Can’t decide whether to get pet insurance

[Anonymous]

We’re getting a bulldog puppy. I know they tend to have health issues so I planned to get health insurance, but after pricing plans, it seems like we might be better off just saving the premiums in a vet bill fund. Monthly premiums for a bulldog are $55 for a policy that actually covers congenital conditions with a $500 deductible and 70% reimbursement. The policy doesn’t cover any routine care or exam fees. So according to my math, for the insurance to make financial sense, you’d have to have non-routine average annual vet bills of over $1500 to make it worthwhile.

Anybody else do the bath and decide that pet insurance was or wasn’t worth it? I’m still on the fence.

[Anonymous]

There’s a good analysis in Washington Checkbook. You may be able to access the full article through your public library’s website if you are jot a subscriber. https://www.checkbook.org/washington-area/pet-insurance/

[Anonymous]

You know the point of insurance companies is to make money, and they do. Statistically you are better off to self insure. You might get unlucky, though, and end up facing a big vet bill. can you afford that?

I have 4 horses, 4 cats and 2 dogs, as well as a flock of chickens. I don't insure any of them, and several of the horses are worth mid-five figures.

[Anonymous]

Why do people keep getting bulldogs? I know someone whose three year old bulldog just dropped dead—the poor thing drowned when its lungs filled with blood. AND the poor dog had had surgery as a puppy that was supposed to open the airway and prevent BOAS.

[Anonymous]

For us it wasn’t about yearly $1500 vet bills but our inability to cover one $5,000+ bill. It’s not for the little stuff but for the major.