Is pet insurance worth it? What it costs & covers

Yes, pet insurance is worth the cost even if your pet is healthy. In fact, the best time to sign up your pet is when they’re in good health. Here’s why: Any condition a dog or cat has shown signs or symptoms of prior to your policy effective date will typically be considered a pre-existing condition and not covered.

It’s also important to be prepared for the unexpected. 1 in 3 pets need unexpected vet care each year, and even the healthiest pets can get sick or hurt. Emergency vet visits and surgeries can cost over $10,000. Fetch Pet can pay you back for up to 90% of that once you’ve met your deductible, making it more affordable for you to give your pet the best veterinary care.

Pet insurance is peace of mind you hold every day because you've transferred the risk of a big, unexpected vet bill to Fetch Pet. It gives you a financial safety net — now and down the road — so you can help give your pet their longest, healthiest life.

No pet insurance covers all pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is defined as any injury, illness or condition that your pet shows signs or symptoms of either before you enroll in insurance or during the waiting period of up to 15 days. With Fetch Pet Insurance, any claims for treatment related to a pre-existing condition will not be covered — unless it’s a curable pre-existing condition. To learn more, read about pre-existing conditions.

With Fetch Pet, there’s no waiting period for accident coverage. This means you can start getting reimbursed for accidents that occur the day after you sign up (also known as your "policy effective date" in insurance-speak) and going forward. There’s also no waiting period for Wellness coverage, if added. For illness coverage, there’s a waiting period of 15 days.

A waiting period is the time a pet insurance provider requires you to wait before your pet's vet bills are eligible for reimbursement. Any signs or symptoms of a condition that are noted in your pet’s veterinary medical records as well as any vet visits that take place prior to, or during the waiting period, will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Having a savings account instead of insurance means you need to have enough saved at any time to cover unpredictable expenses. For example, could you pay a $3,000+ vet bill right now? That's the average cost to treat a pet that swallows something they shouldn't. With pet insurance, however, you will get up to 90% reimbursed for covered care.

The reality is that vet bills don't typically arrive in small, manageable chunks. A savings fund that takes 3 to 5 years to build is a financial gap, not a financial plan — especially when almost half of pets will need emergency care at some point. Pet insurance closes that gap from day one. With Fetch Pet, you have the peace of mind knowing that your pet and your wallet are protected as soon as your coverage starts.

Getting pet insurance is a better, more reliable financial plan than opening a credit card. Here's why: Fetch Pet Insurance typically reimburses you for covered care in about 10 days when you set up direct deposit. That means you can give your pet the care they need in the event of an emergency, and get up to 90% of that money back in your pocket quickly. It also means you don’t have to scramble to open a credit card or worry about the associated fees, interest and debt that come with paying it off.

Paying credit card interest on top of an already expensive vet bill can turn one emergency treatment into a much larger cost over time. Fetch Pet Insurance helps you avoid that, and put more money back in your pocket.

Whether pet insurance is worth it for older dogs depends on your dog’s health. Signing up an older dog for pet insurance is typically not the best choice. Here’s why: Senior dogs are more likely to have existing health issues. This means they'll cost more for you to insure and their pre-existing conditions will not be covered.

Yes — Fetch Pet Insurance is worth it for puppies and younger dogs because they're less likely to have pre-existing conditions. This means they will get the most complete coverage for unexpected injuries and illnesses, including coverage you won't get with other providers. In fact, the best time to protect your dog is when they’re a puppy. Here are few reasons why Fetch Pet Insurance is a great choice for your puppy:

• Fetch Pet is the best insurance for puppies at the best price
• Fetch Pet covers puppies as young as 6 weeks
• When you add Fetch Wellness to your Accident and Illness insurance, you also you get paid back for preventive care puppies and dogs need, like vaccines, spaying/neutering, heartworm, flea and tick preventive meds, an annual exam and so much more

Yes, Fetch Pet Insurance is more than worth it for kittens. In fact, Fetch Pet is the best insurance for kittens at the best price. If you sign up when your kitten is young, they're more likely to be in good health with no pre-existing conditions (no pet insurance covers all pre-existing conditions, including Fetch Pet). This means that young, healthy kittens can get the most complete coverage with Fetch Pet — including what other providers charge extra for or don’t cover at all. Plus, if your kitten is adopted, Fetch Pet is the #1 pet insurance for shelter and rescue pets. Help give your kitten a longer, healthier life by signing them up as early as possible.