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Should you buy pet insurance? Here’s when it makes sense
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Pet owners are well-versed in the weekly, monthly and annual costs of caring for their pets. Food, grooming, boarding and medical care all add up – and those expenses are only increasing. With this in mind, many owners may be looking for ways to save and reduce costs, if not eliminate them entirely. This is where pet insurance can be useful.
In exchange for a monthly premium paid to a provider (frequently discounted if paid annually), owners can secure coverage for a wide range of treatments, medications and veterinarian visits. Depending on the policy and insurance company, owners could potentially be reimbursed for 90% of their pet’s medical care.
That all being said, pet insurance isn’t for everyone. There are times when it makes sense and others when owners may want to consider turning elsewhere. Start by getting a free pet insurance quote here now to learn more.
When it makes sense to buy pet insurance
Here are three times when pet insurance makes sense for you and your furry family member.
When you’ve adopted your pet
If you’ve adopted your pet then you may not have all of their medical information and history. In some cases, even the adoption agency or shelter may not have the pet’s background. In this case, it may be beneficial to buy pet insurance. Since you don’t know your pet’s full history you also won’t know what medical issues they may have or any allergies or medical conditions they’ll be prone to in the future. By purchasing a pet insurance policy now you can protect yourself against any issues that will arise in the future. And if you act quickly you’ll better your chances of securing a cost-effective plan versus waiting until your dog or cat gets sick.
Get a free pet insurance quote in 30 seconds here now.
When your pet is young and healthy
It may seem counterintuitive to purchase pet insurance when your pet is still young, active and healthy but this is arguably the very best time to get a pet insurance plan. Younger pets are inherently healthier pets – making them less of a risk to insure. That reduced risk will be reflected in cheaper monthly and annual premiums charged to owners.
But that’s not the only reason why it makes sense to insure your pet at this stage of their life. If you get pet insurance for a young pet you’ll have more coverage choices than if you waited. Pet insurance providers won’t cover pre-existing medical conditions. So act while your pet is still young and those conditions aren’t present. If you wait, your chances of paying more for less coverage only increase.
When you’re the owner of a certain breed
Some dog and cat breeds can live long, healthy lives. Some others, unfortunately, will be more prone to medical conditions and will require additional care and treatments. If you’re an owner of the latter types then it makes sense to get pet insurance to help cover the costs of their inevitable treatments and medications.
For dog owners, this could mean insuring Newfoundlands, English and French bulldogs and Jack Russell Terriers. Owners of Abyssinian, Persian or Ragdoll cats, meantime, should also strongly consider getting a pet insurance policy to help pay for their future treatments and vet visits.
In short: If you know in advance that your breed is predisposed to more medical issues than other types then consider getting pet insurance now so you have it when you need it.
Check pet insurance prices here now or compare some top providers in the below table.
The bottom line
Pet insurance can provide valuable protection for millions of pet owners. But it can be particularly advantageous for those who have adopted their pet or for those whose dog or cat is still young and healthy. Similarly, it may make sense to get pet insurance if you already know that your breed is likely to need repeated and extensive medical care throughout their life.
NEW YORK — Former New York Gov. David Paterson and his stepson were attacked in New York City on Friday night, authorities said.
The incident occurred just before 9 p.m. on Second Avenue near East 96th Street on the Upper East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.
Police said officers were sent to the scene after an assault was reported. When officers arrived, police say they found a 20-year-old man suffering from facial injuries and a 70-year-old man who had head pain. Both victims were taken to a local hospital in stable condition.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the former governor said the two were attacked while “taking a walk around the block near their home by some individuals that had a previous interaction with his stepson.”
The spokesperson said that they were injured “but were able to fight off their attackers.”
Both were taken to Cornell Hospital “as a precaution,” he added.
Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
The 70-year-old Paterson, a Democrat, served as governor from 2008 to 2010, stepping into the post after the resignation of Eliot Spitzer following his prostitution scandal. He made history at the time as the state’s first-ever Black and legally blind governor.
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A 17-year-old boy was critically injured and a person is in custody after a gunman opened fire on a SEPTA bus in North Philadelphia Friday evening, police said.
At around 6:15 p.m., Philadelphia police were notified about a shooting on a SEPTA bus traveling on Allegheny Avenue near 3rd and 4th streets in North Philadelphia, Inspector D F Pace told CBS News Philadelphia.
There were an estimated 30 people on the bus at the time of the shooting, Pace said, but only the 17-year-old boy was believed to have been shot. Investigators said they believe it was a targeted attack on the teenager and that he was shot in the back of the bus at close range.
According to Pace, the SEPTA bus driver alerted a control center about the shooting, which then relayed the message to Philadelphia police, who responded to the scene shortly.
Officers arrived at the scene and found at least one spent shell casing and blood on the bus, but no shooting victim, Pace said. Investigators later discovered the 17-year-old had been taken to Temple University Hospital where he is said to be in critical condition, according to police.
CBS Philadelphia
Through their preliminary investigation, police learned those involved in the SEPTA shooting may have fled in a silver-colored Kia.
Authorities then found a car matching the description of the Kia speeding in the area and a pursuit began, Pace said. Police got help from a PPD helicopter as they followed the Kia, which ended up crashing at 5th and Greenwood streets in East Mount Airy. Pace said the Kia crashed into a parked car.
The driver of the crashed car ran away but police were still able to take them into custody, Pace said.
Investigators believe there was a second person involved in the shooting who ran from the car before it crashed. Police said they believe this person escaped near Allegheny Avenue and 4th Street, leaving a coat behind.
According to Pace, police also found a gun and a group of spent shell casings believed to be involved in the shooting in the same area.
“It’s very possible that there may have been a shooting inside the bus and also shots fired from outside of the bus toward the bus,” Pace said, “We’re still trying to piece all that together at this time.”
This is an active investigation and police are reviewing surveillance footage from the SEPTA bus.
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