Is cat wellness coverage worth it?
While we take good care of our cats, we may not think about treating illnesses or injuries until the moment they happen. Many times with cats, though, we may not recognize that they are sick or hurt right away. In fact, it is common for owners to not notice health issues with their cats until the issues have progressed significantly.
Once these illnesses or injuries have progressed, it may require extensive treatments and procedures to fix the issue and prevent long-term damage to their overall health. These serious treatments can come at a high cost, and many people may not be able to cover their cat’s medical needs in an emergency.
One of the best defenses against serious illnesses or injuries in cats is to prioritize preventive and routine care. This includes regular visits to the vet for wellness exams and check-ups. Cat wellness plans that include preventive and routine care helps you to maintain your cat’s overall health at an affordable rate.
What do cat wellness plans cover?
Not all cat insurance providers have preventive and routine care coverage plans. You will want to ensure your provider has this option available to be able to get coverage for preventive and routine treatments.
Typically, these coverage options are offered in addition to regular pet insurance, which covers treatments for injuries, illnesses, or a combination of these two. Wellness plans are often offered as a separate plan, or as an additional option to add to your overall pet insurance coverage. Wellness plans often cover:
- Wellness visits: Check-ups and wellness exams to evaluate the overall health of your cat are often included in wellness insurance plans.
- Pest prevention treatment: Prevention for ticks, fleas, heartworm, and other pests that commonly plague cats are generally covered under wellness insurance plans.
- Preventive procedures: Spaying, neutering, deworming, and other preventive treatments your cat may need can be included in your overall coverage.
Though wellness plans cover many treatments and procedures related to routine and preventive care, they will not typically cover pre-existing conditions. Most pre-existing conditions, like cancer or arthritis, that your cat may experience will often not be covered by your wellness plan.
How are cat wellness premiums determined?
There are many factors that help to determine your cat’s wellness plan monthly premium. Here are some of the things that contribute to your plan’s premium amount:
- Age: Your cat’s age will influence the total monthly premium amount. The older your cat is, the more expensive your plan will be, as older cats are more likely to experience serious health issues.
- Breed: Some cats are likely to experience specific health issues throughout their life that will require more intense routine or preventive care. These breeds that are susceptible to more serious illnesses that require this level of care are likely to have higher monthly premiums.
- Plan details: The procedures and treatments that are covered in your wellness plan will help to determine your monthly premium. The more types of treatments covered in your overall plan, the more expensive your premium may be.
Additionally, whether you have a separate wellness plan, or a wellness plan added on to your overall pet insurance coverage will contribute to your monthly premium. If you have a separate plan from your regular pet insurance coverage, you may need to pay more per month than if it is included as an add-on to your overall coverage. Your deductible, coverage cap, and reimbursement percentage will also factor into your monthly premium amount.
How to choose the best cat wellness plan?
Choosing the right wellness plan for your cat can be difficult, as there are many options available. Here are some things to keep in mind as you make your decision:
- Consider your cat’s unique needs: Your cat’s breed, age, and medical history may make them more susceptible to certain illnesses or injuries throughout their life. If you are expecting your cat to deal with specific medical issues, make sure your wellness plan covers any necessary preventive or routine care treatments they may need.
- Determine your budget: What you are able to pay on a monthly basis will help to determine which plan you can get for your cat. Take a look at what each plan has to offer that fits within your budget to ensure you get the best overall coverage.
- Compare plan options: Compare your top choices with each other to decide which gives you the best options for the cost. Each plan differs when it comes to the specifics of what is covered, so be sure to review what services you may take advantage of most and ensure they are covered.
- Review customer feedback: Read what customers have had to say about their experiences with your potential cat wellness plans. You will want to know how they process claims, how long reimbursements may take, and how they handle customer inquiries before signing up for a plan.