Here’s why pet insurance is an important part of senior pet care.
If you have a dog that is gently moving closer to its senior age, you might realise that pet insurance gets a little tricker. The truth is that taking out a pet policy when your fur baby is a lot younger is generally the best course of action as they will then instantly have access to a number of healthcare benefits earlier on in their lives.
That being said, it does happen that we either adopt an older pet or you realise the power of pet insurance later on in their lives. Regardless, you don’t have to worry if you are seeking out medical help a little later. The truth is that whenever you decide you want pet insurance (regardless of your pet’s age) it’s a good day in our books!
Discover: Emergency Vet Visits: 5 Ways to Prepare
Why Pet Insurance Matters for Senior Pet Care
The short answer: yes! The truth is that animals are just like human beings in the sense that they too start to develop more conditions and illnesses as they age. In order for pet insurers to cover your fur baby in the best way possible, they need to know how likely it is that they will need medical attention.
By understanding your pet’s age, they will be able to cater to their specific needs better. Ultimately, they are going to need a little more TLC, so by disclosing your pet’s age, they can make plans accordingly.
The Limitations
Now it’s important to keep in mind that there are a number of pet insurance companies that do not insure older pets. This is based on the fact that it is more costly to insure pets that are of senior age because they require more medical care. Alternatively, you will see that other insurers will only offer certain insurance packages for your older pet.
There are four main types of insurance for older pets:
- Accident-only
- Time-limited
- Maximum benefit
- Lifetime
The most common choice is accident-only coverage.
What is accident-only pet insurance?
While this is generally the more basic pet policy offering, time and time again it has proven to be the go-to choice for most pet parents that have an older pet. Why? Well, because it means that pet owners don’t have to fork over lots of money for their senior pet, but it also guarantees that all of the major bills associated with an accident will be covered!
Read this: Pre-Surgery: Our 4-Step Pet Preparation Guide
It is important to keep in mind that, as the name suggests, nothing else will be covered. If your pet is ill or even needs a quick checkup at the vet, you will be expected to cover the costs.
Did you know that just a check-up at the vet can cost between R300 and R1000? Surgery can cost R10 000 or more just to remove something your dog has swallowed. Never mind chronic medication for ongoing issues that older dogs often suffer from.
Pet insurance for senior pets: If your pet is older than 9 years old
One quick Google search and you will notice that most pet insurers do not offer coverage for pets that are over the age of 8 years old. Thankfully, there are insurers like Oneplan Pet Insurance who challenge the status quo!
So, what happens if you have a pet who is older than 9 years of age? Can you still purchase a pet insurance plan? With Oneplan, you can!
Oneplan has a Pet Accident plan that covers your pet for Accidents up to R8 000 per year, and it costs only R80pm. The great thing about this plan is that your pet can join at any age (yes, ANY age!) meaning you don’t have to worry if you missed the boat on pet insurance earlier in their life.
Read next: The Easiest Way to Do a Dog Health Check at Home: 6 Steps
In short, the benefit of having pet insurance as part of your senior pet care plan will allow you to save on costly vet bills that may arise if your senior pet gets themselves into trouble – but the best thing you can do is sign them up with pet insurance as young as possible!
Yours in Not-So-Average Pet Advice,
The Petinsurance.co.za Team