Einstein It is about $30 (Canadian) per month for each dog. They have a MasterCare plan which is not the top-end plan, but is close to it. There are also insurance options for senior pets, indoor pets, emergency coverage for lost pets. It comes out of my chequing account every month so I don't even see the expenditure.
There are limitations with some policies (not just PetCare) of, say, $3,000 per illness category. I've read that there are companies (I think Vetinsurance is one) that has a total cap, not a limitation per category, so if your pet has recurring musculo-skeletal or digestive or cardiovascular problems, you are covered.
My senior cats are not covered. I rescued a 10 year old last year, and the senior plans just don't have much in them. She as some issues, unfortunately, and her recent surgery for cancer in her ear canal was several thousand dollars. She is also hyperthyroid and the radio-active iodine treatment that she will be getting at the end of this month will also be about $2,000. That is elective; the cancer was not.
I think it is 6-of-one; half-dozen of the other when it comes to insurance. If you put aside money in a savings account religiously, you can have a few thousand dollars socked away for an emergency.
In mid-September, this story was in the local Georgia news, and it brings home the message about being prepared, and understanding that having a pet doesn't mean just buying a bag of kibble occasionally. Fortunately, the story had a happy ending.
http://redstarcafe.blogspot.com/2007/09/kindness-of-stranger.html
