Oregon (OR) Pet Insurance FAQs

What is pet insurance and why do I need it in Oregon?

If you want to fully protect your pet with an insurance plan, you will need to apply for a policy with a pet insurance company and begin paying a premium each month to keep the plan active. In the event of an illness or accident with your pet, you are usually expected to pay the veterinary bill in full, and submit a claim to your insurer afterwards to receive a reimbursement. When applying for a policy, it’s important to remember that many pet insurance companies like to exclude various pre-existing conditions when providing coverage. This is a particularly good reason to insure your pet as soon as they have reached 8 weeks of age or are still in the kitten stage.

pet insurance is extremely valuable in Oregon. The price tag for veterinary care can be surprisingly expensive, specifically for certain conditions like cancer where treatment costs can reach well over $10,000. pet owners lacking insurance could be confronted with the tragic decision to put their pet down simply because the cost of treatment is too high. Pet insurance is necessary to prevent outcomes like this.

How old does my kitten need to be to get insured?

While many pet insurance companies require that your puppy or kitten be at least 8 weeks old before you can sign them up for an insurance plan, most of them do not have age limits for their pet insurance policies. Since younger animals are often less expensive to insure, we suggest applying for a pet insurance plan before their first birthday.

How important is pet insurance in Oregon?

An illness or accident involving your pet is often unavoidable, and the vet bills associated with treatment can quickly pile up. Pet owners have found themselves spending $3,000 or more for an emergency vet visit at some point in their pet’s life. You will have to determine whether a monthly insurance premium outweighs the possibility of paying out of pocket for expensive vet bills.

What is included with pet insurance and what is excluded?

Although the coverage options provided by each pet insurance company will vary, generally, any illness or accident involving your pet will be covered by your policy unless expressly excluded. Any “sudden and catastrophic” ailment is included in this coverage, such as broken bones, eye infections, swallowing a tennis ball, or allergies. However, if your pet has been diagnosed with cancer before you apply for pet insurance, this would be considered a pre-existing condition and would not be covered by your policy or eligible for claims. Some pet insurance companies also provide wellness packages, an add-on to traditional accident and illness coverage that can help you afford the cost of routine pet visits like check-ups, vaccinations, and heartworm prevention.

How does reimbursement work?

Suppose you’ve signed up for a pet insurance policy that offers a 90% reimbursement amount with a $250 deductible, along with a $20,000 annual max benefit. If your pet experienced an illness or accident that needed a $10,000 emergency vet surgery, your insurance provider would reimburse you $9,000 minus your $250 deductible. As a result, you would only have to pay $1,250 out of pocket instead of the full $10,000. Trupanion is one pet insurance provider that will make payments directly to vets in their network, so you will never have to wait for a reimbursement.

Should I have a lower deductible? Where is the sweet spot?

A low insurance deductible normally results in a higher monthly premium, but a higher premium means you won’t be paying as much out of pocket when your pet needs to see a vet. Plenty of insurance providers offer a simple-to-use calculator when receiving a quote, so you can easily do the math yourself and determine which deductible works best for you and your budget. We have seen that most people choose a $250 or $500 deductible.

5 Useful Strategies for Keeping Your Pet Safe & Healthy in Oregon

1. Outdoor dangers

Oregon hosts many different kinds of wildlife, some of them being predators of smaller animals like pets. Your pet can easily scale fences and escape your yard, putting them at risk of attacks when they venture out too far. To protect your kitty from any potential dangers, it is best to keep them indoors unless they are restrained by a leash or enclosure while outside.

2. Cat scratching

Cats have an instinct to scratch things for many reasons: to remove the outer sheath on their nails. This is good for the health of their nails, but it can be detrimental to your furniture or other surfaces in your home if they don’t have a proper place to do this. Corrugated cardboard or a scratching post with woven sisal are both great alternatives to your couch as a pet scratching spot.

3. pets and wildlife

Over 25% of Oregon’s bird species are experiencing a decline, with pets being a secondary threat to bird health. Not only can your pet become a menace to smaller animals if left outside unattended, they can also contract diseases from eating sick birds. Keeping your pet inside, on a leash, or in an enclosure is the best way to protect their health as well as these tiny creatures.

4. Microchips

pets are quick and stealthy, giving them an advantage when they try to sneak outside. If your pet ever ran off and got lost, a microchip would be especially helpful in reuniting you with them. This tiny device that is placed under their skin can be read at a shelter or vet and reveal that your pet belongs to you.

5. Wildfires

Wildfires are unfortunately common in Oregon, and the smoke can impact animals just like it does humans. During wildfire season, it’s important to keep your pet indoors, even if they have an enclosure. The smoke in the air can harm their tiny lungs significantly.

Conclusion

Finding the perfect insurance for your pet is now easier than ever. Signing up for a plan while your pet is still a puppy or kitten guarantees you will find the lowest prices on policies without coverage restrictions on things like pre-existing conditions. No matter what age your pet may be, insurance can help you cover the cost for an accident, illness, or just a routine check-up.

Ready to get started? After countless hours of research, we’ve found that Lemonade pet insurance consistently performs the best with the lowest monthly premiums.

SwiftScore Ranking Methodology for Oregon (OR) Pets

We ranked the best pet insurance policies for Oregon (OR) Pets based on a variety of important factors including the following:

• Average monthly price for a 2-year-old Oregon (OR) Pet with a $500 deductible located in the 97229 zip code (Please note: prices will vary greatly based on your location)
• Coverage and benefits
• Key policy details including accidents and illnesses, surgeries, annual check-ups, cancer treatment, lab tests, and more
• AM Best rating of the underwriter
• Reimbursement percentage
• Annual benefit amount
• Technology and user experience
• Ease of sign up
• Policy language clarity
• User reviews

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