Pet parents today treat their pooches like four-legged members of the family, and Yorkshire Terrier lovers are no exception – we want to make sure that our petite little pups get lots of loving attention, as well as the very best of care when they’re sick or hurt. There’s one major issue that often rears its ugly head when our little dogs need to visit the vet, however – the problem of affordability.
Worrying about how to pay for our Yorkie’s veterinary care probably tops the list of concerns for many of us; since medical costs for our furry friends might easily reach into the realm of thousands of dollars for a major illness or accident, preparing for future health costs is an essential part of pet parenthood. Yes, Yorkshire Terriers tend to be pretty resilient as a breed, but with their predispositions towards serious health issues like dental disease, luxating patellas, collapsing trachea urinary tract disorders, and liver issues, it’s very likely that they’re going to need veterinary care above and beyond the routine during their lifetimes.
This is where the topic of pet health insurance comes in. Although there can be a few different ways for owners to prep themselves for anticipated veterinary costs, purchasing an insurance plan for your Yorkie is often the best option when compared to using personal savings or even a dedicated line of credit. Why?…
Well, to begin with, it eliminates the need for owners to remember to put aside money on a regular basis, not to mention the fact that emergency veterinary costs may not be entirely covered by a savings plan alone.
A Guide to Pet Insurance for Your Yorkshire Terrier
Pet insurance also allows us to seek the necessary treatment for our little friends without the burden of having to limit our dog’s care because of financial concerns; this can be a huge relief, especially for dog lovers whose pups are seriously ill or injured.
Some dog owners might have a tough time knowing which plan to pick for their pups, though, especially if they’re new to the idea of insurance in the first place. Luckily, there’s usually a plan that’s a good fit for each dog’s lifestyle and situation! Here’s an awesome guide to pet insurance companies that will help you sniff out the best coverage for your best friend.
Petplan USA
- Monthly premium: $20-70 (approximate)
- Coverage: Choice of 90%, 80%, or 70% reimbursement after the deductible is paid.
- Annual Deductible per incident per year: Ranges from $100 to $1000
- Age limit: Can enroll at 6 weeks, no upper age limit. Coverage begins 24 hours after enrollment.
- Annual Coverage on illness, injuries, or accidents ranges from $2.5k to unlimited
Pros: All plans cover hereditary and chronic conditions, diagnostics, medications, MRI, CAT and ultrasound, non-routine dental treatment, surgery, veterinarian-provided alternative therapy, and specialist treatment. Some plans also include coverage for boarding fees, loss due to theft, and vacation cancellation.
Cons: Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Clients must submit claims for paid invoices before a claim is reimbursed. Premiums may increase as your dog ages.
Nationwide Pet Insurance (VPI)
- Monthly premium: $10-35 (approximate. Careguard, a wellness plan option that covers vaccines, dental care, and flea/heartworm control, can be added for an extra $14-$34 monthly
- Coverage: The payout amount is determined by a benefit schedule after a deductible is met.
- Deductible: You can customize your deductible to your budget – $100, $250, or $500 or year
- Enrollment age limit: Can enroll at 6 weeks, upper age limit of 10 years. Coverage begins 14 days after enrollment.
- Plans:
-Major Medical Plan (comprehensive) – Annual limit of $14,000
-Medical Plan (economical) – Annual limit of $9,000
-Emergency plan (accidents only) – Annual Limit of $7,000
Pros: Can use any veterinarian nationwide. Depending on the plan, covers chronic conditions, diagnostic tests, medications, cancer treatment, non-routine dental care, surgery, veterinarian-provided alternative therapy, and specialist treatment.
Cons: Pre-existing and congenital conditions are not covered. No coverage for cruciate ligament injuries and hereditary conditions for the first 12 months. Clients must submit claims for paid invoices before a claim is reimbursed. Premiums may increase as your dog ages.
ASPCA Pet Insurance
- Monthly premium: $25-$58 (approximate).
- Coverage: You have a co-pay of 10% after your deductible.
- Deductible: You can customize your deductible to your budget – $100, $250, or $500 or year
- Enrollment age limit: Can enroll at 8 weeks, upper age limit of 13 years. Illness coverage begins 30 days after enrollment.
- Plans:
-Level 4 (comprehensive) – per incident limit of $7000 per year
-Level 3–per incident limit of $5,000 per year
-Level 2- per incident limit of $3,000 per year
-Level 1 – per incident limit of $2,500 per year
-Two additional wellness plan options are offered for either $10 (routine care) or $25 (advanced, including dental cleanings) monthly.
Pros: Can use any veterinarian nationwide. Depending on the plan, insurance can cover chronic conditions, diagnostic tests, medications, cancer treatment, non-routine dental care, behavioral therapy, surgery, veterinarian-provided alternative therapy, and specialist treatment.
Cons: Pre-existing and congenital conditions are not covered in Level 1 and 2 plans. Premiums may increase for older Yorkies, as well as those with many health issues. Clients must submit claims for paid invoices before a claim is reimbursed. Maximum yearly incident limits.
Trupanion Pet Insurance
- Monthly premium: $17-$100 (approximate)
- Coverage: 90% coverage.
