Ohio or the “Buckeye State”, enjoys a laidback lifestyle, which is perfect for families with pets. However, living in the state presents some risks and unique challenges to pets. Ohio’s wild variable weather means that your furry pals are prone to heat strokes in summer and frostbite or antifreeze poisoning in the colder months. In fact, 1 in 3 pets in Ohio gets injured or sick in a year.
While Ohio is among one of the U.S. states with the lowest living costs, yet, vet care continues to soar, which means that your vet care bills can be quite high, even for routine treatments and even more if your pet has an accident, emergency or serious illness.
Your furry pals are important members of your family and deserve the best medical care. And vet care can be very expensive and create a dent in your savings, which is why we recommend that you invest in pet health insurance so that you can get the best possible care for your precious pet.
Vet Care Costs in Ohio
Vet care costs have risen significantly across the country and also in Ohio state. Often, pet owners avoid going to the vet to prevent high vet bills; however, regular check ups and examinations are important for your dog or cat. And, often, yearly check ups can help to detect health issues in their early stages and prevent more expensive medical bills. So, as a pet owner, it is vital to get pet insurance much before a health problem crops up.
Ohio Pet Insurance Cost
Often exams and check ups are used as preventative methods; however, pets that have met with an accident or fall ill incur expensive vet bills and when your cat or dog falls ill, it is not unusual for you to get vet bills of $1,000 to even $10,000 or more.
Thankfully, if you have pet insurance, you will need to pay only a small portion of the bill, depending on your pet insurance plan and the area you live in.
Vet costs, as well as pet insurance, vary according to the city you live in and below is the average per month rates of pet insurance in the 5 largest cities of Ohio for a medium-sized mixed-breed dog that is 4 years old. These prices are for insurance plans that are preferred by most pet owners in the particular city and the plans usually require a deductible of $250 and pay around 80% of the costs.
- Columbus: $46.62
- Cincinnati: $37.76
- Cleveland: $43.78
- Dayton: $41.05
- Toledo: $48.16
What Does Pet Health Insurance Ohio Typically Cover?
Typically, pet health insurance is for dogs and cats; however, some insurance providers offer insurance for exotic animals such as parrots, gerbils or cockatiels, etc. Some of the common types of pet insurance Ohio plans include:
- Accident-Only Plans: These cover the treatment in case your pet has an injury or accident and does not cover any treatments for illnesses.
- Pet Wellness Plans: These cover routine and preventative treatments such as yearly wellness exams, flea and tick prevention, vaccinations, etc.
- Time-Limited Plans: These cover the treatment for your pet for a specific amount and a certain period of illness or injury. When the set period or fixed amount is reached, your pet will not be covered for the rest of the period of the policy.
- Maximum Benefit Plans: This offers you a specific amount of money to spend on your pet for his illness or injury without a time limit and once the amount is reached, you cannot make any more claims.
- Lifetime Plans: These are the most expensive types of plans; however, they are the most comprehensive too. They are ideal for pets requiring expensive treatments for chronic illnesses or any surgical procedure.
What Do Pet Insurance Plans Ohio Cover?
Most of the pet insurance Ohio plans cover the following:
- Vet Services: Diagnosing and treatment of illnesses and injuries, cost of surgery, hospitalization, bandages, medication, exams, consultations, MRI, scans, X-rays, etc. Sometimes this will also cover alternative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, etc.
- Congenital and Hereditary Conditions: Hereditary conditions that are passed on for several generations such as diabetes, cherry eye, etc. and congenital conditions are those that are present at birth. While most insurance plans cover these conditions, you may have to pay extra.
- Accidents: X-rays, surgeries, etc.
- Prescriptions: If your pet has any ongoing medical conditions, then some plans may cover their prescription medications.
- Behavioral Issues: Most pet insurance plans offer consultation and vet care for behavioral issues including aggression, separation anxiety, excessive licking, chewing, etc. You can get this as an add on to your insurance plan also.
- Overseas Vet Fees: This is for any emergency vet treatments for your pet if you’re traveling abroad with your pet.
What Don’t Pet Insurance Plans Ohio Cover?
- Pre-existing illness or injuries.
- Exam fees, which is in addition to any treatment or diagnostic tests performed by the vet.
- Pregnancy and birth.
- Pet food.
- Waiting period (at the beginning of the insurance policy when the vet treatment is not covered) i.e., during the first 14 days.
Reasons to Purchase a Pet Insurance Plan in Ohio
Here are some reasons why you may want to buy insurance for your pet in Ohio:
- Pet insurance can help to protect you at unexpected times and help to be better prepared for illnesses or accidents that can result in additional expenditure from treatments, medications, hospitalization or surgery.
- Having pet insurance ensures that your furry pal gets good healthcare. Also, having pet insurance makes the job easier for the vet, who can run all the required tests to make a proper diagnosis, which in turn, results in quicker treatment for your pet.
- Having pet insurance allows you to pick any licensed vet in the country and you have the option of consulting your current vet or seek alternative treatment in Ohio.
Reviews of the Best Health Insurance Plans in Ohio
Spot Pet Insurance
This is among the top pet insurance providers in Ohio. Endorsed by the famous expert in dog behavior, Caesar Milan, Spot Pet Insurance is a good pet insurance option for your dogs and cats. The plan offers up to 90% reimbursement on your eligible vet bills and does not have any age limit on the coverage.
The best part is that you can customize your coverage according to your requirements and you can also add the Spot-On coverage to your plan, which covers illnesses, accidents, dental disease, preventive services, behavioral problems, congenital and hereditary conditions. And, the claims service is extremely easy. Once you visit your vet, you need to just send the bill to Spot Insurance and you’ll get reimbursed.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance
A popular pet insurance service provider, Pumpkin Pet Insurance offers regular pet insurance for dogs and cats and also preventive care at an extra cost. Pumpkin offers a large range of coverage options and all the plans have a yearly coverage limit and the reimbursement rate for all plans is quite high. The plans do not have an upper age limit and you can also get a discount on multiple pets.
Pumpkin Pet Insurance allows you to submit your claim online and once you submit your claim and it is reviewed by the provider, you will receive the reimbursement for the costs covered on your claim once you have met your yearly deductible.
Progressive Pet Insurance
Progressive Pet Insurance offers flexible plans with unique coverage options such as dental illness and behavioral issues. Progressive is also one of the few insurance providers that insure working pets and they offer good discounts for multiple pets. Progressive Pet Insurance offers unlimited benefits, unrestricted vet selection and out-of-state coverage. And, the claims are processed very quickly once submitted, in just 2 to 5 days.
Low-Income Pet Help in Ohio
If you have a pet but don’t have a lot of money for the expensive treatments that come along with owning a pet, there are several places in Ohio that offer help to people with low income such as:
- Pets in Need, Cincinnati: Provides financial assistance for non-emergency vet services and low-cost vet care to low-income households.
- Paws 4 a Cure: Offers financial help for non-routine vet services for cats and dogs.
- Humane Society: Offers low-cost help in vet services like neutering and spaying and low-cost adoptions.
- Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance: Offers financial help for emergency treatment for cats.
Finally, the pet insurance you get for your furry pal will depend on the specific requirements of your pet and your overall financial situation. Selecting the appropriate pet insurance provider and plan is a huge decision that you must take with care. So, it’s a good idea to do some research and settle on a coverage option that works best to keep your pet healthy and happy.
