How to Choose the Right Cat Insurance

With cats increasingly being treated like members of the family, the health of our feline friends is more important than ever. Whether it's dealing with an on-going health ailment, or a sudden injury, vet bills can add up quickly. Cat owners have the option of obtaining insurance policies that help defray vet costs and provide peace of mind that they have help for the popping up of any unforeseen problems. Just like any insurance policy, it's important to know the details; what to look for, what it covers, and how to make sure you're getting the best possible fit for you and your cat.

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Deciding On Types of Feline Insurance Coverage

A major difference between available insurance plans is which medical problems are covered. In order to make a plan worth the cost, you'll want to make sure it includes certain protections.This can include accident coverage, illnesses, and even dental care. Knowing your options and the needs of you and your cat will help you make the best choice.^{[1]XResearch source}
Cancer is a common and very expensive disease to treat. While most plans do cover cancer treatment, be aware of payment caps that limit the insurer's liability. Calculate a "worst-case scenario" cost by asking your vet what cancer treatments usually run. Do not choose a plan that leaves you on the hook for a substantial amount of the worst-case scenario's cost.^{[2]XResearch source}
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Find options that cover long-term health problems. Your cat may deal with a long-term disease or health issue that can't be simply cured with a treatment. This can require daily medications, visits to specialists, and other expensive maintenance to keep them healthy. Chronic diseases like kidney failure or diabetes are common examples of ailments that require on-going treatment. Since these can be very expensive, finding an insurance plan that helps financially help with treatments can be a very important component of a policy.^{[3]XResearch source}
- Hereditary and congenital diseases often fall under this category. Depending on the particular breed of cat, some hereditary diseases may be more common than others. Purebred cats are more likely to face hereditary diseases than cross-breeds. Some insurance companies will define congenital diseases, which are present at birth, differently than hereditary diseases,which can appear later in life. Knowing these details of a policy can dictate how much an insurance policy is willing to pay.
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Inquire about dental care. Teeth problems that require a pulling or cleaning of teeth can quickly add up costs. You may want to make sure that your plan has a policy that covers preventive care, like teeth cleaning, but also that will help costly oral procedures.
- Separate dental plans may be available to supplement a traditional health insurance.
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Choosing the Right Plan for You and Your Cat

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Choose a plan that fits your living circumstances. Sometimes an insurance company may only cover certain geographical regions, help cover basic costs like check-ups, or only catastrophes. If you are someone who travels a lot with your cat, you'll want a policy with a larger coverage area. Also, you'll need to evaluate your financial situation to know what instances you'd need help most.
- Accident only policies. These plans generally cost less, but only cover accidents the pet may incur that require vet treatment. These typically have a certain time period you'll have to make your claim within and a fixed amount for specific types of accidents. Make sure you get a plan that is worth the cost and will offer help for common accidents (e.g. a broken bone, being hit by a vehicle).^{[4]XResearch source}
- Plans that help with routine care. These types are usually add-ons to comprehensive policies. These plans will pay toward your annual visit, vaccinations, microchipping and, other routine health tests. Typically it is not worth it to buy one of these as stand alone policy as you will pay more in a yearly premium than the cost of routine care. But if you are already buying a plan for your cat for other issues, this could be an add-on to help with routine costs on top of other treatments.^{[5]XResearch source}
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Choose coverage for medical conditions common to your cat's breed or age. Some cat breeds can commonly have problems, such as kidney disease in Persian cats. You will want to make sure those common diseases are covered in your plan. Also, older cats are more likely to have health problems needing care.
- In terms of age, there are usually restrictions. Kittens under a certain age cannot usually by insured for the first time and similarly older cats will usually need a pre-existing policy from when they were younger. Don't wait until you have an elderly cat with deteriorating health problems to look for a policy.
Most people choose the traditional vet route, but natural health care is becoming increasingly popular with cat owners. There are insurance plans that will cover holistic treatments to combat life-long or hereditary diseases whereas others will only cover traditional healthcare through a vet's office. If you intend on using only holistic and natural options, make sure you choose an insurance provider that can help.^{[6]XResearch source}
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Being a Smart Consumer

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Decide on a plan that meets your financial needs. Buying insurance for your cat will always involve a calculation of risk versus reward. If you have a healthy cat who seems to have good genetics, the odds your cat has a long-term health ailment is less likely. If you have an older cat, you may want to be preventive and proactive knowing potential problems looming.
- This can also depend on your financial situation. If you will have no problem coming up with quick funds for an emergency, you may have no issue going without. However, if a monthly premium is doable for you, but not the large sums of money necessary for an emergency, hedging your bets may be a worthwhile risk.
Most vets require you to pay a bill up front. Your insurance provider may have a waiting period before they release funds. Make sure you are either able to front the costs or have an arrangement with your vet. If this is a problem, choose an insurance with a very short payout period.
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Ask about waiting periods. Sometimes there is a period between when the insurance coverage actually starts and when you are expected to first begin paying your premium. These can be different for injuries, illness, and diseases. If you are buying it for a cat who is recently diagnosed with a disease, make sure you know how long you will have to wait until you get help with vet bills, or whether they exclude pre-existing illnesses.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Just like any health insurance, there may be restrictions on pre-existing illnesses. Make sure you are aware of this so you are not expecting help with something the insurance company does not cover.
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Look beyond the premium price. You may think you should look for the best deal and lowest monthly premium. However, a lower premium may also mean that they are excluding key services, have high deductibles, or low payout caps that reduce the effectiveness of the policy.^{[8]XResearch source}
- Make sure to know the deductible, co-pays, and caps very clearly because this will define how much the insurance company will help you when those vet bills begin to appear.^{[9]XResearch source}
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Always shop around for insurance before you make a choice. You can easily get quotes online but reading the details of each policy carefully is important. The premium you can expect to pay will vary on a number of factors including your location, cat's health, age, and what you want covered. However, typically with most plans you can expect to pay between $30-50 USD a month.^{[10]XTrustworthy SourceConsumer ReportsNonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testingGo to source}
- Talk to your vet. They may have certain recommendations based on their experiences.
- Look out for extra fees. Some insurance companies will charge you a one-time fee up front, or extra money per month if you elect to pay your premium monthly, rather than annually. Make sure you take these into account as you shop around for the best price.
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Look at major insurance companies. The four largest that specialize in pet insurance include Hartville Group, Veterinary Pet Insurance, Pethealth, and Petproject. This does not mean they will be the best, but you should look first at reputable insurance companies to get a common baseline for comparison sake.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Sometimes your house or auto insurance company may be able to include a pet policy in your current monthly plan. Bundling plans together can usually help you save money.
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Tips

If your cat is lost, do you require a policy that will pay for some advertising and possible reward?
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Consider accidental damage caused by your cat to other's property.
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If you have an expensive breed that has a higher worth based on their cost, but also potential breeding profits, you can look for plans that cover theft and death of the cat.
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