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Is Pet Insurance Worth It For A Golden Retriever

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Comparing Golden Retriever Insurance Quotes From Topdog Insurance Companies

Is pet insurance worth it?

Choosing the right pet insurance company from the start is critically important for both you and your Golden Retriever. If you choose the wrong provider and go to make a claim, you could find your Golden Retriever isn’t covered when you need it most. Thats why Pawlicy Advisor scans policies for Golden Retriever-specific exclusions hidden in the fine-print and helps you see which plan would be the best fit for you and your pup.

Accident And Illness Coverage

Accident and illness policies are the most comprehensive pet insurance plans because they cover items listed in the accident-only plan as well as illnesses like cancer, arthritis, urinary tract infections, allergies, and more.

Many pet insurance companies limit their illness coverage as pets age, which is why its essential to get insurance while your pet is young to reduce pre-existing condition exemptions and your monthly cost.

What Most Plans Cover:

No No

Accident-only plans will only provide reimbursement for emergency care related to accidents, like if your pet is hurt by a car or injures themselves by falling down the stairs. This type of coverage does not cover illnesses or breed-specific issues

Accident-illness plans provide coverage for both accidents and unexpected illnesses. It is the most common, as it represents about 98% of plans issued by the pet insurance industry. This type of plan wont cover preventive care or pre-existing conditions, but you can expect reimbursement for almost everything else.

Finally, you can purchase an accident-illness plan with a wellness add-on. This is the most expensive type of plan on the market, but it provides the most comprehensive level of coverage. The only health issues that arent covered pre-existing conditions.

When comparing providers you’ll want to look for the right blend of comprehsive coverage and lifetime value.

Recommended Reading: Golden Retriever Ages

At 5 Months Of Age Odin The Alaskan Malamute Wasnt Walking Quite Right

His dad, Pip Allen, took him to a number of vets who advised that he needed surgery. Since then he has had a fair bit of work, and Pip is thankful that Bow Wow Meow helped look after everything. He is grateful to the Bow Wow team for going above and beyond, and helping Odin get the specialist support he needed. Odin is now, thankfully, back to being an unstoppable crazy monster!

His dad, Pip Allen, took him to a number of vets who advised that he needed surgery. Since then he has had a fair bit of work, and Pip is thankful that Bow Wow Meow helped look after everything. He is grateful to the Bow Wow team for going above and beyond, and helping Odin get the specialist support he needed. Odin is now, thankfully, back to being an unstoppable crazy monster!

Pet Insurance Statistics & Facts

Pet Insurance for Golden Retrievers: Is It Worth It?

Below are some pet insurance trends that fascinate us, and we think they may surprise you too.

  • 81% of U.S. pet parents consider their pets to be equal members of the family.
  • 75% of pet parents dont have pet insurance and 39% of them have regretted it.
  • Americans spent $29.3 billion on pet health care in 2019 vs $18.3 billion in 2018, $17.1 billion in 2017, and $16 billion in 2016.
  • The average annual cost for a U.S. dog insurance policy was $594.15 in 2020. This works out to an average monthly premium of $49.51.
  • The average annual cost for a U.S. cat insurance policy was $341.81 in 2020. This works out to an average monthly premium of $28.48.
  • Dog insurance is about 76% more expensive, on average, than accident and illness policies for cats.
  • Pet parents spend a yearly average on the following vet visits:
  • Routine vet visits: $257 for dogs, $182 for cats, $102 for birds, and $549 for horses
  • Surgical vet visits: $474 for dogs, $245 for cats, and $45 for birds
  • Emergency vet visits: $349 for dogs, $154 for cats, $107 for birds, and $471 for horses
  • Sick vet visits: $204 for dogs, $244 for cats, and $138 for birds
  • 3.1 million pets were insured in 2020 in the U.S. with an average annual growth rate of 23.2% for the previous 5 years .
  • The majority of insured pets in the U.S. reside in California , New York , and Florida .
  • The #1 issue reported by dog owners is stomach issues , followed by skin conditions and pain.
  • If a $1,000 pet-related emergency were to come up tomorrow:
  • Read Also: Best Golden Retriever Breeders California

    Costs Can Outweigh Benefits

    The hidden cost of premiums is alarming, but it could be justifiable if you get proportionately high benefits in return. So, Checkbook conducted an in-depth cost/benefit analysis.

