“A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse” is one of Shakespeare’s most famous lines. Perhaps more adapted to the modern world, this line would be ‘my kingdom for insurance for my horse’? Hopefully, it won’t come down to that.
A Little Bird Told Us…
In the U.S., 4.6% of households own a bird or a horse. That translates into a total of 13.2 million of these types of pets that are parented in the U.S., according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. And let’s not forget about those who own other kinds of exotic pets, like guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, turtles, and the likes.
When it comes to owners being attached to their pets, exotic ones are no different. Treating them at the vet’s office is often costly, not to mention the fact that they should receive the same preventive healthcare as standard pets do, too.
This means that exotic pets deserve insurance too, in order to help parents pay for the sometimes very expensive treatments they need. But is pet insurance for exotic pets possible in the U.S.?
Exotic Pet Insurance: Rare but Possible
There aren’t too many pet insurance providers that offer coverage for exotic pets in the U.S. However, if you are the owner of such a pet, insuring them is possible through two names: Pet Assure and Nationwide.
Now, Pet Assure as you probably already know, is not a pet insurance provider in the traditional sense. It actually offers discounts on the network of vets who work with it. In exchange for receiving these discounts, you will have to pay a certain monthly fee. The good thing about this company is that it accepts all types of animal kingdom members, except for humans.
When it comes to Nationwide Pet Insurance, this company offers insurance plans for birds and all kinds of exotic pets like rabbits, reptiles, guinea pigs, and so on. Nationwide provides coverage for accidents and illnesses, but also for exams, prescriptions, hospitalization, etc.
Why Do I Need Insurance for My Exotic Pet?
Pet insurance is required for exotic pets for the same reasons it is needed for dogs and cats. Exotic pets like birds, horses, or guinea pigs, for instance, develop conditions like hemochromatosis, orthopedic diseases, or tumors and urinary problems for the last one.
These conditions are sometimes extremely costly to treat. Parents struggle to afford them, and this is where pet insurance kicks in. As they grow fond of their ‘children’, these pet parents get the peace of mind knowing that, if worse comes to worse, they will be able to take care of their pet whose life may sometimes depend on it.
The reason exotic pet insurance is offered by less companies than those providing dog and cat insurance is that these pets need special treatments that not all vets are qualified to do. Since the vet needs specialized knowledge, the visits to their office will be more expensive.
Best Pet Insurance of 2024
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