For some military families, their pets are considered to be their children. And, these “parents” will spare no expense to care for their babies.
In fact, many pet owners have invested in pet insurance to protect the health of their four-legged loved ones. PetFirst — a nationwide provider of health insurance for dogs and cats — expects that the $250 million pet insurance industry will double in by 2012.
“Fortunately, we’re seeing pets live longer and better lives because of advances in care and treatment,” says PetFirst CEO Brent Hinton, in a company-issued press release.
“But that also means more visits to the vet and more costs associated with those vet visits, which is why we believe people are exploring pet insurance,” Hinton said.
Pet insurance is very similar to regular health insurance. The policies cover veterinarian expenses, annual exams, vaccinations, flea control and spay/neuter services. Additionally, surgeries, x-rays, or hospitalizations that result from an illness or injury are covered.
TRICARE does not offer any pet insurance plans, yet. However, there are several supplemental insurance policies that will cover your pets. And, some are offered through employee benefits plans.
What’s more, the American Humane Association links to PetInsuranceFinder.com, which lists several insurance companies — including GEICO Direct, a government employee insurance company — that provides pet insurance.
Pet Insurance is a good investment if you want to keep your pets healthy and prolong their lives. Talk to your on-base financial counselor so that he or she can walk you through the process of buying the right amount of pet insurance and at a cost that your family can afford.
For more information about insurance for you and your family, visit Military.com’s Insurance channel. For more information about what’s covered under your TRICARE policy visit Military.com’s Benefits channel.
