Is pet insurance worth it for a Great Bernese?
Great Bernese is known for their loyalty and gentleness with children. They tend to be quite protective of their family members, especially children. However, they can also be wary of strangers if not properly socialized from an early age.
Medical treatment for your Great Bernese can become very expensive, especially if they encounter a more severe issue that requires invasive treatment. Medical bills for treating a sick Great Bernese 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 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 Great Bernese
Typically, a Great Bernese 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:
- Myasthenia gravis: This muscle disease causes muscle weakness due to an autoimmune disorder. It is most common in middle-aged dogs and can be treated with medication.
- Osteochondritis dissecans: This joint disease occurs when there is damage to the cartilage around the joint and causes lameness. Surgery can help repair this condition, but it may recur if not treated properly.
- Blot: Blot (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a severe condition that affects dogs’ stomachs and intestines. Bloating occurs when air or gas collects in the stomach, causing it to expand and twist on itself. Small dogs are at greater risk for bloating than large ones.
- Chronic kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease is a progressive failure of one or both kidneys that causes them to lose function over time. Kidney disease can cause high blood pressure, which damages other organs in your dog’s body, such as the heart and brain; it also puts him at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.
- Patellar luxation: This condition causes pain in one or both knees because of the dislocated patella (kneecap). The kneecap may slip out of place when it moves from side to side during movement, causing pain and inflammation in surrounding soft tissue and joints.
What does pet insurance cover for a Great Bernese?
Pet insurance covers a range of diagnostics, treatments, and procedures for your dog. Depending on the pet insurance plan, you may be substituted for injury-only, illness-only, or combination. Based on your plan, you are eligible for the following coverage:
- Diagnostic and blood tests: Diagnostic tests such as blood tests and urinalysis can help determine the cause of your pet’s illness. They can also help your vet determine if an underlying condition needs treatment.
- Hereditary and genetic conditions: Some congenital conditions are expected in certain breeds of dogs, such as hip dysplasia in Labradors or eye problems in German Shepherds. If your Great Bernese has one of these conditions, your vet may recommend that you see an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) or orthopedic surgeon to treat it appropriately.
- X-rays and surgeries: X-rays are often necessary when diagnosing an injury or disease in your pet. Surgery is another standard treatment option, especially if a foreign object is lodged inside your dog or if the bones need to be realigned due to injury or arthritis.
- Medication and hospital stay: Pet insurance plans vary widely in coverage, so it’s essential to read each plan carefully to understand what they cover. Some plans may not cover specific treatments or may limit how much they will pay out per treatment, while some cover even medications where you are needed to stay in the hospital.
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-ons for wellness visits. 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 Great Bernese?
The Great Bernese is a large dog breed, with males weighing 30 to 50 kilograms (66 to 110 lb) and females 25 to 40 kilograms (55 to 88 lb). A Great Bernese is an all-around farm dog, but they are often used as draft dogs. The average cost of pet insurance for a Great BerneseGreat Bernese monthly is $27 a month and $318 a yearly.
How are pet insurance premiums determined for a Great Bernese?
Many factors will determine the monthly premium rate for your Great Bernese (included but not limited to):
- Age: Older pets tend to be more expensive to insure because they’re more likely to develop chronic conditions and require more treatment.
- Location: The cost of living varies depending on where you live. The price of pet insurance premiums will also vary depending on where you live due to the price of veterinary care in that area.
- Gender: Male dogs can be expensive to treat and may increase your premium costs. Male dogs are also at risk for testicular cancer, leading to costly treatments if it’s caught early enough.
- Medical history: If your pet has a pre-existing condition such as heartworm or diabetes, that condition will be covered by your policy at a higher rate than pets without such conditions would receive.
- Deductible: The deductible is the amount of money you must pay out-of-pocket before the insurance company covers any expenses incurred by your pet during a given year.
- Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement rate, also known as the “percentage of veterinary fees paid,” determines how much your plan will pay for covered veterinary expenses. The reimbursement rate for pet insurance plans varies from plan to plan and from company to company.
- Coverage amount: The coverage amount is the maximum amount you can receive in benefits under a policy. A low coverage amount might not be enough to cover the cost of major medical procedures or chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment.
How to choose the best pet insurance plan for a Great Bernese
Many pet insurance options are available for a Great Bernese, 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: For budgeting purposes, it’s essential to know how much you can spend on insurance every year. This will help you narrow down your search and find a plan that fits into your budget.
- Customer feedback: Consider customer feedback when looking at different pet insurance plans. If people are generally satisfied with a specific company, then it’s likely that they’ll continue to be satisfied should something happen in the future.
- Conditions covered: Check for a list of conditions covered by the policy to know exactly what issues you can expect to be reimbursed for. Some plans will cover accidents, while others will only cover illnesses or injuries, so carefully consider all options before deciding which type of policy is right for your needs.
- Reimbursement rate: The reimbursement rate is the amount of money the insurer pays for each claim submitted by their policyholders. In general, the higher the reimbursement rate, the higher your premiums.
- Coverage amount: The first thing you’ll want to consider is the maximum dollar amount the plan will pay for each year. This is usually referred to as the benefit limit or maximum reimbursement amount. The higher the coverage amount, the more expensive it will be, but this may be worth it if you have a costly breed or medical condition.
- Deductible: While higher deductibles typically mean lower monthly premiums, they also mean higher out-of-pocket costs if something goes wrong with your pet’s health. For a high deductible with an annual maximum payout limit, you won’t have to pay more than a certain amount out of pocket per year, even if it was covered by the policy (which is unlikely).