Is there such a thing as health or medical insurance for pets?

Yes. I’ll try to find some links to post. Apparently I can’t view any advertiser’s website links on my computer while on the company intranet, but if you google the term “health insurance for pets”, you’ll get a ton of links, including one from the ASPCA and at least one from Progressive Insurance.

Yes there is. I’m in Australia so there’s no point me finding you links but you can definitely insure your pet’s health.

Of course. Ask your vet about it. It’s fairly inexpensive.

Link

Yes; most vets have brochures about it. I would assume that you have to buy it while the pet is healthy though.

There is in California, but a little late for your sister’s cat.

In the UK it is very common to have insurance for pets. I have both my dogs insured so that any massive vets bills will be paid.

As noted, it is available, but the pre-existing condition of your sister’s cat would likely disqualify that animal from insurance.

Many Veterinarians work with creditors to offer no or low-interest payment options for when expenses get very high. One such company is CareCredit.com

Yes, there is, but like humans it has a preexisting condition clause.

Yes, I have an $1,800 “Care Credit” plan, good for pet emergencies, emergency medical/dental needs. I just used it to have crown done since I have no dental insurance. If you pay off the balance within 6 months it is interest free. After I pay off the balance for my crown I plan of keeping it for my cats, just in case, like the $700 Rattlesnake bite my male took to his paw last summer.

Just to be clear, Care Credit is a credit card, not health insurance.

They are more common these days and I looked at at least two ‘pet’ insurances before I realized my kitty would not be eligible. The one name I can remember is Trupanion.

Yes, but if your sister’s cat is already sick, they’re not going to insure him.

@livelaughlove21 Right, I thought that would have been known, should have clarified.

Yes, in Canada there is. However, like most insurance, they usually don’t cover pre-existing illness.

Wow, thanks, folks. I didn’t know. Strange that just about everybody we know has pets, but no one talks about it. Probably too late for my sister’s current kitty, but maybe the next one.

I suppose most of you who responded to this post have health insurance for your pets, but what percentage of pet owners do you think carry pet health insurance?

@2davidc8 I don’t have pet insurance, but here are the stats…

In the United States, less than 3% of the estimated 71 million pet owners have pet insurance.
Source: American Animal Hospital Association

In Great Britain, roughly 25% of pet owners have pet insurance. In Sweden, nearly 50% of pet owners insure their pets.
Source: Packaged Facts