Many pet parents these days are opting to get pet insurance because pets are essential members of the family. But when you think about pet insurance, cats and dogs are typically what come to mind. They are the most popular pets, after all.
But what about our little rodent friends? Is there any pet insurance coverage for rats or mice? Yes! There are a couple of insurance companies that allow you to take out policies on your rats and mice.
Here, we give you information about the companies that offer coverage for pet mice and rats and why you might want the coverage in the first place.
Exotic Pets
While there are many pet insurance companies out there, only two offer pet insurance for pets beyond cats and dogs.
Rats and mice fall under the “exotic pet” category, which includes fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, goats, chinchillas, and sugar gliders, to name a few.
When getting exotic pet insurance its always worth comparing plans to see which one is right for you.
Top Rated Pet Insurance Companies:
So, if you come across a new pet insurance company that covers exotic pets, take a look, as this usually means your mice and rats are in that category.
Pet Insurance for Rats and Mice
Pet Assure
There are two companies that cover mice and rats. Pet Assure is one such company. It is only available in the U.S. and isn’t technically pet insurance. It’s more of a discount plan that enables you to save up to 25% on veterinary treatments.
It works in conjunction with participating employers, so if the company that you work for offers Pet Assure, you can enroll and will be given a card. When you bring your pet in to see the vet, you show your Pet Assure card, and your medical bill will be automatically reduced by 25%.
This includes everything from wellness visits to dental, emergency, and routine care. It doesn’t include any medications or food that you bring home, blood work that needs to be sent to a lab, or grooming or boarding.
You will need to pay an annual fee, which depends on your location and pet, but you might be looking at about $80 every year for your mouse or rat. This fee will also be higher if you have multiple pets, at about $150 for up to four pets.
So, while this isn’t exactly insurance and you don’t get full coverage (many insurance companies cover 80%–90% of the bills), it can come in handy. Pet Assure also discounts annual visits, which most insurance companies do not.
Nationwide
Nationwide is a bona fide pet insurance company that provides coverage for exotic pets, including mice and rats.
It covers up to 90% of the eligible veterinary care for accidents and illnesses. It reimburses lab work, exams, hospitalization, and prescription meds. For an extra fee, you can also receive coverage for annual wellness visits.
Nationwide does have its issues, though. The biggest problem is that it doesn’t have any information on its website about how the plan works for exotic pets. This means you need to call the company directly to find out what the fees are and what exactly they cover.
The deductible is paid by you for each incident (which means if your rat has a recurring health issue, you only pay one deductible fee even with multiple visits), and the fee is typically $50 per new condition.
The monthly fee depends on the pet and their age and health, but it’s estimated that you will need to pay about $9 per month.
ExoticDirect (UK)
If you live in the U.K., you can opt for ExoticDirect. It covers everything from parrots, owls, and meerkats to rats and mice.
It can be about £15 a month for one rat or mouse, and it can pay the vet directly rather than you paying and waiting for reimbursement. ExoticDirect covers £2,000 of the vet fee.
Exotic Pet Insurance
How much you pay in premiums and deductibles depends on your location, what kind of pet you have, their age, and their health. You will need to pay more if you want to add preventative care to your policy.
If you opt into any kind of discount plan, you can expect to pay around $10 per month. Your best bet is to start your pet insurance as soon as you get your new pet. This way, you’ll be guaranteed coverage for their entire lifetime.
What Does the Insurance Cover?
Just like with any pet insurance for cats and dogs, exotic pet insurance should cover the cost of illnesses and injuries. You can typically get hospitalization, prescriptions, lab tests, and exam fees covered. But each insurance company has its own terms, conditions, and policies, so be sure to read the fine print before you sign up for anything.
Should You Get Insurance for Your Mice and Rats?
Part of owning a pet is understanding the common illnesses that they are susceptible to.
Rats and mice are prone to gastrointestinal issues, respiratory diseases, tumors, and dental problems.
The most challenging part of owning pets is losing them. Rodents don’t have the longest lifespans — pet mice tend to live for about 1 to 3 years and pet rats for 2 to 4 years.
But it doesn’t matter how long we own our pets. It’s about the quality, not the quantity, of time spent with them.
In Conclusion
There aren’t many insurance companies that provide policies for animals beyond the usual cats and dogs. Support for smaller mammals like mice and rats is more complicated, so do your homework before settling on an insurance company or a discount plan.
So, is getting insurance for them worth it? Of course, it is. If you love your rat or mouse, you will do whatever it takes to keep them healthy for as long as possible.
Featured Image Credit: Ekaterina Minaeva, Shutterstock