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How much is full coverage pet insurance?
Pet ownership has been on the rise in recent decades, with 70% of American households having a pet, up from 56% in 1988, according to the American Pet Products Association.
But if you want to be a pet parent, you should be prepared for how expensive these companions can be. The average dog owner, for example, spends $4,512 per year on their pet, according to a USA Today Blueprint survey.
Veterinary care can be particularly pricey, especially if your pet has a significant accident or illness.
For example, “a torn ligament will require bloodwork, radiographs, surgery, pain medications, and even physical therapy. Major events like this can cost over $10,000 in total based on where you live,” says Dr. Ray Spragley, founder and veterinarian at Zen Dog Veterinary Care.
One way to reduce this financial risk is to get pet insurance.
“With pet insurance, you can avoid the shock of a major bill or the inability to provide treatment for your pet,” says Dr. Spragley. Don’t let unexpected vet bills come between you and your pet’s well-being. Start by getting a free price quote.
But not all pet insurance plans are the same. Some types of pet insurance provide narrow coverage for a lower price, such as accident-only pet insurance policies. Others, however, provide more of what could be considered full coverage pet insurance.
Find out what your best pet insurance options are online now.
What is full coverage pet insurance?
While full coverage is somewhat subjective, in general, it means that your pet insurance covers a broad spectrum of veterinary care.
“Full coverage would be a plan that covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary conditions, behavioral issues, and even some alternative therapies,” explains Dr. Spragley.
“There are also add-ons available such as preventative care coverage to cover vaccines, check-ups, and routine procedures,” he adds.
Considering pet insurance? Discover its numerous benefits and get a free quote today or compare the companies on the table below.
Ready to get started? Compare your top pet insurance policy options here.
How much is full coverage pet insurance?
Full coverage pet insurance varies based on factors like reimbursement percentages, deductibles and the specific coverages that an insurer includes.
For example, some plans might be considered full coverage because they cover accidents, illness, hereditary conditions and behavioral issues, but one might include certain veterinary exam fees, while another might offer this as an optional add-on.
In general, though, accident & illness pet insurance policies cost an average of $640.04 per year for dogs and $387.01 for cats, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).
In comparison, accident-only plans cost an average of $200.58 per year for dogs and $122.19 per year for cats.
But while you might save a few hundred dollars per year going for less comprehensive pet insurance, if your pet does get sick and needs treatments for things like cancer, gum disease, parasites, etc., then you could end up paying a lot more out of pocket for treatment.
Getting full coverage pet insurance proactively can be particularly important if you want to protect against the cost of hereditary conditions.
“Some breeds are predisposed to certain diseases throughout their lives. Your veterinarian can give you an idea of this, which allows you to have your pet covered by pet insurance — well before the issue they are predisposed to — is to arise,” explains Dr. Spragley. “Pet insurance companies will not cover preexisting conditions so you will not be reimbursed if they were diagnosed before the insurance policy was initiated.”
How to get inexpensive full coverage pet insurance
To save money while still getting good pet insurance coverage from a reputable pet insurance company, it’s better to start your search as soon as possible so you can qualify for lower premiums.
“The best way to save money on pet insurance is to get it when your pet is young, before they have any existing health conditions. It may not seem obvious, but spending a little now will save much more later,” says Dr. Doug Mader, an author and retired veterinarian.
“Another way to save some money on premiums is to purchase a policy that has a higher deductible,” he adds.
While that might mean you need a larger emergency fund to cover the deductible just in case, it can free up room in your monthly budget while still having comprehensive pet insurance protection.
Similarly, you can adjust levers such as the reimbursement percentage and coverage limits, notes Dr. Spragley. However, this could increase the amount you have to pay out of pocket if your pet gets sick or injured.
Lastly, it’s helpful to get quotes, as the specific prices can vary based on factors like your pet’s age and breed.
“The best way to find the best deal is to shop around and get comparative quotes, so that you can actually compare apples to apples,” says Dr. Mader.
And, whether you end up choosing a comprehensive pet insurance plan or decide on a narrower one like accident-only insurance, it’s important to realize that the upfront costs can pay off down the road.
“Pet insurance will never seem like a good deal until there is a very large surprise veterinary bill,” says Dr. Spragley.
Thinking about pet insurance? Get a free quote and unveil hidden benefits that could protect your furry friend.
CBS News
1 monkey recovered safely, 42 others still remain on the run from South Carolina lab
One of 43 monkeys bred for medical research that escaped a compound in South Carolina has been recovered unharmed, officials said Saturday.
Many of the others are still located a few yards from the property, jumping back and forth over the facility’s fence, police said in a statement.
The Rhesus macaques made a break for it Wednesday after an employee at the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee didn’t fully lock a door as she fed and checked on them, officials said.
The monkeys on Friday were exploring the outer fence of the Alpha Genesis compound and were cooing at the monkeys inside. The primates continued to interact with their companions inside the facility on Saturday, which is a positive sign, the police statement said.
Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard relayed that efforts to recover all the animals will persist throughout the weekend and for as long as it takes, the statement said.
Westergaard told CBS News on Thursday that a caretaker inadvertently failed to secure a door at the enclosure, allowing the monkeys to roam free.
“It’s really like follow-the-leader. You see one go and the others go,” he said. “It was a group of 50 and 7 stayed behind and 43 bolted out the door.”
Westergaard acknowledged that it would be a long process to get them back and that they didn’t want to chase the monkeys because that would spook them and make them run away.
