Your furry little friends need looking after just like people do, as pets can be equally prone to illnesses; however, veterinary care and treatment can be a costly affair. To shield your wallet from unexpected bills, you might want to consider getting pet insurance—a concept that has gained immense popularity since 2014. Interestingly, a report suggested that the total premium for pet insurance in the country has risen to nearly $2.6 billion this year.

Understanding pet insurance
Pet insurance is like any other insurance where owners (policyholders) pay a premium every month, which adds up to a substantial amount over time and helps mitigate the financial cost of an emergency or procedure that a pet might need.

Most plans cover accidents and illnesses but exclude a few conditions like behavioral issues, grooming, pre-existing or hereditary conditions, dental diseases, routine check-ups, and preventive care. This is why owners should opt for a healthcare plan when the pet is young and relatively healthy. Although the premium amount increases with the age of the pet, the rising costs of treatments can justify the need for insurance. For instance, vet treatment costs for severe illnesses range from $5,000 to $10,000. Notably, insurance companies usually reimburse a percentage of the total healthcare bill, depending on the composition of the plan, and so owners will have to account for out-of-pocket payments for treatments.

The insurance structure depends on parameters like the pet’s age, breed, species, and even location. 

Top 4 companies
The exponential growth of the pet insurance industry has attracted many new players and provided further stimulus to a host of established names. Here are a few leading insurance companies:

1. PetsBest
   The company’s main plan is called the BestBenefit Accident and Illness Plan, which covers emergencies such as accidents and long-term issues such as cancer and chronic health conditions. Physical rehabilitation and routine care (as an add-on feature) are also covered in most PetsBest plans.

    

    

2. Trupanion
   Many insurance companies do not cover hereditary or congenital conditions like hip dysplasia, which is observed in larger or giant breed dogs (like Great Dane or Saint Bernard), and its treatment can be expensive. However, Trupanion covers hospital visits, cancer treatment, chronic conditions like diabetes, along with breed-specific conditions like hip dysplasia. The company offers plans that reimburse 90% of the total treatment cost. It also provides convenient options such as direct payment to vets, which is an added advantage.

    

3. Healthy Paws
   Healthy Paws offers comprehensive plans that have no coverage limits or caps, making it one of the best pet insurance companies in the country. Its policies for dogs and cats cover illnesses and accidents, cancer care, chronic conditions, emergency and specialty care, x-rays, blood tests, and even alternative care such as acupuncture, among other issues. Claims can be made simply by uploading a picture of the vet bill on the company’s mobile application.

    

4. Figo
   The best features of Figo’s plans are that they offer up to 100% reimbursement, low pricing, fully customizable plans, and customer service options. Pet owners can structure the plan according to their needs, and the policy is applicable to licensed veterinarians in the country. This company’s cloud-based app lets owners upload documents, renew policies, find veterinarians, and make payments. Figo has three plans—Essential, Preferred, and Ultimate—that differ in pricing and coverage based on the annual deductible limit selected by the policyholders.