Work & Family
How Pet Insurance Can Protect Your Finances
Imagine this: Your furry family member, Maggie, eats a piece of chocolate, accidentally. You know chocolate isn’t safe for dogs, so you rush her to the vet.
Many tests, treatments, and workups later, you finally go home with Maggie—along with a vet bill for $1,565. That’s a real-life story that happened to Maggie’s pet parents. Fortunately, they had MetLife Pet Insurance,1 which covered more than 80 percent of the cost for Maggie’s care (read their story in the "Claim Tales" section on PetFirst.com, a MetLife company).2
That’s a happy ending—but what if it happened to you and you didn’t have pet insurance? Would you be financially prepared for that unexpected expense? That's where pet insurance can help—by offering financial protection toward the health of your furry family members. And with the recent uptick in pet adoption during the pandemic, it’s as good a time as any to sign up for a pet insurance plan.
How does pet insurance work?
Think of pet insurance like car insurance: In exchange for a monthly premium, the plan will reimburse you for certain covered expenses after you reach a deductible. But just like you still must pay for oil changes or other maintenance for your vehicle, you must also pay for expected pet care costs, like grooming and food.
Also, like auto insurance, you can customize your plan based on several factors—such as the pet’s breed, age, and your desired deductible. You can even add a rider to your plan to help cover routine care, like vaccines, teeth cleanings, and heartworm preventives. It’s easy to get reimbursed for vet care. Here’s how the process works:
- Pay a monthly premium,3 starting as low as $9 for a cat and $15 for a dog through MetLife Pet Insurance.
- See any licensed vet in the United States—there’s no need to worry about vet networks.
- Submit your claim and get reimbursed for eligible vet expenses. How much you get reimbursed depends on the plan you pick; some plans cover up to 100 percent of your total vet bill.
But do you really need pet insurance?
Think about it this way: Accidents and health conditions can affect any pet, at any age, at any time.
In fact, one in three pets need emergency vet care every year. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) receives nearly 200,000 calls each year from worried pet owners about their pets consuming chocolate, drugs, and other toxic substances. But pet health problems can also be more slow-coming: Almost six in 10 dogs in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese, which can increase their future risk for cancer, organ disorders, or bone problems.
Considering all these scenarios, signing up for pet insurance may be a smart move.
How can pet insurance help protect your finances?
You never want to choose between your pet's health and your financial well-being. However, every six seconds, a pet owner faces a vet bill of more than $1,000—and nearly one in four pet owners go into debt to pay for care. Pet insurance plans help your family prepare financially for these unexpected costs.
Consider, for example, MacDuff’s story (another claim tale on PetFirst.com, a MetLife company): He's an Airedale Terrier that got hit by a car and was diagnosed with bone fractures and lung damage. He survived, but the costs were steep: X-rays, surgery, and 10 days in the vet hospital totaled $9,706. Luckily, MacDuff’s family had pet insurance, which saved them $8,511.4
How do you sign up for a pet insurance plan?
It's easy to take the first step: Click below to build a customized quote for free based on your needs and budget. If you have questions, visit the FAQ page.
If your employer offers MetLife Pet Insurance, you may be eligible for a discount. Contact your human resources department for more information.
Nothing in these materials is intended to be advice for a particular situation or individual. These materials are for general information purposes only.
1 Independence American Insurance Company (“IAIC”) is the insurance carrier for this product. PetFirst Healthcare, LLC, a MetLife company, is the policy administrator authorized to offer and administer pet insurance policies. Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company, is headquartered at 485 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10022.
2 This situation is only representative of one particular pet parent. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies offered by PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact PetFirst Healthcare, LLC.
3 Premium depends upon the coverage that is selected and coverage provided all terms of the policy are met.
4 This situation is only representative of one particular pet parent. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies offered by PetFirst Healthcare, LLC and underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. For costs, complete details of coverage and exclusions, and a listing of approved states, please contact PetFirst Healthcare, LLC.