“We’ve got them very close,” he told CBS News. “This is all like what we want to see.”
The monkeys are about the size of a cat. They are all females weighing about 7 pounds.
Alpha Genesis, federal health officials and police all said the monkeys pose no risk to public health. The facility breeds the monkeys to sell to medical and other researchers.
Alpha Genesis provides primates for research worldwide at its compound in Yemassee, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, according to its website.
CBS News
American nurse killed in Budapest while on vacation, Hungarian police arrest suspect
A 31-year-old American tourist was killed while on vacation in Hungary’s capital, and the suspect, a 37-year-old Irish man, has been arrested, Hungarian police said Saturday.
The victim, Mackenzie Michalski was reported missing on Nov. 5 after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest.
A Facebook group called “Find Mackenzie Michalski,” created on November 7, said Michalski, went by “Kenzie.” The group confirmed her death in a statement on Friday, thanking U.S. and Hungarian authorities for “their prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration.”
Police launched a missing person investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed Michalski with a man later identified as the suspect in several of the clubs the night of her disappearance.
Police detained the man, an Irish citizen, on the evening of Nov. 7. Investigators said that Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the man’s rented apartment. The man killed Michalski while they were engaged in an “intimate encounter,” police said.
The suspect, whom police identified by the initials L.T.M., later confessed to the killing but said it had been an accident. Police said that he had attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding Michalski’s body in a wardrobe before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.
He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of the body in a wooden area outside the town of Szigliget.
Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body. Police said the suspect had made internet searches before being apprehended on how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, whether pigs really eat dead bodies and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area.
He also made an internet search inquiring about the competence of Budapest police.
Michalski’s parents are currently in Budapest, police told The Associated Press.
Friends posted condolences on the Facebook group of candles. Michalski was a nurse practitioner, the social media post said, who used “her humor, positivity, and limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike.”
CBS News
Severe droughts threaten sustainable catch of the Amazon’s giant fish, the giant pirarucu
Two years of record-breaking drought have dealt a heavy blow to what is arguably the Amazon’s most successful sustainable economy: the managed fishery for the giant pirarucu.
In Brazil´s Amazonas state, almost 6,000 riverine dwellers authorized to fish have reported a sharp drop in production and rising costs. They are demanding aid from the federal government and debating how to adapt to climate change.
Last year’s catch totaled 70% of the government-authorized quota of 100,443 fish. This year could see an even steeper decline, since many communities still haven´t been able to fish. The season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Pirarucu managed fishing began in the Amazon 25 years ago in the Mamiraua region and has since expanded. It helped the Amazon’s largest fish escape risk of extinction and is now an important source of income for locals in 10 sustainable conservation units and eight Indigenous territories, where deforestation is close to zero.
Unlike other aquatic species of the Amazon, such as river dolphins, the pirarucu — also known as arapaima — historically have proven resilient to drought and climate change. But low water levels are making it extremely difficult for fishers to transport their catch from remote lakes to major rivers and onto cities.
It’s a mammoth task. The pirarucu, which can weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds), lives in large lakes that during flood season are often connected to major rivers. Fishing typically occurs when water levels begin to recede, making it easier to trap the fish and transport them out in small boats or canoes. In several areas, however, water levels dropped so quickly that this connection was cut off before fishing could begin.
In the São Raimundo community in the Medio Jurua region, fishing is scheduled to start Saturday, a two-month delay — a common situation this season. As a result, Coletivo Pirarucu, an umbrella organization that represents 2,500 riverine and Indigenous families, has requested that the federal government extend fishing season until the end of January.
Even in large rivers navigation has become problematic, raising costs and uncertainty among fishermen. It usually takes three to four days to transport fish from Carauari municipality — a major pirarucu producer — to Manaus, the Amazon´s largest city. During the peak of the drought, the trip increased to 10 days, and the freight price has doubled.
Tough as pirarucu are, they are not immune to climate change, according to researcher Adalberto Luis Val from the National Institute for Amazonian Research. He says rising temperatures and severe droughts are exacerbating the “death trio” for all fish: warmer water, more CO2 and less oxygen.
The pirarucu has evolved to breathe air but is far from invincible.
“No fish can regulate body temperature,” Val said. “Then there’s water scarcity. As its level drops, you start to get a high amount of suspended material, leading to sludge buildup. It sticks to the gill area, blocking the processes that occur there.”
Fearing deteriorating conditions in the following decades, Coletivo Pirarucu contends that the fishermen should be entitled to compensation for losses caused by climate change. “This crisis not only challenges the resilience of communities but also highlights the urgent need for climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies,” the nonprofit stated in an open letter last week.
In an e-mail response, James Bessa, a federal official overseeing pirarucu management, said that Ibama, Brazil´s environmental agency, is working with other public bodies and local fishing associations to reduce the impact of extreme events like droughts and floods. He said there are plans to start scientific studies and closer monitoring to provide insights into ways to support riverine and Indigenous communities in sustaining their fishing activities.
Adevaldo Dias — a riverine leader who presides over the Chico Mendes Memorial, a nonprofit that assists traditional non-Indigenous communities — argues that adopting additional public policies to help the fishermen is a matter of climate justice.
“The Indigenous and riverine peoples have minimal impact on the environment,” Dias said. “We know that conserving the forest benefits both us and those outside it. And when extreme climate events occur, they are the most vulnerable.”