by onlinefinancialnewsletters | Feb 23, 2015 | Personal Protection
Americans love their pets. According to the American Pet Products Association, pet owners in the U.S. spent more than $58 billion on their cats, dogs, rabbits, horses and other critters in 2014. Of that expenditure, $15.25 billion was for veterinary care and $13.14 billion on related supplies and medications. We can all agree, that’s a lot of scratch! But while some pet moms and dads have to pay for routine wellness exams and unexpected vet visits and treatments out of their general household budget, others are thinking ahead. They bought pet insurance, and can rest assured their furry family member’s healthcare needs are covered.
What is Pet Insurance?
Pet insurance helps you pay veterinary bills if your pet suffers and injury or illness. Some plans even chip in on routine medical care, though it’s usually most helpful when unexpected accidents strike. Those are the ones that usually require expensive procedures—such as cancer treatments that cost tens of thousands, hip replacements in the neighborhood of $10,000, and ACL repairs that carry fees upwards of $2,500. Any of these would decimate the average American’s emergency savings account. However, pet insurance makes these treatments financially possible.
How Much Will it Cost?
Just like your own healthcare insurance, pet insurance is not free. However, it’s likely more affordable than you may think. According to insure.com, you may find basic policies for as little as $10 a month. Policies with broader coverage will carry a higher price tag, of course. According to Insure.com, accident coverage—that would cover your pet’s care if it were hit by a car or fell out a window, for example—can be had for $15 a month. Accident and illness policies start around $20 a month. A premium policy, covering a broad range of services as well as reimbursement for various treatments and preventative care, will cost more. It’s even possible your employer may offer discounted pet insurance as a supplementary benefit. Ask your company’s human resources officer.
Can All Pets Get Health Insurance?
As was the case with human health insurance before the Affordable Care Act, not all pet insurers are going to cover all pets. Plans vary, but some will not apply if your pet is more than 10 years old, is a certain breed (like Great Dane) or species (like horse), or has serious pre-existing conditions. Purchasing pet insurance before your cat or dog needs it is the best way to ensure he or she will be eligible for coverage. Buying a plan while your pet is younger is also a good idea.
As is always the case in life, no two situations are identical. Ask your personal insurance agent to help you select a pet insurance plan that offers the solutions you need at a price you can afford. Your pets—and your wallet—will thank you.
by onlinefinancialnewsletters | Feb 9, 2015 | Personal Protection
According to the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, civil lawsuits, including those involving personal liability claims, cost the U.S. economy $233 billion each year. The average compensation payout for a civil injury suit is $60,000. The average awarded in a punitive damage lawsuit is $50,000. Most of us don’t have that kind of cash to spare. If we accidentally injure another person—or they injure themselves on our property—we could lose our savings, our home equity and our other assets. Fortunately, insurance offers some protection.
Homeowner’s and Auto Insurance
While your homeowner’s and auto insurance policies offer some liability protection, it may not be enough in the event of a serious incident—or even a minor incident when experienced lawyers get involved. According to an article by CBS Money Watch, most homeowner’s insurance policies only cover personal liability claims up to $300,000. Most auto insurance policies provide up to $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident for bodily injury—though few drivers actually purchase that much.
Experts advise you review your current liability coverage under both your homeowner’s and auto insurance policies with your agent. While most states set minimum liability requirements, it may make sense to increase your coverage limits. For example, to thoroughly protect your home, investments and other assets, it may be wise to increase the bodily injury liability limit on your auto insurance policy to the maximum, even if your state of residence requires less. You may also want to buy additional personal liability insurance equal to or greater than your net worth.
Additional Personal Liability Insurance
Don’t think you actually need additional liability coverage? You might be surprised. Experts suggest purchasing personal liability insurance of at least your net worth if you have teenage drivers at home, keep dogs as pets, regularly entertain on your property, have a pool at your residence, keep guns around or own a boat. All of these factors, and many others, can increase your chances of eventually facing a liability claim.
Additionally, auto and homeowner’s insurance policies never cover all the types of liability claims you may encounter. Typically excluded are defamation of character, libel, slander and false arrest. Personal liability insurance—in the form of an umbrella liability policy or personal excess liability insurance—does cover these charges.
Personal Liability Insurance is Affordable
Personal liability insurance is a valuable supplement to your existing insurance policies and may cost less than you expect. In fact, according to CBS Money Watch, you may be able to obtain $1 million to $2 million in supplemental coverage for as little as $250 to $300 per year. Contact your insurance agent or financial advisor for assistance with choosing the right policy as well as advice on how much coverage you need in your particular financial situation.
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