    Checkbooks undercover shoppers gathered premium quotes and worked with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine to develop a reasonable basket of vet services for two model pets: Woof, a medium-size, male mixed-breed dog, and Kitty, a male mixed-breed cat, from age 2 months through 12 years. Researchers then applied the fine-print rules of nine accident and illness insurance plans with similar key options and terms.

    Overall, insurance was a worse deal when Woof and Kitty were lucky to have only low to moderate health problems, and a better deal when they suffered lots of medical problems. But the problem with spending so much to insure against disaster is that the odds of calamity are fairly long. Every six seconds a pet owner faces a vet bill of $1,000 or more, according to PetInsuranceQuotes.com, an online marketplace. Pet insurers also cite this statistic. That sounds scary, but in a country of 185 million cats and dogs, thats about a 3 percent chance over a year.

    At the same time, the owners of 17 percent of Embraces insured dogs filed claims for cruciate ligament injuries, and the insurers claim for repair was $21,047. But the average for that treatment without insurance was $4,500, Embrace said.

    Savings Tips From William Hodges Dvm

    • Avoid costly emergencies by keeping your pet healthy with exercise, a healthy diet, and routine wellness checkups and preventative care.
    • Avoid ER facilities when possible. They are there for a reason, but almost always more expensive.
    • Utilize over-the-counter medications.
    • Opt for the generic version instead of the name brand.
    • Do your due diligence on research. Come to the hospital with good questions to make the most of your time with the veterinarian as this might avoid second or third visits.
    • Consider getting a second opinion on when to treat or spend on diagnostics. Sometimes treating without good reason can make a problem worse.
    • Use Pawlicy Advisor to find the right pet insurance to hedge your risk and have the bulk of any unexpected costs covered by your provider.

    PRO TIP: Most vet offices are fairly open about their costs and will tell you about them if asked. Pet insurance companies can be another resource for these costs as they need a lot of data on the costs of veterinary care to better approximate coverage needs. My advice: .

    Recommended Reading: Best Golden Retriever Breeders California

    Is Pet Insurance Worth The Cost

    Pet parents know that the cost of pet ownership is not cheap, and its impossible to say whether pet insurance will ever pay for itself simply because no one can predict the future. Ultimately, having pet insurance is worth it for some people, but not for others.

    Ideally, your pet will never suffer a major illness or injury that requires extensive veterinary care. But as with all insurance, the idea is that by paying a nominal fee for coverage, youll eliminate the risk of having to pay thousands in the unlikely event that your pet does face a critical emergency. Many pet owners feel that this cost is worth knowing theyll never face a time that they cant afford a life-saving procedure for their beloved 4-legged family members.

    Dr. Kenney also noted in his recent interview that Pet insurance isnt a one-size-fits-all type of product. A pet insurance company and policy needs to be chosen around the needs of the pet, the wants of the pet owner, and the budget available for the pets healthcare expenses.

    For example, lets say your pet is hit by a car and is rushed to the nearest veterinary hospital. After an emergency surgery, the total bill comes to $2,500. Without pet insurance, youd be on the hook for the full amount. However, if you had a mid-tier policy with a $500 deductible and an 80% reimbursement rate, youd only be responsible for $1,000 out of pocket.

