by company, so read the fine print before signing up.
- X-rays and surgeries: A good pet insurance policy will cover any necessary testing, surgery, or other procedures needed to treat your Boerboel if he gets sick or injured.
- Medication and hospital stay: Pet insurance can help with the costs of prescribed medications, including antibiotics, pain relievers, and heartworm treatments, as well as any necessary hospitalization costs.
Pet insurance covers a range of treatments, but not 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 or see if the provider has any add-on for wellness visits, and most providers 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 Boerboel?
The average cost of a pet insurance policy for a Boerboel ranges from $64.02 to $78.08. Monthly premiums for dogs will vary based on your pet’s age, sex, location, and even breed.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Boerboel?
There are many factors that will determine the monthly premium rate for your Boerboel (included but not limited to):
- Age: This is determined by how old your dog is at the time of enrollment. The premium will be higher for older dogs than younger ones because older dogs are more likely to develop health conditions and may need more expensive care.
- Location: In general, larger cities have higher rates than smaller towns. This is because there is more competition for veterinarians and other services in an urban area than in a rural one.
- Gender: Male dogs are prone to injuries due to fighting with other males hence their premium is relatively higher compared to female ones.
- Medical history: If you’ve checked with your veterinarian and found that your Boerboel has no hereditary or congenital conditions such as hip dysplasia that would make him more likely to wind up in surgery, you may be eligible for lower rates.
- Deductible: When you choose a higher deductible—the amount you pay out-of-pocket before your policy kicks in—you’re likely to receive lower monthly premiums on your pet insurance policy. However, if you can’t afford to pay the full deductible yourself, this may not be the best option.
- Reimbursement rate: The percentage of a policy’s cost varies from plan to plan and can make a big difference in your monthly premium. A typical reimbursement rate is 80%, but you can find plans that reimburse at a higher or lower rate.
- Coverage amount: This is the amount you pay out of pocket before your claim is reimbursed. Coverage amounts range from $0 to $500 per incident, and lowering your coverage amount may help lower your premium.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Boerboel
Many pet insurance options are available for a Boerboel, 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: If you’re on a budget, it’s also essential to know how much you can afford to spend each month on pet insurance. It’s easy to get carried away when we think about our pets, so it’s good to set a clear monthly budget before starting your search.
- Customer feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask for references. The main thing you’ll want to look out for is how easy it is to file claims—the last thing you want is to deny your claim. While many factors go into that decision, the more time you spend researching customer reviews from people who have gone through the same process with their pets, the better informed you’ll be about how much (or how little) it will cost you each month.
- Conditions covered: Does this policy cover all of your pet’s medical needs or basics? If you’re worried about an expensive treatment, be sure this will be covered under your plan. What about pre-existing conditions?
- Reimbursement rate: Many plans reimburse you at a certain percentage of each dollar spent on treatment. Some higher-priced plans might reimburse at 90%, while more basic plans might only reimburse 70% or 80% of each dollar spent. You must understand how this percentage affects your out-of-pocket expenses so you can decide whether it’s worth buying a more expensive policy in order to get a better reimbursement rate.
- Coverage amount: This is the maximum amount an insurer will pay out per condition per year; costs above this amount must be covered by the pet owner. Often, lifetime amounts are offered as well—this means that once costs reach a certain amount over your pet’s lifetime, they will no longer be covered.
- Deductible: The next thing to consider is the deductible. A deductible is an amount that you agree to pay out of pocket each time your dog needs treatment, before your insurance kicks in. Most plans require that you meet a deductible every year—so if your dog has multiple accidents or illnesses in one year, you’ll be required to pay the deductible multiple times (up to the limit of your policy). The higher the deductible, the lower your premium will be.