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Compare exotic pet insurance
Is pet insurance worth $10/month for your rabbit, bird or reptile?
Is exotic pet insurance worth it?
Coverage isn’t required or even common for exotic pets like birds, reptiles or rabbits. However, it’s worth considering whether you can afford a large vet bill for emergency care like hospitalization or surgery. To protect your pet, you could put money away in a savings account. However, insurance can help if your pet suffers a serious incident even after a few months.
How much does exotic pet insurance cost?
Expect to pay around $10 a month for medical coverage on your exotic pet. If you go with a medical discount plan, you might receive 25% off all medical services covered. However, a number of factors influence the cost of your premium, including the type of pet and your pet’s age, breed, gender and overall health. Discount plans may cost less than a standard insurance policy for exotic pets.
How does coverage work for exotic pets?
The costs you pay out of pocket depends on your insurer, but you might see:
- Deductible. You opt for a deductible that works for your budget. Then, you pay the first vet bills during each term up to that amount, such as the first $250.
- Coinsurance. Next, your insurer typically covers up to a certain percentage of expenses like 90%.
- Annual limit. Expenses that go above your annual limit stand as your responsibility, if your policy includes a limit.
- Flat discount. Discount plans may offer one discount on all covered services, such as 25% of all medical bills.
What does exotic pet insurance cover?
To protect your exotic pets, you may opt for standard insurance or a medical discount plan. Smaller pets might not have as many vet bills as larger pets like dogs and cats, but visits to a vet who specializes in exotic animals could cost extra.
You can get coverage for:
Medical coverage
Expect coverage for your pet’s standard medical treatment, including:
- Accident injuries
- Common illnesses
- Chronic illnesses
- Exam fees
- Lab work, x-rays and other diagnotic tests
- Hospitalization
- Surgery
- Veterinary specialists
- Prescription medicine
Medical discount plans
A discount plan may offer more coverage than insurance, including routine care. You can get discounts for:
- Wellness checkups
- Sick visits
- Vaccinations
- Spaying or neutering
- Dental cleanings
- Dental exams and x-rays
- Ultrasounds
- Allergy treatments
- Diabetes management
- Emergency care
- Hospitalization
- Surgical procedures
- Cancer care
Ownership coverage
While not specific to exotic pets, a few insurers cover these ownership risks:
- Pet liability. Pay for legal and other expenses if your small mammal, bird or reptile damages property or hurts someone.
- Advertising and reward. Get reimbursed for advertising your lost or stolen pet and paying any reward for your pet’s safe return.
- Vacation cancellations. Offset the cost of cancelling your trip if your pet needs emergency medical attention.
- Burial expenses. Give your cherished exotic pet a proper burial without worrying about the expense.
Which animals are included under exotic pet insurance?
Providers who cover exotic pets may protect these and many more types of animals:
- Amphibians
- Chameleons
- Ferrets
- Gerbils
- Goats
- Guinea pigs
- Hamsters
- Iguanas
- Lizards
- Mice
- Potbellied pigs
- Rats
- Rabbits
- Snakes
- Sugar gliders
- Tortoises
- Turtles
What coverage can I get for my rabbit?
Getting insurance for your rabbit is typically pretty standard, and you can typically cover routine vet visits, emergency visits, diagnostic tests and prescription medicine. You might also want a policy that covers ownership expenses, such as liability and lost pet advertising if your bunny escapes.
What coverage can I get for my bird?
You can get bird insurance for large parrots, birds of prey and small birds including cockatoos, parrots and canaries. Your level of coverage and premiums will depend on the bird you own, but many bird policies can include vet fees for specialty vets and lost pet advertising.
Birds of prey like eagles and hawks can often get extra coverage when you’re out hawking or hunting.
What coverage can I get for my reptile?
Reptile insurance can cover your lizard, snake or turtle. Reptiles can live much longer than dogs or cats, so they might need longer term coverage, as well as coverage for illnesses that are unusual or difficult to diagnose.
What’s not covered?
Exclusions depend on the type of policy and insurer you choose. Discount or payback plans may include more coverage like routine care, but standard policies exclude:
- Routine checkups or treatment
- Spaying or neutering
- Breeding or pregnancy
- Pre-existing medical conditions
- Dental care
What’s excluded with medical discount plans?
Most medical treatment is accepted under a medical discount plan, but it does forgo protection for:
- Outsourced lab and specialist work
- Take-home medications
- Pet food, storebought or prescribed
- Grooming
- Boarding
- Combining other discounts or pricing specials
Frequently Asked questions about exotic pet insurance
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