Sometimes pet owners wonder about the costs of providing quality veterinary care for their pets.

Relatively speaking, veterinary care is a great deal. The cost of veterinary care has actually risen very little during the last 20 to 30 years. When compared to the rising cost of human health care, pet care is not at all unreasonable.

Bear in mind that your veterinarian is not only your pet’s general physician, but also its surgeon, radiologist, dentist, dermatologist, neurologist, ophthalmologist, psychiatrist, ears/nose/throat doctor, and pharmacist.

Your veterinary bill is a reflection of the costs of maintaining suitable facilities, equipment and support personnel to provide the level of care that is expected in animal medicine today. Remember too that the original cost of the animal has no bearing on the cost of services rendered.

Although it may feel as if you are paying more for your pet’s health care than your own, changes are that you probably have adequate health care insurance for your own needs. Consequently, you may never see the total bottom-line figure for your own doctor bills. When human health care costs are added up-including insurances deductibles, and pharmaceutical costs – there is no comparison to the much lower veterinary care costs.

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) strongly suggests that all pet owning families assess their financial situation and consider their ability to meet unexpected expenses that may be incurred for veterinary care. For some families, these expenses may be met through existing savings. Others may be able to use credit card resources or medical payment cards. Some families should consider budgeting for these expenses and still others may want to consider protecting themselves through pet health insurance policies.

Today, pet health insurance is available to offset the costs of your furry friends’ medical expenses. The American Animal Hospital Association is not afflicted with any pet health insurance company but we do offer a non-exclusive Seal of Acceptance for catastrophic policies. For this considering pet health insurance, AAHA offers the following suggestions:

• Be sure you understand what the policy covers. Some policies (but not all) cover some preventative care, such as vaccinations, but there may be additional cost for this coverage.
• Understand the exclusions. Almost all policies exclude pre-existing conditions and some exclude hereditary conditions. Some may exclude certain conditions unique to certain breeds.
• Almost all policies have a deductible and a co-pay requirement. Some pay according to a set schedule of “usual and customary fees” while some pay based on the actual incurred expenses. Be sure you understand how expenses will be reimbursed.
• Ask whether or not the policy allows you to seek care from a veterinarian of your own choosing or whether you must go to a veterinarian that participates in the company’s network of providers. When faced with a pet’s serious illness, most pet owners want to be able to obtain care from their regular veterinarian. Is this a thing in pet insurance now??
• Speak with your veterinarian or someone on her practice team. While veterinarians do not sell insurance, changes are they have had experience with the policy you are considering and can provide helpful advice.

Again, veterinary care can provide your pet with many years of health and a happy life. Managing the expense of veterinary care can be done in a number of ways; the important advice is to think about it before the need arises.