Over 68% of the households in the United States have pets. Cats and dogs have easily become family members, and some are even treated like children. Because of this, many pet parents have begun looking more in-depth into pet insurance companies.

Pet insurance policies can help with day-to-day vet bills and exam fees, but they can also cover emergency care depending on the type of plan.

Types of Cat Health Insurance Policies

Policyholders can choose between two major types of pet insurance plans:

  1. Accident-only insurance coverage includes emergencies and injuries like lacerations and bone breaks and poisoning and ingestion of foreign objects like toys. This type of insurance coverage can be good for pet owners who have young and healthy cats that are active. This type of insurance policy doesn't cover regular check-ups or routine care, but it is there if pets need emergency care.

According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, this type of cat health insurance is usually decently low-priced with an annual deductible of around $126 and a monthly premium of just $10.

  1. The second type of cat health insurance policy is more focused on having a wellness plan. Accident and illness wellness care plans include unexpected accidents as well as veterinary care for infections or digestive issues, cancer treatments, and treatment for congenital conditions and chronic conditions. Many of these accident and illness coverage plans often include prescription medications and x-rays.

Accident and illness plans cover more, so they are naturally more expensive. For cats, the average annual deductible is just around $350 whereas the monthly premium is just under $30.

The estimates for accident-only and accident and illness plans can vary based on insurance providers and a cat's pre-existing condition to getting insurance coverage.

Best Pet Insurance Agencies

Cat health insurance can be necessary for peace of mind. Rates of insurance plans depend on the cat and how much wellness care a cat needs.

Insurance companies such as Trupanion and Nationwide go above and beyond normal insurance policies as they offer alternative therapies for cats either through regular wellness plans or add-ons. Many pet health insurance agencies also provide care for hereditary conditions, but some, like Healthy Paws, don't even cover vet visits and exam fees. Insurance companies, like Embrace, offer mostly complete packages, but have waiting periods and minimal dental care.

The best pet insurance coverage will include routine care as well as emergency care for a low cost. They will have minimal waiting periods, low annual deductibles, quick payouts, and high reimbursement percentages. Higher-end companies will be more expensive, but they will offer more complete coverage plans as well.

Cat Insurance Plan Considerations

Getting cat health insurance depends on the cat's current health and age. Younger cats typically don't need wellness care until they're older. But keep in mind, some pet insurance companies may have upper age limits for cats. Spaying and neutering a cat can reduce their insurance coverage costs.

In the long run, having a good insurance coverage option can reduce the financial burden of preventive care and emergency care alike. Unfortunately, there is no clear best answer when it comes to cat health insurance, so pet owners have to determine if cat health insurance is worth it or not.