Buying pet insurance for your Pomeranian is a difficult decision and not one to take lightly. Like all insurance, it can be confusing, and as Pommy Mommies, we often wonder if we need it. That’s an even more complicated question to answer. None of us wants to think about our furry baby getting sick or hurt, but unfortunately, it can happen. As a responsible Pommy Mommy, you need to be prepared, as Pomeranian health issues can become costly.
The Reality of Pet Insurance: A Personal Experience
I know firsthand how expensive it can be, so I decided to look into pet insurance—or what I thought was insurance. Most companies call it insurance, but it’s a glorified reimbursement program. So, when I began researching buying pet insurance for Yoki, Niko, and Sophia, I interviewed what ConsumersAdvocate.org lists as the Top 5 Pet Insurance Companies in their 10 Best Pet Insurance Providers article. Let me tell you—it wasn’t pretty.
I’m unsure what criteria Consumers Advocate used, but only three companies passed my scrutiny: Healthy Paws, Fetch, and Embrace. Trupanion and Pet First, on the other hand, had such poor customer service that I had to hang up, which is something I usually don’t do.
Understanding the Basics of Pet Insurance
Before comparing different companies and their programs, it’s essential to understand that pet insurance is a glorified reimbursement program. This means you pay for services upfront, and the insurance company reimburses you later, usually between 10 days and six weeks. There’s also a deductible, usually $250 or $500—the lower the deductible, the higher your premium. Unfortunately, regular check-ups and routine shots aren’t covered, although some companies offer add-ons for those services (for an extra fee).
Prepare Financially for Your Vet Visits
Before buying pet insurance, there are a few caveats to consider. Number one: you need money set aside before buying pet insurance. This is where the dilemma arises—do you buy insurance and pay the premiums, or do you develop a Pomeranian health fund? For me, as a Pommy Mommy, I chose to start a health fund as soon as we rescued Maggie and Sheika, both of whom had heart murmurs and Sheika had seizures.
Building a Pomeranian Health Fund
When we rescued our Pomeranians, I knew we would be at the vet multiple times yearly for monitoring. I started a health fund, contributing $100 a month. I also kept a credit card with a $10,000 limit, specifically for pet emergencies. This approach gave us peace of mind when caring for our Poms, especially as we’ve had four pass away since 2009 due to seizures, cancer, heartworm, and kidney failure.
Choosing the Right Pet Insurance Company
Eventually, we did wind up buying pet insurance, but finding the right one wasn’t easy. It’s not as simple as picking the best-rated company; it depends on your specific needs. Below are three companies that passed my scrutiny.
Healthy Paws Pet Insurance
Healthy Paws consistently ranks #1 in customer satisfaction and offers comprehensive illness and accident coverage, unlimited lifetime benefits, and no claim caps. Their deductibles range from $100 to $500, and they provide a free mobile app with no claims forms required.
They provided excellent customer service, and I felt like they genuinely wanted my business. One thing I found impressive is that Healthy Paws is financially stable, majority-owned by Aon Corporation (the world’s largest insurance broker), and backed by ACE Group, an A+-rated company with over $25 billion in surplus. The only downside? It’s the most expensive option.
Fetch Pet Insurance (previously Pet Plan)
Fetch offers excellent coverage and great customer service. Their policies—bronze, silver, and gold—provide options for deductibles as low as $50, $100, or $200, and they offer reimbursement rates of 100%, 90%, or 80%. What sets Fetch apart is that it covers all accidents and illnesses without restrictions for hereditary or congenital conditions.
However, Fetch has a per-condition, per-year deductible, which means you pay a deductible for each illness. This can be tricky, but it’s manageable if you understand how the system works. Additionally, it doesn’t cover routine care or pre-existing conditions.
Embrace Pet Insurance
Embrace is a well-loved company with excellent customer service. One unique aspect of Embrace is its “Wellness Package,” which covers routine visits, shots, and dental care—although it’s not available as a standalone plan. Their coverage limits are lower than those of other companies, with options of $5,000 or $10,000 per year. However, most vets agree that most illnesses don’t exceed that amount, so it’s not necessarily a negative.
Key Takeaways
Buying pet insurance can be more complicated than it should be. The critical takeaway is to prepare financially, whether that’s through a health fund, a high-limit credit card, or pet insurance. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring you’re ready to give your furry baby the care they deserve.
This post was originally published on December 3, 2014 but has been updated on September 28, 2024.Â
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