We all know that having pet insurance can come in handy, but most pet parents tend to underestimate the advantages of having comprehensive pet insurance cover to cushion the blow of pet care costs. From illnesses and accidents to daily expenses and vet visits, pet insurance can be a real lifesaver when it comes to taking care of your loving best friend.

Is pet insurance really worth it?

While many people have debated whether pet insurance makes financial sense, when looking at the real costs of animal healthcare, it seems that animal health insurance cover might just be your budget’s best friend. Below are just a few of the life-changing benefits every pet owner will gain by choosing to get on board with an animal pet insurance provider.

1. Peace of mind

Nothing is more stressful than dealing with unnecessary financial burdens. Over the last few years, the cost of vet consultations, routine care and emergency treatments have gone up, and pet owners have been left to try and balance the additional costs.

No pet parent should be unable to look after their pet and get them the right treatment when they see that their pet is sick or in pain.

Without having animal pet insurance cover, many pet owners are forced to take out pet care loans just to be able to access basic healthcare services for their loving pets.

But, with a reliable pet insurance provider, everything could change! Pet insurance plans are helping owners everywhere to be able to afford vital treatments for their pets. The peace of mind of knowing that you can take care of your pet, no matter what happens, is priceless. And for just a small fee a month, pet owners can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that they are covered completely by their chosen pet insurance plan.

2. Unexpected costs

The cost of emergency veterinary care can often deliver a much bigger blow to your budget than expected. Say your precious pup starts acting sluggish and lethargic. You monitor his behaviours for a few days and nothing changes so you take poor Max to the vet. You find out that Max has Tick-Bite Fever, and you end up having to pay R20 000 just to treat the issue. The test for determining if your precious pet has a healthcare issue alone can be expensive too. You can expect to pay R850 or more for standard blood tests to pick up any defects in kidney function, parasites in the blood, diabetes or even cancer.

It doesn’t stop there.

Accidents can end up being just as expensive, if not more so. If your pet is injured in an accident, such as a painful fall or a car accident that causes personal injury, the cost of treatments skyrocket.  An MRI scan to detect potential injuries is usually around R9 500 to R10 000. Even an ordinary X-ray can cost about R3 000 once-off - and that’s excluding the consultation fee and costs of the actual treatment.

What if you could save big on these costs that you haven’t even encountered yet? The good news is that, with an affordable pet insurance provider, any comprehensive animal health insurance plan should cover accidents, as well as take care of the cost of vet bills and medical treatments. Accidents and unexpected illness really do pop up out of nowhere, and it’s best to be as prepared as possible when they do.

So, to the question, “Is pet insurance really worth it?” My answer is a resounding “Yes!”

3. Expected costs

Taking your pet to the vet is something every pet owner has to do at least once every year. It's standard procedure, and it should be a relatively stress-free process. Yet, taking a pet to the vet can be a huge source of anxiety for many pet owners due to the associated costs. Pet healthcare costs, even for simple veterinary procedures, can really add up quickly.

You can expect to pay roughly R750 to R1350  for routine veterinary procedures such as neutering or spaying a cat and, on top of that, around R550 for every annual checkup exam.

No pet owner should have to worry if they can afford to give their pet the necessary care. That's why it's important to find a reliable pet insurance provider who will help you handle the costs of vet visits and routine care treatments. Be sure to get your playful pet insured as soon as possible since the longer you wait, the more costs you'll have to fund from your own pocket.

Keep in mind that insurance is also especially essential for younger pups who need more frequent treatments, vet visits and routine vaccines in their first year of life.

Read more about why pet insurance is a must-have for every young puppy.

Picking the insurance that’s right for you

Everyone knows the saying, “The customer knows best”. Well, that applies to pet insurance too. While it is important to talk to a pet insurance expert before making your decision, no one knows more about the primary healthcare needs of your pet than you do. Does little Milo have any hereditary conditions that need to be explicitly included in your chosen plan’s policy? Is young Cooper often sick and requires frequent visits to the vet? It’s important that you find a pet insurance plan which covers your pet’s unique healthcare requirements.

What's great is that there’s a whole range of pet insurance plans and providers to choose from when considering the right pet insurer for you. Some plans start at as title as R60pm while other plans with more expensive benefits can cost around  R430pm. By putting in the research and comparing various plans, you'll be able to find the type of cover that is perfect for your precious pet’s health and wellness needs.

Choosing the best insurance for dogs 

I always usually recommend that my loyal readers choose an insurance company like Oneplan who strives to put your peace of mind first and make your pet’s well-being a top priority, no matter what difficulties you encounter. At Oneplan, they do insurance differently. It’s about real insurance for real people.

For example, Oneplan is the type of insurer who knows that the costs of pet healthcare can be difficult to balance each month. That’s why Oneplan gives its pet owners a grace period if they can't pay their premiums during this difficult time.

Not only that, but every pet owner who becomes a member of the Oneplan family gets exclusive access to Oneplan’s unique services, including a digital claims process that is 100% paper-free and hassle-free.

Sign up with the Oneplan app today in just minutes and discover the benefits of a quality health insurance plan that is tailor-made for you and your fluffy best bud.

Until next time,

The Pet Insurance Team