The New Employee Benefit: Pet Insurance

It has been more than a year since the Covid-19 pandemic happened, and since then, it has affected every country in several ways, especially in their health system. Besides, it also impacted several businesses and establishments, forcing them to close.

As a consequence, both the employees and employers find it hard to get through this pandemic. 

According to the Department of Labor, at least 8.7 million people in the United States struggle with looking for work in their fields. However, there are only 1.3 million vacant jobs available in the country. 

Thus, aside from the fear of the virus, people also fear not working, providing the current situation. 

To address this problem, most employers sought out several ways to attract employees. One of them may include what we call pet insurance.

In this article, we will discuss what pet insurance is and its different areas. We will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of acquiring this benefit for your employees and its reasons. 

Continue reading to learn more…

What Is Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is an insurance policy where pet owners will purchase a plan for their pets in emergencies. It initially covers dogs and cats but may even branch out to other pets at home. 

Depending on the owner’s financial capacity, they can decide what benefits they can acquire for their pet’s insurance. They may customize it according to the needs and costs that they might tailor-fit for their pet.

But since cat and dog illnesses have been prevalent these past few months, most owners procure medical-related insurance, such as accidents, potential injuries, and fatal diseases.

In general, there are four types of pet insurance that one may avail for sustenance, mainly:

1. Lifetime Pet Insurance covers an entire lifetime of insurance for your pet. However, it may only take effect per year. Thus, it would be best to remember to renew this insurance annually or within schedule.

This type of insurance is best for any pet if they slowly develop a long-term illness, like diabetes or kidney failure.

Considering that something may happen to your pets at any given age or time, this may come in handy.

2. Time-Limited Pet Insurance only allows you to place insurance for a specific cut condition within a limited time. It only offers a fixed sum for any possible illnesses or injuries that your pet may have.

3. Accident-Only Pet Insurance only covers bills related to accidents and unexpected injuries that occur to your pet.

Known as the cheapest form of pet insurance, it usually covers scans like the MRI scan and sometimes even operations.

4. Maximum Benefit Pet Insurance is best recommended to pets with long-term illnesses or genetic disabilities.

This insurance is recommended, especially if they require maintenance since it has no time or benefit limits.

The Rise of Pet Insurance in America

Pets create a significant impact within society, and the country is no exception when it comes to taking care of them.

Since they bring us unconditional happiness, chances are we may want to pamper, indulge and treat them well in turn.

Therefore, it isn’t surprising that a pet owner spends more than expected for their furry companions. Anyone, especially if they own many pets, may not want to hold back in spending for them.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, in 2007, pet owners spent $9.8 billion on their pets worldwide.

In comparison to 2001, there was an increase of $2.7 billion in pet sustenance and insurance costs. 

As a result, in 2016, most insurance companies showed a growth rate towards $60 billion worth of pet insurance.

In a recent update, last 2020, American owners in the United States spent almost $2 billion on pet insurance alone. The fundamental cause of this is primarily the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to petinsurer.com, over 70% of households with pets even sign their pet’s name on holiday cards with family.

Reasons to Get A Pet Insurance 

Due to fear of dying, most people don’t want to risk themselves and go out. 

Besides that, most people also worry about their pets.

Their lifestyle changed in just a few months—no more walks out in the park and no more playtime with their other furry friends, resulting in their deteriorating health.

What’s worse is veterinary clinics are not always accessible these days due to frequent lockdowns. Thus, to address this, most owners acquire insurance for their pets. 

Below are the other reasons why you should get insurance for your furry friends:

1. It protects your employees from any unexpected and unwarranted costs that they might not have foreseen. 

Your employees with pets might suffer from budget setbacks anytime due to unforeseen circumstances such as accidents and injuries.

Thus, you should acquire insurance if things can go wrong so you can proceed without worry.

Doing this prevents you from likely taking money off your savings accounts or any other allocated budget for your finances.

If you’re an employer, acquiring insurance could help your employees who want to take good care of their companions but struggle financially.

The costs for the veterinary bills will be high, and the pet insurance will help them ensure excellent pet healthcare.

2. Pet insurance increases the treatment options available to the pet.

Acquiring insurance can also help pet owners increase treatment options available for their pets, including medically necessary emergency surgeries and chemotherapy.

Costly procedures like FLUTD surgery,  cruciate ligament surgery, cataract removal, and spinal surgery are also available in your pet’s treatment if ever they need one.

Pet insurance will provide nothing but the best treatment suited for your pets.

3. With pet insurance, you can effectively budget for other pet care costs.

If an owner likes to buy items for their cats or dogs, the pet insurance policy may help them allocate more.

Since the budgeting aspect for healthcare is gone from the scene, they may purchase useful miscellaneous stuff for their pets.

