When you adopt an animal into your family, you accept the responsibility and joy of caring for them for the rest of their life.
A pet really becomes a member of the family, and you want them to be happy and healthy.
You feed them, shelter them, bathe them, play with them, and love them, and you care for them as they age.
When necessary, you help them when they’re sick.
Just like people, the health of pets does deteriorate as they grow older. Your pets need to go to the vet, and vet bills are not cheap.
Pets can develop conditions just like humans, such as cancer, diabetes, and other illnesses, and their medical care can be expensive.
That’s why it’s so important to budget for the health of your pet. Here are some considerations.
Pet Health Insurance
There are lots of health insurance plans available for pets, just like there are for humans. You might want to consider buying insurance for your pet.
There are many different plans to consider, and the plan you choose will depend on what you can afford and what is most important for your pet.
You’ll have to carefully examine the benefits of each plan, because they don’t always cover everything you might need.
Some insurance plans don’t cover the diseases that certain pets are most likely to develop, and not all types of treatment are covered.
You’ll also have to consider what you can afford as far as deductibles, copays, and monthly premiums.
Health Savings Account
If you don’t want to pay for health insurance for your pet, there are other paths you can take so that you can afford any necessary health care as your pet ages.
A good option is to open a savings account that’s dedicated to the health expenses of your pet.
Each month, put the amount or part of the amount you’d have spent on insurance premiums into the account.
Over the years, you will accumulate savings that you can use to pay for treatments and health care that your pet might need when they get older.
This is a good idea, especially because oftentimes pets don’t need expensive medical care until they are in older age.
Shop Around
If you can’t afford expensive vet bills, it’s worth your time and money to shop around before you take your pet to the vet or to get health care.
Call around to all the local vets and inquire about costs of treatment, sliding scales, payment plans, and insurance acceptance.
You should do this as soon as you get a pet; don’t wait until they need treatment.
The vets’ answers can give you a better indication of how useful or necessary health insurance could be for your pet.
There may be clinics or shelters in your area that give some type of medical care, such as spaying or neutering, for free or very reduced costs.
The decisions you make about saving for the health care of your pet are up to you and dependent on your financial situation and what degree of preparation you want.
Just as with humans, it’s always important to prepare for the worst, because seeing your pet suffer can be just as devastating.
Travis Lee is an animal lover and veterinary student who can be found writing about anything from budgeting for your pet to the efficacy of various medications.
Budgeting For The Vet Bills – Start Saving Now
