Veterinarians see the value of medical insurance firsthand with their own pets
November 21 2017 - 2:10PM
As medical insurance for pets continues to rise in popularity
among pet owners, veterinarians and their staff are also seeing the
value in the treatment and care of their own pets’ maladies. After
all, the most common conditions among pets affect veterinarian’s
pets, too, and those illnesses and injuries can be hard to budget
for.
Veterinary care is not free
When a veterinarian’s pet gets sick, they may have the expertise
to help remedy the issue, but they still have to manage the costs
of medications, supplies, equipment, specialists, and support staff
to treat their pet. “A lot of people think being a veterinarian
means you get free veterinary care,” said Dr. John F., DVM in
Austin, Texas. “The reality is that nothing is inherently
free.”
When Dr. F. started researching insurance for his Border Collie,
Gage, he had his finances in mind. “As a veterinarian, I would want
to do whatever I needed to do for him, and therefore pet insurance
may be a good way for me to guard against the potential costs.” He
decided Trupanion was the best option and enrolled Gage.
Gage ingested something from the trash less than a year later,
and Dr. F was glad he had the coverage. “I got some discounts along
the way, but ultimately there were still many hard costs that
accrued. Trupanion didn’t bat an eye about paying for the care and
services he had.” Insurance covered over $1,000 of the veterinary
costs.
The best care, no matter what
Sometimes, even with a doctorate in veterinary medicine,
veterinarians don’t have the specialization to give their pets the
best care. They’re faced with the same emotional and financial
burdens of other pet owners. Insurance can provide financial
support when they need it most.
“As a veterinarian, I understand sickness and
disease; that’s what I’ve been trained to do. But no training could
prepare me for the heart-crushing news I had to deliver to myself
in February,” said Dr. Tyler S., DVM, in Kokomo, Indiana. He
discovered the bump on the leg of Nestle, his Labrador Retriever,
was cancer. Dr. S. consulted with a specialist to help give Nestle
the best chance.
“My options were to amputate her leg, undergo over $7,000 in
radiation therapy, or simply cross my fingers and enjoy whatever
time I may have left with her. In an instant I was faced with the
unbearable weight of financial uncertainty multiplied by the level
of companionship her little brown eyes brought me over the years.
The small piece of hope I had was Trupanion.”
Insurance covered over $6,000 toward Nestle’s treatment. “As I
kissed her on her forehead and handed the leash to the radiation
resident, my heart sunk as I saw her walking away from me, tail
wagging, down that long hallway unaware of the gravity of the
situation. All I could do was think, ‘thank you Trupanion for
making her treatment possible.’”
About Trupanion
Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs
throughout the United States and Canada. For almost two decades,
Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on
their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed
to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical
insurance. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP".
The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle,
WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its
wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and,
in Canada, by Omega General Insurance Company. For more information
please visit Trupanion.com.
MediaRelations@Trupanion.com
206-607-1930
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