Insurance, Estimating Adoption & Care Cost$, Estate Planning
Care: Costs and Planning
- Adoption & Care Costs (ASPCA 2008?) -- dog, cat, rabbit, goldfish, bird, small mammal, guinea pig
- AAHA Cost of Veterinary Care/Pet Insurance FAQ American Animal Hospital Association
- "Nine Lives, with bills to match" Washington Post Article June 1 2008 by Nancy Trejos
- Consumer Reports on Insurance and Costs of Care for Dogs July 2007
- Providing for Your Pet's Future Without You, The Humane Society of the United States
- Estate Planning for Pets, Estate Planning for Pets Foundation
Other options to consider when planning for costs of care:
- Considering purchasing health insurance for your pet? Read Chapter Six, Financial Commitments, in Dr. Shannon Nakaya's book "Kindred Spirit Kindred Care" on making health decisions on behalf of animal companions. It is a comprehensive discussion of the financial aspects of pet care, including but not limited to pet health insurance. Dr. Nakaya recommends a savings account as an alternative or compliment to insurance.
- Consumer Reports on pet insurance from July 2007
- CareCredit is another financing option that can be used with or without insurance.
- Senior Dogs Project -- Health Insurance -- see left-hand side under General Topics for insurance link
Insurance--ask your veterinarian first.
Web sites that offer pet insurance company comparisons and more information
American Veterinary Medical Association--links to AVMA news, policy, and other sources
American Animal Hospital Association:
- American Animal Hospital Association has a Web site and brochure featuring high deductable pet insurance
- About the AAHA approach to pet insurance from May 1, 2008 DVM Newsmagazine
- AAHA Seal of Acceptance "Helps Pet Owners Decide on Quality Pet Insurance Policies"
- Ensuring Your Pet's Health: A guide for pet owners from the American Animal Hospital Association
- PetInsuranceReview.com compares and update information on 9 plans in the U.S. and 3 in Canada. Includes reviews by customers.
- Pet Insurance University: a vet's guide to pet insurance by Dr. Frances Wilkerson DVM
- VPI -- 10 Things to Ask Before Buying Pet Health Insurance--VPI is the oldest and largest company
- The Best Pet Insurance.com provides basic information about pet insurance with explanations of terminology used in policies. Endorses the idea of pet insurance as an employee benefit.
- Wikipedia Pet Insurance page
- About.com undated interviews with pet insurance company representatives --lots of ads!
- North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) -- a new trade organization formed in 2007. Only five companies are listed as members as of 11/21/08
Books:
- Ebook about Pet Insurance: The Complete Guide to Pet Health Insurance by Dr. Doug Kenney
- Is pet insurance necessary? Nolo Press well-respected publisher of legal guides for lay people.
The Nolo Press book Every Dog's Legal Guide has a very small section (p. 90) on insurance.
The information on the Nolo Press Web site, linked above, has much more detail.
Blog:
Pet Connection : a blog written by Dr. Marty Becker, Gina Spadafiori, Christie Keith, Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp. Pet Connection provides commentary from experts and also allows comments from people with experience using insurance.
Articles from veterinary magazines, journals, and associations:
- NAVC Clinician's Brief "Implementing Pet Health Insurance in Your Practice" January 2009
Note: to read the whole article you'll have to register. - Veterinary Economics has a number of articles on pet insurance like this one from April 1, 2008. Find others by searching for [pet insurance] on the Veterinary EconomicsWeb site. Includes access to several other veterinary trade magazines also.
- American Veterinary Medical Association--search for Pet Health to find news, guidelines, and other information.
Go directly to AVMA Guidelines on Companion Animal Insurance May 2003
- FAQ on Pet Insurance from The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
AAHA has a booklet titled"Ensuring Your Pet's Health" and seems to be endorsing Trupanion pet insurance.
More about Trupanion from About.com.
- Pet Insurance from the Humane Society of the U.S. endorses PetPlan
- Morris Animal Foundation endorses Pet's Best
- AARP article on Pet Insurance November 2008
