Is Pet Insurance Worth It for a Cat? What to Look For - Catster (2024)

A sick cat is a pet owner’s worst nightmare. Treatment options are often exorbitant in price, and many people have been forced to choose between the health of their beloved cat and making ends meet in their budget. Owners on a strict budget have had to make the heartbreaking decision to opt for economic euthanasia, choosing to euthanize their pets primarily because of the high cost of veterinary medical care.¹

Pet health insurance can be the saving grace in situations like this. The point of insurance is to help lower the costs of your vet bills to make caring for your pets easier on your budget. Is it worth it to invest in pet insurance for your cat? We say yes simply for the peace of mind it provides.

Keep reading to learn the ins and outs of pet health insurance policies to help you decide if it’s right for you.

How Much Is Pet Insurance for a Cat?

The cost of pet insurance will depend entirely on what plan policy you’re opting for. Individual costs may also vary based on your cat’s breed, age, and health status.

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, you can expect to pay around $29 per month for accident and illness pet insurance for cats in America. The same NAPHIA study shows pet parents paying for accident-only coverage pay much less at around $11 per month. These numbers are only averages. The policy you choose, breed, age, and location of your pet will determine your specific monthly premium.

Many plans have a deductible. A deductible is a certain amount that you’ll have to pay out of pocket before your insurance coverage will kick in. Again, the deductible amount will vary from plan to plan. You could be looking at anywhere between $0 to $2,500 a year. In most situations, plans with higher deductibles will have lower monthly premiums.

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Pet health insurance works very similarly to human health insurance. Each provider offers different levels of coverage, with each plan costing a monthly premium. The premium will depend on how much coverage you opt for.

Every insurance company operates a little differently. Some will pay your vet directly whenever possible, so you don’t need to worry about sending in receipts and waiting for your reimbursem*nt.

Some have restrictions on their claim payouts depending on their predetermined rates and not on what the actual cost of your veterinary care was.

Some companies will drop your coverage if you file too many claims.

After the deductible is met, you will be reimbursed a portion of your pet’s healthcare bills. Some top insurance companies offer reimbursem*nts of up to 100%; however, those plans will come with a much higher monthly premium.

Let’s crunch some numbers to provide an example.

Let’s say your plan has a $500 deductible with an 80% reimbursem*nt rate. Your cat has a sudden need for a dental extraction that totals $1,500. Your insurance will cover $800 of the $1,500 fee, and you’ll be on the hook for just $200.

$1,500 – $500 = $1,000.

80% of $1,000 = $800.

What Does Cat Insurance Cover?

Coverage levels will vary from plan to plan.

Accident-only coverage will be the most budget-friendly option. Plans that cover accidents and illnesses will be a step higher. The priciest plans will cover the aforementioned situations as well as wellness care. Some of the higher-end plans also cover death-related expenses.

Most plans will cover things like unexpected accidents such as broken bones, unexpected illnesses, surgeries, prescription medications, diagnostics, and emergency examination fees. Some plans may even cover alternative therapies such as acupuncture and hydrotherapy.

Things that most plans will not cover include pre-existing conditions, preventative care, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, and routine care.

What Should I Look at When Comparing Insurance Plans?

There are four main factors to consider as you start to compare insurance plans for your cat.

The annual deductible refers to how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket every year before your cat’s insurance will kick in.

The reimbursem*nt rate is the percentage of the medical costs your policy provider will reimburse you for after you’ve met your deductible.

The annual limit refers to the maximum amount your policy provider will reimburse you for every year.

The monthly premium is how much money you’ll need to pay every month to keep your account active.

It’s essential to gather as much information from any potential insurers before making your final decision. Two plans might look close to the same on paper until you read the fine print. One might have a six-month waiting period for knee injuries, while others only wait 30 days.

Do I Need Pet Insurance Worth It for an Indoor Cat?

Health risks can occur to any cat regardless of where they spend most of their time. Indoor cats are just as much at risk of certain conditions as outdoor cats. In fact, some conditions are more likely to occur, specifically in indoor cats.

Cats that spend a lot of time outdoors tend to be more active. If yours is kept primarily indoors, they’re more at risk for obesity, which makes them four times more likely to develop diabetes than cats at an ideal weight. If your cat were to need medical treatment for obesity or diabetes, your insurance can help reimburse some of the costs, provided these conditions were not pre-existing.

Indoor cats may be more likely to experience anxiety and stress as they aren’t able to participate in some behaviors that are natural to them (like hunting and seeking). Feline anxiety can manifest in many ways, including inappropriate urination, decreased appetite, and excessive grooming, all of which can cause further health problems. Some insurance policies will cover medical treatment for behavioral issues.

Can I Get Pet Insurance if My Cat Is Already Sick?

Most standard pet insurance issuers will not cover cats with pre-existing medical conditions. That said, it is not impossible to find a carrier that will hear your case, but you will need to seek out specialist insurers. Just as with human insurance issuers, covering a pet with a pre-existing condition is considered to be high-risk. These can be very difficult to find and often have a lot of restrictions as most insurers don’t want to deal with health conditions that will create a lot of claims.

Some insurers may cover certain pre-existing conditions provided that they’re considered curable. These conditions include urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, gastrointestinal issues, and ear infections.

If you can’t find pet insurance that will cover your cat’s condition and you have mounting veterinary bills, you do have other options. Fundraising, temporary credit cards, and veterinary charities can help you pay the bills. Some vets even offer a payment plan option to help make your bills more manageable.

You can still get insurance from a standard issuer even if your pet’s pre-existing condition is not covered. The only thing to consider is that any expense related to that condition will not be covered. For example, if your cat has arthritis, your insurance will not cover any medical care relating to that diagnosis.

When Should I Get Pet Insurance for My Cat?

The best time to get pet insurance for your cat is when they are young and healthy. The longer you wait to find coverage for them, the higher the chance that a pre-existing condition will be discovered.

Can I Get Pet Insurance for an Older Cat?

As with humans, when cats reach their senior years, their risk of certain health conditions rises.

If you didn’t get insurance for your cat when they were young, finding an insurer can be a bit more difficult in their golden years. Some companies may be wary about insuring an older cat due to the expensive health conditions they’re more prone to. Some companies have age limits, so they won’t even consider covering older pets.

That said, some insurers will happily provide coverage for older kitties, but you may be looking at a higher monthly premium.

Do I Need Pet Insurance For My Cat? Final Thoughts

Pet insurance is a helpful tool for cat owners. It provides peace of mind as you’ll know that you’ll always have a helping hand if finances get too tight or if your pet gets hurt or becomes ill. Monthly premiums can be pricey, however, so it’s worth looking over your budget to see if it’s realistic to buy pet insurance right now.

Featured Photo Credit: Red-Bow-Tie-Photo, Shutterstock