It’s a sad reality, but veterinary costs are extremely expensive and are only continuing to grow. Pet insurance is a safety net that can be put in place to help offset costly veterinary bills that can hit you unexpectedly.
The cost of pet insurance varies significantly due to several factors, with geographical location playing a role in determining your overall premium cost. You can expect to pay between $30-$80 for pet insurance for your dog and $12-$40 for your cat. Today, we’ll take a look at the cost of pet insurance in the state of Oregon.
The Importance of Pet Insurance
Accidents and illnesses can pop up out of nowhere and put a real burden on your finances. For example, if your dog were to swallow a foreign object that resulted in a bowel obstruction and requires surgical intervention, the veterinary costs to treat this kind of issue are in the thousands.
Pet insurance can help put your mind at ease knowing that your pet is covered if the unexpected were to happen. You can aim your focus on your pet’s health rather than having to worry about the impact it will have on your financial situation.
How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
Pet insurance costs will vary by policy and any customizations made to your plan. Many other factors play a significant role in determining your monthly premium, too.
In the table below, we’ve looked at the cost comparison for several companies to see the price differences by location within the state.
These premiums related to a healthy, two-year-old Labrador Retriever and a 1-year-old domestic medium-haired cat. Neither have pre-existing conditions and each price reflects the company’s most popular policy.
| Average Cost by City | Portland | Salem | Eugene |
| Lemonade | Dog: $41.36
Cat: $17.20 |
Dog: $41.56
Cat: $17.29 |
Dog: $36.36
Cat: $15.20 |
| Embrace | Dog: $55.59
Cat: $23.50 |
Dog: $43.83
Cat: $23.37 |
Dog: $39.20
Cat: $22.79 |
| Healthy Paws | Dog: $65.18
Cat: $16.94 |
Dog: $54.25
Cat: $14.10 |
Dog: $49.17
Cat: $12.77 |
| Spot | Dog: $44.43
Cat: $16.62 |
Dog: $31.89
Cat: $12.71 |
Dog: $38.11
Cat: $14.54 |
| Trupanion | Dog: $82.78
Cat: $39.96 |
Dog: $65.98
Cat: $32.65 |
Dog: $65.98
Cat: $32.65 |
(There are many other companies available in the state of Oregon, we just narrowed it down to a few of the most popular providers.)
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Additional Costs to Anticipate
Other than your monthly or annual premium, there are some other costs associated with having a pet insurance policy. Here’s a look at the additional costs you will be responsible for:
Deductible
The deductible is the amount you agree to pay toward your pet’s care before coverage kicks in. Some plans have set deductible amounts, while others have more flexibility. You will be responsible for paying your deductible before you are eligible for reimbursement.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Not all aspects of veterinary care will be covered with most pet insurance plans. This does depend on what type of coverage you’ve chosen. If you have a more comprehensive plan with a wellness add-on, you will run into less out of pocket expenses than if you were to have more limited coverage. Regardless, anything that is not listed in your policy will be your responsibility.
Care Related to Pre-Existing Conditions
Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any pet insurance company. You will be required to pay for all costs related to your pet’s conditions that were present before enrollment.
Upfront Costs
Most pet insurance companies will reimburse you for your covered veterinary services after a claim has been submitted, which means you will pay the veterinarian upfront and wait for your insurance company to send you the reimbursement percentage for your covered costs.
What Does Pet Insurance Cover?
You can choose what type of coverage works best for your situation and coverage will vary by company and plan. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect.
Accident and Illness Coverage
This type of coverage takes care of costs related to both illnesses and accidents. This is the most comprehensive option, especially when paired with an additional wellness package. Each company differs in which services are covered, so it’s important that you thoroughly read the information for each. For the most part, the following are what you can expect to be covered under an accident and illness plan:
Accident-Only Coverage
Accident-only coverage will only cover costs related to accidents. This is the least expensive type of coverage and not all companies offer accident-only plans. Most accident-only plans will cover the following:
Wellness Coverage (Add-On)
Wellness plans are offered as an add-on to your regular policy. They come at an additional cost and can be very beneficial to those that spend a lot of money on wellness and preventative care. Wellness plans vary by company, so we highly recommend narrowing down your options and having a close look at what type of coverage falls within the wellness package.
How Prices Are Determined
There are quite a few factors that determine the cost of your pet insurance premium, so we’ll go over each and every one to give you a more comprehensive look at what you can expect.
Insurance Company
There are many different pet insurance providers in the industry, and each has their unique pricing. Research your company’s reputation and what they are best known for. Make sure to get quotes from several before making your final decision
Policy/Plan Type
Not only are there different levels of coverage, but there is typically some flexibility when building your plan. Most companies allow you to choose from several deductible options, reimbursement percentages, and annual limits for coverage. All of these will impact your premium cost. If you decide you’d like additional wellness packages, those come at an additional fee.
Species
There’s no way around it, dogs cost more to insure so premiums for dogs will be more expensive than for cats.
Breed/Size
Breed and size play an important role in determining your premium. Certain purebred cats and dogs are more likely to suffer from certain genetic health conditions. For example, brachycephalic breeds will cost more than those with traditional snouts and larger dogs are more likely to suffer from orthopedic conditions. The more likely your pet is to suffer from health problems, the more expensive the coverage.
Age
Companies typically have a minimum age of enrollment, which usually falls between 6 and 8 weeks of age and some will even have a maximum age of enrollment, though not all do. The age of your pet upon enrollment will play a factor in determining the cost of your premium.
Geographical Location
Different areas have different costs of living, so the geographical location will play a role in your final cost. In Oregon, you will notice the coverage in Portland is typically higher than in Salem and Eugene. When you obtain your online quotes, you will enter your zip code to get the most accurate pricing.
Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
There’s no way around it, pet insurance costs money. Whether you choose to pay a monthly or annual premium, you will still be subjected to meeting your deductible, paying any costs that fall out of your scope of coverage, and will be reimbursed your chosen percentage.
When it comes to the outrageous costs of veterinary care and even emergency care related to illnesses and injuries, it may very well be worth the cost. Some customers are grateful to have a policy, and others feel they are wasting their money.
Whether or not pet insurance is worth it is entirely up to you. We highly recommended taking a deep look into each company and the different plans and coverage options, then getting a personalized quote so that you decide whether it fits into your budget.
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Conclusion
The average cost of pet insurance in Oregon varies depending on individual circumstances, location within the state, and many other factors. On average, a healthy dog costs between $35 and $60 per month, and a healthy cat between $12 and $25 per month. Remember to get personalized quotes when shopping for pet insurance.
Featured Image Credit: thodonal88, Shutterstock