It may include, but will not be limited to, reallocation of the budget for their grooming and vaccinations.

Pet owners may also use the extras to buy toys, treats, vitamins, and food for their pets’ benefit and leisure.

Not only that, but the extras that remain within the budget can be for the owner’s endeavors.

For example, they may use the extra money to buy additional groceries for their everyday living.

4. Pet insurance allows you to reimburse. 

There are times that some veterinary clinics do not accept payment from insurance companies or a veterinarian declining to treat a pet even though they’re the only ones in the town that the insurance covers. 

Fret not! Insurance companies can reimburse the plan immediately to the owners to directly assist them.

Since reimbursement exists within a pet insurance policy, if you’re a business owner or an employer, you must expect the owner to receive the payment instead of the clinic.

This method will help them pick the best vet for their pet.

5. Pet Insurance can save them money for the long term 

Nowadays, it’s hard for us to save money and rebuild our businesses due to the ongoing pandemic. 

Since this may be something that pet owners may struggle with, securing them pet insurance in return for employment may benefit both of you.

Some insurance companies offer discounts to stand out against their competitors; they give multi-pet deals or discounts for your pets whenever you want to provide them with wellness care to prevent future health problems.

In this case, by obtaining pet insurance, you’ll be able to save more money in the long run. 

Disadvantages of Getting Pet Insurance

If you’re an employer planning to propose pet insurance as an employee incentive, bear in mind to make an initial plan for there might be unforeseen factors involving your own company’s financial status that may hinder you from doing so.

Even if the reasons mentioned above can be as good as it gets, like other insurances, pet insurances also have its disadvantages. And these disadvantages are:

1. Pet insurance may be costly, especially in large and urbanized cities.

There are high demands for insurance in urbanized areas of the country. It is primarily due to costly and top veterinary healthcare in these cities. 

Thus, if you’re an employer, you must thoroughly think if you can afford this type of cost or not. Because if you don’t, you must find other ways to offer them an incentive. 

2. It is not an option for any pets with pre-existing conditions.

Suppose you are an applicant hoping to acquire insurance through job applications. In that case,  some insurance companies have problems in ensuring pets with pre-existing medical conditions. 

Although it does not mean that you cannot apply for pet insurance anymore, some insurance companies ensure that your pet’s condition is still curable by surgeries, therapies, or medication. 

This approach will also help the company to determine their options and costs for the said insurance.

3. Some breeds are hard to insure.

There might also be cases that pet insurance companies may reject insuring your pet because of their breed.

It’s not usually because of how exotic they are, but more of how many genetic conditions they might present.

Some pets even find it hard to be insured because of their age and the severity of their illness. The chance and development of any diseases come along with age, which makes guaranteeing them difficult.

4. Not all vets are network providers of your insurance company.

To make matters worse, not all vets accept insurance from the company you chose to partner with.

Pet insurance works typically like usual insurances. So if you’re an employee working for a company offering insurance, chances are they might face such difficulties regarding the said insurance in the future.

The good thing about choosing a suitable insurance company is that they reimburse you directly rather than the vet.

Thus, your employer must choose a company whose policies allow it to be this way so that you won’t be having problems with finding vets.

5. Pet insurance may be unable to cover routine healthcare.

Lastly, some pet insurances do not constitute regular checkups or vaccination payments and must all be out of their owner’s pocket.

The said insurance only serves as a safety cushion or net for the pet’s unexpected conditions.

It may also exclude other veterinarian exam fees and even preventive healthcare like spaying and neutering.

Conclusion

The best option for a pet insurance company is to look out for those without breed specifications and limits. You might also want to remember to avoid plans that cost a lot more for preexisting conditions.

If you’re an employer planning to entice applicants by offering them pet insurance, bear in mind to become an employer whom they can trust, starting with how you can help them and their pets.

Some owners cannot afford to acquire insurance due to financial problems and instability. Hence, this tactic can also be used to create intrigue and attract more people to apply.

However, to do this, you must show you’re willing to understand, show that you have good intentions, and have a good aura around them.

Pet owners tend to share their pet’s empathy and may be able to scrutinize you by how you impress them. 

When they realize that you’re someone that they could trust, they are likely to think about signing up with you.

Thus, it would be best to take time and slowly introduce the concept of pet insurance to the aspiring employee.

Nevertheless, you must get ready for their decision, especially if it’s something that they would like to think about further.

In contrast, if you’re a mere pet owner who wants to acquire insurance for their pets, always make sure to do your research and ask other pet owners like you.

Pet insurance can save you not only a lot of money but also a pet’s life.

READ NEXT: Pet Insurance vs. Pet Savings Account: Which One’s Better for You?

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