How Does Cat Insurance Work?

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Cat Insurance

Insurance is one of the most important things to opt for when you live in the US. Insurance is so important that over 91% of American citizens have active health insurance. The reason why insurance is so crucial is that medical expenses are very high in the US. It is very difficult for people to spend thousands of dollars on an urgent basis. This is people keep their family’s insurance their first privacy and will renew it whenever it nears its expiry date. If your family has a feline friend as well, you need to get cat insurance for it too. Veterinarian costs are also very high in the US, which is why cat insurance is very important. In this post, we’ll be discussing how cat insurance works: 

What is Cat Insurance?

Cat Insurance

Cats love to play and hunt. However, this is why they often injure themselves. Also, cats often get exposed to harmful viruses and bacteria that cause diseases. If you are living in the US, you know how expensive medical care can get. The expenses are no different for cats, as the medical expenses of your cat are also very high. This is why you have to go for cat insurance. Cat insurance will cover all the necessary medical costs of your feline friend’s treatment. Cat insurance helps you stay relaxed when you get medical bills worth thousands of dollars.


Types of Cat Insurances

Even though there are many types of cat insurance plans out there, depending upon the cat insurance provider, there are three common types of cat insurance plans that you can choose from, depending on your cat’s age, pre-existing health condition, breed, and budget:

Choosing the correct cat insurance is important

Accident-Only Cat Insurance

In this type of cat insurance, the insurance company will only be liable to pay for your cat’s medical expenses if it suffers from an accident. The accident can either be a vehicle accident, surgical accident, poisoning, fracture, or bloat. However, you cannot claim it if the injuries that your cat suffered were intentional and were done to extract claims from your policy in an illegal manner. Also, this plan does not include routine vet visits and checkups. Vaccinations are also not included in this plan.

Accident-Illness Cat Insurance

This is the most expensive cat insurance plan you can go for. The reason why this plan is so expensive is that this plan covers almost all major medical expenses that you’ll face during the active period of your cat insurance. The diseases and health issues that this plan considers for coverage include allergies, cancer, asthma, viral infections, urinary issues, digestive issues, and other major or minor diseases. Some plans might also cover burial and cremation costs. However, even though this plan is a lot more expensive than the Accident-only plan, it still does not cover regular vet checkups and dental treatment. If your cat has pre-existing medical issues or if it’s old, you might have to pay higher premiums and your plan might even have crucial exclusions.

Wellness-Only Cat Insurance

This is the cheapest cat insurance plan and it does not cover any disease or accident-related expenses. However, this insurance does cover vaccination costs, lab test costs, and even neuter operations. However, don’t expect these insurance plans to cover your cat’s grooming and dental care expenses.


Who should get cat insurance?

Even though your decision to go for cat insurance depends upon your budget, here are some other factors that will help you decide whether you have to go for cat insurance or not:

If you have a healthy young cat

A young cat is sitting

If you have a young and healthy cat, you should go for cat insurance. Cat insurance can save you from many expensive medical bills in the future.

If your young cat has a pre-existing medical condition

Even though the cat insurance plans you will get for your cat if it has pre-existing medical issues won’t be favorable, it is still recommended to go for cat insurance while your cat is young. Your insurance can still cover future medical expenses (that are not related to your cat’s pre-existing medical issue).

If you have a mid-aged cat that has had no health issues so far

If you have a cat that is not young anymore but is still healthy, then it is still recommended to go for cat insurance. The premiums will be high and your plan might even have multiple exclusions, your insurance plan will still turn out to be useful in covering the costs of future health issues.

If you have a healthy senior cat

Aged senior cat

If you have a senior cat, then it is highly unlikely that you will get an attractive insurance plan. Plus, if your cat is nearing its life expectancy, you might not get a plan. However, if your cat is healthy and has no pre-existing medical issues, you should go for an insurance plan if you get one. It will cover your cat’s burial costs and will also cover its final medical expenses.


How does Cat Insurance work?

Cat insurance illustration

The reimbursement limits for cat insurance plans range from $5000 to $30,000. The monthly premiums will be greater if the reimbursement is higher. Depending on your package, cat insurance coverage often covers 70 percent, 80 percent, or even 90 percent of your cat’s medical expenses.

While still, cat insurance may appear to be quite similar to regular health insurance that you may buy for your family, there is a significant difference between the two insurance plans. Medical costs are covered by your cat’s insurance plan when you visit a certified veterinarian to report a medical issue. You will be reimbursed based on the reimbursement proportion that you agreed to in your cat’s insurance policy. In your insurance plans, you must select and pay a deductible amount that runs from $200 to $1000, depending on the package, before your insurance becomes active.

Cat insurance can get confusing and expensive, but in the end, if you have the budget for it, it’s worth it!

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