- Deductible: You select the deductible amount: $0,$100, $250, $500, or $1000 per incident, depending on how much you want to pay as a monthly premium
- Enrollment age limit: Can enroll at 8 weeks, upper age limit of 14 years. Illness coverage begins 30 days after enrollment, and accident coverage 5 days after enrollment.
- Plans: Trupanion offers a single, comprehensive plan for all pets, with the option to add an Additional Care Package that covers alternative therapies like acupuncture or chiropractic
Pros: No financial limits per year, incident, or a lifetime of your Yorkie. Offers some of the most comprehensive coverage in a single plan, covering accidents, congenital and hereditary conditions, illness, surgeries, diagnostic tests, medications, prescribed pet food and nutritional supplements, prosthetic devices, and mobility carts
Cons: Exam fees are not covered. Does not cover any routine care like spaying or neutering, vaccinations, or parasite prevention. Additional premium costs might apply to breeding dogs.
AKC Pet Insurance
- Monthly premium: $5-$60 (approximate), depending on deductible, incident payout limit, and age of your dog.
- Coverage: 80% coverage. Annual claim limits from $3000 to $10,000.
- Deductible: You select the deductible amount from $100 to $250, $500, $750, or $1000 per incident, depending on how much you want to pay as a monthly premium
- Enrollment age limit: Can enroll at 8 weeks. Illness coverage begins 14 days after enrollment, and accident coverage 24 hours after enrollment.
- Plans:
-CompanionPlus (accident and illness coverage – incident limits vary)
-Companion Select (accident coverage only)
-Additional ExamCare, Inherited Illness, and Defender (wellness and prevention) options are available (between $5 to $26 per option added, depending on services and products covered)
Pros: No claim limits over the lifetime of your Yorkie. One of the most customizable plans to fit different situations, since you can choose from different deductibles, claim limits, and additional coverage options to determine the plan and premium amount that’s right for you. Dogs registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club) are eligible for a free 60-day trial of the insurance.
Cons: Newly enrolled dogs aged 9 and over are only eligible for accident coverage. Pre-existing conditions are not covered, and hereditary and congenital coverage requires the purchase of extra options. No coverage at all for alternative treatments like acupuncture or chiropractic.
24 PetWatch
- Monthly premium: $25-$43 per month (approximate)
- Coverage: 80% coverage.
- Deductible: $100 per year
- Enrollment age limit: Can enroll at 8 weeks, coverage is available up to age 10.
- Plans:
-$3,000 coverage per year
-$5,000 coverage per year
-$10,000 coverage per year
-$20,000 coverage per year
Pros: Every policy, no matter the claim limit, comprehensively covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary and congenital conditions, exams, diagnostic testing, ultrasound and x-ray, surgery, hospitalization, ambulance, prescription medications, therapeutic diet, and alternative treatments. The simple, straightforward plan selection is based choosing on the yearly claim limit that’s best for your dog. Since 24Petwatch is also a microchip company, emergency care insurance (linked to their microchip account) can be purchased for your pet in case they are ever lost and become injured. ShelterCare is also available for pets recently adopted from a shelter or rescue situation.
Cons: Pre-existing conditions are not covered. No options were available for wellness or preventive care coverage.
Embrace Pet Insurance
- Monthly premium: $8-$85 per month (approximate) based on the plan
- Coverage: Can choose from 70%, 80% or 90% reimbursement
- Deductible: Choose from $100, $200, $300, $500, $750 or $1000. Higher deductibles equal lower premiums.
- Enrollment age limit: Can enroll at 8 weeks, coverage is available up to age 14.
- Plans:
-$3,000 coverage per year
-$5,000 coverage per year
-$10,000 coverage per year
-$20,000 coverage per year
Can choose one of four options (for an extra $18-$45 monthly based on yearly coverage limits) for additional comprehensive wellness coverage (preventive dental, vaccines, spay/neuter, parasite prevention, microchipping, shampoos, and behavior therapy)
Pros: Every plan covers accidents, illnesses, hereditary, breed-specific, and congenital conditions, exams, diagnostic testing, ultrasound and x-ray, surgery, hospitalization, ambulance, prescription medications, allergy testing, physical therapy, and alternative treatments. Embrace offers discounts for multiple pets and military dog owners, and owners have the option to submit claims for parasite prevention products ordered online.
Cons: Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Cremation or burial after death or euthanasia is not covered. A lifetime claim limit of $50,000, could be limiting for owners of dogs with multiple illnesses or long-term conditions, and premiums could increase as your dog ages. No orthopedic condition coverage for the first 6 months in dogs.
Final Words…
The last thing you need to worry about when your Yorkie is really sick or hurt is whether or not you can pay for it – pet insurance is really meant to take the so-called financial load off your shoulders!
We hope that this information has helped you to discover a bit more about how pet insurance works, which plans fit your furry friend (and your budget) best, and overall, will help to give you greater peace of mind when it comes to caring for your pint-sized pal. Isn’t that the very thing that we dog owners want, after all?
You can read more about the best dog insurance right here.
Please feel free to comment about your experiences (good or bad) with your Yorkie Insurance Plan. Your comments can help other readers make a wise decision when selecting an insurance company