    Also Check: The Best Puppy Food For Golden Retrievers

    How Much Is Pet Insurance In Arizona

    How Much does a Golden Retriever cost? Complete Buyers Guide

    Although pet insurance policies in Arizona typically fall between $20 and $100 per month, your pricing could vary depending on a few different factors:

    • Species: Pet insurance for dogs can be considerably more expensive than pet insurance for cats, since dogs are generally more susceptible to certain expensive conditions, including hip dysplasia and joint problems.
    • Breed: Some breeds of dogs and cats are more expensive than others to insure due to their susceptibility to certain diseases. For example, golden retrievers are one of the most expensive breeds to insure since theyre prone to hip dysplasia.
    • Age: Each year your pet ages, your premiums will increase slightly, and if your pet is more than 6 years old, it will be more expensive to insure than a younger pet. Older cats are especially expensive to insure, since theyre more likely to get sick and have a difficult time recovering from accidents.
    • Customization: Choosing lower annual coverage limits, higher annual deductibles, and lower reimbursement rates when selecting your plan can help decrease your monthly premium to an amount that fits within your budget.

    Read Also: How Often Should You Bathe A Golden Retriever

    What Does Pet Insurance Do

    These are policies that help you cover the cost of veterinary treatment and medical expenses when a pet gets injured or becomes ill.

    The policies available can vary significantly in cost, what they cover and what they dont include.

    The more comprehensive policies cover:

    • dental costs
    • loss of a pet through theft and third-party liability where a pet has caused damage or harm to property or a person.

    Is Pet Insurance For Golden Retrievers Worth It

    Golden Retriever dog insurance is worth it. Suppose your dog catches a serious disease or gets hurt in an accident that could end up costing thousands of dollars at the vet. Investing in pet insurance allows you to choose the best medical treatment for your pup that your finances wont restrict.

    Not fully convinced is worth it?

    Here are 3 main reasons why you should consider getting pet insurance for your Golden Retriever.

    Read Also: Liberty Run Golden Retrievers Reviews

    Pet Insurance For Golden Retrievers: Is It Worth It

    Pet insurance for golden retrievers can be relatively cheap if coverage is obtained when the puppy is still young but could be much more costly if you wait until your dog is a senior.

    Many or all of the companies featured provide compensation to LendEDU. These commissions are how we maintain our free service for consumers. Compensation, along with hours of in-depth editorial research, determines where & how companies appear on our site.

    Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds for Americans. These friendly dogs are good with children and other animals, easy to train, and typically live around ten to 12 years.

    Unfortunately, while generally a healthy breed, golden retrievers can be at risk of serious and expensive health issues. Their inquisitive nature means foreign body ingestion is a common complaint necessitating a trip to the vet that could cost around $1,500 on average in vet bills, according to data from Trupanion.

    Long soft ears could also lead to ear infections, at an average cost of $200 per vet visit, while lameness and limping, vomiting and diarrhea, and masses are also top reasons for vet visits and run an average of $900, $600, and $1,100 respectively.

    You want to make sure your animal companion has the best care possible, so buying pet insurance for your golden retriever may well be worth it given that their common health problems can be so costly.

    How Do I Pick The Right Dog Insurance For My Golden Retriever

    Golden Retriever Pet Insurance

    Here are 8 tips to help you choose the best pet insurance policy for your Golden Retriever.

  • Compare the coverage under each plan with your Golden Retrievers specific health concerns.
  • Research what illnesses are prevalent in your dogs breed and pick your plan accordingly .
  • Speak with your veterinarian about your dogs aging health concerns.
  • Pick a plan based on the right cost and coverage benefits, not price alone.
  • Obtain at least three quotes based on the information you provide about your Golden Retrievers age, health, gender, and needs.
  • The earlier you sign your Golden Retriever up for pet insurance, typically means lower the monthly premiums
  • Evaluate and pick the monthly premium, deductibles, and reimbursement amount that best fits your needs.
  • Narrow down your choices with our recommended top 3 providers.
  • Recommended Reading: Golden Retriever Cream

    Can I Combine Cat And Dog Insurance

    If you have more than one cat or dog in your home, a multi pet policy could be the perfect fit. For every pet you add to your multi pet cover, well give you a 5% discount on each, and youll get that every year you renew with Admiral!. If youre welcoming a new cat or dog into your home, check out our guide on introducing a dog to a cat.

