Cat insurance is a must-have safety net to help with sudden veterinary fees, but what about day-to-day care add-ons? These extended coverage options generally cover preventative care needs, such as vaccinations, annual check-ups, dental cleanings, and parasite prevention. While the primary role of insurance is to take care of emergencies and catastrophic medical events, routine care add-ons can provide additional perks that a lot of pet parents find helpful.
In this piece, we’ll explore routine care add-ons, weighing their benefits, costs, and if they’re worth the addition to your cat insurance policy.
What Are Additional Routine Care Add-Ons?
Some pet insurance providers offer routine care as an add-on, which covers the cost of preventative care. Such services are not usually covered in standard insurance plans, which are designed around accidents and illnesses. Routine care add-ons may cover common services such as:
Annual wellness exams
Particularly common vaccinations (rabies, feline distemper)
All pet flea, tick, and heartworm preventive treatments.
Dental cleanings
Microchipping
Spaying or neutering
These add-ons can help pet owners budget for the regular costs of routine care while keeping their cat healthy.
Add-ons of routine care benefits
Proactive Health Management
Routine care add-ons promote healthy habits by covering preventative care that keeps your cat in good condition. Regular check-ups and vaccinations allow for early detection of health problems, preventing costly treatments in the future.
Predictable Veterinary Costs
Pet owners, however, are subject to periodic costs for routine care. Routine care add-on policies offer a way to budget for these expenses predictably, spreading the cost over monthly insurance premiums. No deposit or lump sum payment for services such as dental cleanings or vaccinations is required.
Comprehensive Coverage
When included, these routine care add-on make your insurance plan much more comprehensive. Your plan will not only cover emergencies and illnesses but also take care of day-to-day health needs, giving your cat the best chance of living well.
Enhanced Quality of Life for Your Feline Companion
Preventive care can go a long way toward making your cat’s life better. Vaccinations save us from life-threatening illnesses, and dental cleanings prevent diseases of the mouth that can cause suffering and systemic infections. Cats should be kept parasite-free to assure year-round comfort and health.
Costs of Routine Care Add-Ons
These routine care add-ons usually cost extra, on top of your base insurance plan. The cost will vary by insurance company and services covered. Routine care add-ons typically range from $10 per month to $30 per month.
Although these costs might appear to be high, they can be recouped through savings on veterinary services. Under a routine care plan, for instance, a dental cleaning that may cost $300 upfront would be covered or partially reimbursed.
Routine Care Add-Ons: Are They Worth It?
Whether those routine care add-ons are worth it depends on several things:
Your Cat’s Age and Wellness Needs
Younger cats and kittens often need multiple vaccinations, as well as spaying or neutering, and parasite prevention, making routine care add-ons very helpful. For older cats, supplemental coverage for dental care or wellness exams may be worth it. Assess your cat’s individual needs to see if the extra coverage is worth it.
Your Budget
If you are already budgeting for routine care, an add-on might make it easier to budget your costs and save you money. But if you’re OK with paying these out-of-pocket, you might find basic coverage without add-ons is enough.
Frequency of Use
If you don’t use the covered services, routine care add-ons are less beneficial. If your cat only goes to the vet for emergencies, for instance, you’re unlikely to get the full value out of a routine care plan.
Insurance Provider Options
Not all insurance companies offer routine care add-ons, and the included services differ. Do your research on different providers to identify one that meets both your cat’s needs and your budget.
Alternatives to Add-Ons to Routine Care
If you find that routine care add-ons don’t make sense for you, you can explore other ways to handle routine veterinary expenses:
Wellness Plans: Some practices offer to cover the costs of routine care, like vaccines and wellness exams, for a flat annual fee. These plans can also be great alternatives to insurance add-ons.
Savings Accounts: If you intend to save for your cat’s healthcare needs each month, this can help prepare you for routine expenses without using insurance.
Pay-As-You-Go: If your cat’s routine care needs are minimal, you might choose to pay for services on an as-needed basis instead of adding an add-on.
Choosing the Right Plan
When determining whether to add routine care add-ons to your cat insurance, think about this:
Covered Services: Make sure the add-on covers the services your cat needs most.
Cost vs. Benefit: Weigh the price of the add-on against how much you could save in veterinary bills.
Provider Reputation: Select an insurer known for excellent customer service and efficient claim handling.
Flexibility: Make sure the provider offers flexible plans to help you tailor coverage to your cat.
Conclusion
Routine care add-ons could be really helpful when added to your plan, as they can free up funds you would otherwise spend on preventative care and help support your kitty’s overall health and wellness. These add-ons help ensure your feline friend gets the care to flourish by covering routine vet expenses.
But the decision to include routine care add-ons comes down to your cat’s needs, your budget and the options your insurance provider has. So weigh these factors carefully to see if routine care coverage makes sense for you and your fur baby.