    Top 10 Most Common Health Issues For Golden Retrievers

  • Otitis middle ear infection
  • Pyoderma bacterial infection of the skin
  • Dermatitis inflammation of the skin
  • Gastritis inflammation, irritation or erosion of the lining of the stomach
  • Lipoma slow-growing, fatty lump between the skin and underlying muscle layer
  • Allergies
  • Colitis inflammation of the inner lining of the colon
  • Mass
  • Also Check: How Long Should Golden Retrievers Eat Puppy Food

    If You Consider Your Pet A Family Member Should It Also Have Health Coverage

    For a pet owner, its a nightmare scenario. Your beloved pet is gravely ill. Treatment is an option, but it costs thousands of dollars you dont have. You realize that in order to end the animals suffering, you may have to put it down. This situation even has a name. Its called economic euthanasia.

    Of course, fear of economic euthanasia is not the main reason pet owners take out insurance. Having a pet carries its own set of costs, and medical care can be a big part of them. The thinking is that, as with humans, pet health insurance may help keep expenses in check. But does it work? What does pet insurance pay for? How much does it cost? Most important, is it worth it?

    Who Should Get Pet Insurance

    The Story of Boeing | Golden Retriever | Embrace Pet Insurance

    If your pet is relatively healthy and you can afford the premiums, and you wouldnt be able to afford tens of thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, you should get pet insurance. Good coverage saves you from having to pay huge out-of-pocket expensesand it also means you wont have to make the heartbreaking choice of saying goodbye to your pet because you cant afford their care.

    Relatively healthy is important. You can and should get insurance even if your pet has had a few minor vet visits or has a chronic but manageable condition. If your pet is older and has already had serious health problemscancer, surgeries, loss of mobility, and the likeyou may not get much value from starting a new insurance plan since preexisting conditions arent covered youll be covered only for issues that appear after your pet is enrolled in a particular plan. And if you decide to swap from one insurance brand to another, anything predating the move will again be preexisting, even if it was covered by your first insurer. But an insurance plan is still worth considering, depending on your pets condition and the likelihood of future diagnoses. Ask your vet to help you figure out the risks of certain diseases based on your pets age, breed, and medical history.

    Don’t Miss: Golden Retriever Puppies Southern California

    Common Dog Health Issues Your Golden Retrievermight Face:

    6 MonthsOld -$46 to $675 YearsOld -$62 to $82

    To better understand how coverage pricing relates to the breed-specific risks of aGolden Retriever, use Pawlicy Advisor to instantly analyze personalized pet insurance quotes across top-rated providers and uncover hidden savings.In 5 minutes or less youll understand which waiting times, coverage exclusions, and therapies are ideal for your dog’s breed and age.

    For example, if you have a larger breed, having a policy with a long waiting period on knee injuries might not be ideal – but that same policy could be perfect for a small lap dog. Pawlicy Advisor will scan the fine print for you automatically to give you more transparency, and youll uncover any hidden savings.

    Diet And Nutrition For Golden Retrievers

    Good nutrition is essential in the care of a Golden Retriever because these active dogs need high-quality food to sustain their energy levels. Goldens tend to become overweight when given too many treats or table scraps, so provide these foods sparingly and monitor the dogs weight regularly. In fact, you can skip the table scraps entirely because they tend to be high in fat and calories.

    Adult Golden Retrievers typically eat three cups of food per day, which comes out to an average daily cost of $2 to $2.25 and an average monthly cost of $60 to $67.50 for food. A Goldens meals are usually split into two meals per day one in the morning and one in the evening.

    Recommended types of dog food for Golden Retrievers include Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult, Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Chicken, and Earthborn Holistic Grain Free Large Breed. It is a good idea to keep filler ingredients out of your Goldens diet, such as corn, soy, and rice because these contribute to weight gain without much nutrition. As your Golden gets older and less active, you will need to reduce the amount of daily food provided to prevent overeating and obesity.

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