PetFirst Pet Insurance launches revamped websiteJuly 6, 2018PetFirst Pet Insurance has launched a redesigned website, which the company says offers easier navigation and a more customer-focused interface. "We wanted to focus on the customer and making sure their experience as easy as possible, regardless if it was buying a policy, acting on an existing one, or using our customer service tools," said Katie Blakeley, CEO of PetFirst. The company's updated website includes a new policy quoting tool, as well as detailed customer reviews and links to resources for animal health recommendations, breed guides, and more. Pet insurance is a continuously growing industry. At year-end 2017, nearly 2.07 million pets were insured across North America, representing an increase of 16.8 percent from 2016, reports the North American Pet Insurance Association.
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Petplan releases Pet Insurance 101 guideJune 14, 2018Petplan pet insurance data shows that one in three pets will need emergency veterinary care each year, and with average costs in the thousands of dollars (see "Petplan's top 10 most common claims and costs" below), pet insurance can be more beneficial than a savings account, which may not have enough money to cover the most common ailments. Some pet owners may be aware of pet insurance, but they may not understand how it can help keep pets healthy and budgets intact. Written specifically to help pet owners understand the growing pet insurance industry, Petplan's Pet Insurance 101 guide is available now at insurance.gopetplan.com/pet-insurance-101. The free guide walks pet owners through a pet insurance personality quiz and a checklist to determine what kind of pet coverage best suits their pets' needs. Facts, figures, and FAQs provide benchmarks to help consumers make the best choice for their unique situation. "About 95 percent of pet parents consider their pets to be part of the family,"* said Keith Guse, Petplan's director of content. "Even though two million cats and dogs are protected by pet insurance in North America, it's estimated that 99 percent of pets are still uninsured.** We created …
Report: NAPHIA finds pet insurance continues to riseMay 11, 2018 North America's pet health insurance sector saw continued growth in 2017, with the total number of pets insured in the U.S. and Canada hitting more than 2 million, according to a report released by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). The numbers demonstrate a 16.8 percent increase in insured pets when compared to statistics from 2016. "While we have seen steady growth since 2013, this double-digit increase is well ahead of the just over 11 percent growth in 2016," said Tim Graff, chair of NAPHIA's benchmarking working group. According to the report, there are 1.83 million dogs and cats insured across the U.S., representing 17.5 percent growth when compared to 2016, and 244,000 in Canada, showing 11.1 percent growth. Of those insured, 98 percent were covered through either an accident & illness plan or an insurance plan with embedded wellness; only 2 percent were covered through accident only plans. In regard to premiums, pets covered through accident and illness plans averaged an annual premium of $516 USD per pet in the U.S. and $603 CAD in Canada; those covered through accident-only plans averaged annual premiums of $181 USD in the U.S. and $217 CAD in Canada. …
Pet insurer Nationwide reveals annual cost of common health conditionsMarch 15, 2018Nationwide members spent more than $96 million in veterinary care last year to treat the top 10 most common medical conditions affecting their dogs and cats, according to the pet health insurer. Based on more than 1.4 million pet insurance claims submitted to the company last year for more than 650,000 insured pets, Nationwide has identified the top 10 medical conditions affecting dogs and cats (and their associated costs). Top 10 most common medical conditions for dogs Atopic or allergic dermatitis – average cost to treat: $255 Otitis externa – average cost to treat: $172 Benign skin neoplasia – average cost to treat: $377 Pyoderma – average cost to treat: $128 Enteropathy – average cost to treat: $175 Gastropathy Degenerative arthritis Periodontitis/Tooth infection – average cost to treat: $400 Cystitis or urinary tract infection Anal gland sacculitis/Expression Top 10 most common medical conditions for cats Cystitis or urinary tract disease – average cost to treat: $495 Periodontitis/Tooth infection – average cost to treat: $434 Gastropathy – average cost to treat: $334 Renal disease or failure – average cost to treat: $649 Enteropathy – average cost to treat: $221 Hyperthyroidism Feline upper respiratory infection Diabetes mellitus …
The positive potential of pet insuranceFebruary 12, 2018Nearly 1.8 million pets were insured in North America by the end of 2016, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA). The United States accounts for about 1.6 million of insured pets. This represents an annual growth rate of 11.5 percent compared to the prior year … and studies show that these figures are climbing.
Nationwide annual 2017 Hambone Award voting underwaySeptember 21, 2017After reviewing nearly 1.5 million pet insurance claims received over the past year, Nationwide has nominated 12 candidates for the 2017 Hambone Award. Each year, the pet health insurer combs its database of more than 600,000 insured pets to honor the most "Unusual Pet Insurance Claim of the Year." The winner will be decided after a public voting period of Sept. 21 – Oct. 4. Originally named after a dog who ate an entire Thanksgiving ham while stuck in a refrigerator, the annual Hambone Award has since been given to the most bizarre medical claim each year since 2009. In addition, the veterinary practice that treated this year's Hambone Award winner will receive a $10,000 Nationwide-funded award through the Veterinary Care Foundation to treat pets whose owners could not otherwise afford treatment. From the dog who was impaled by a tree branch to the cat who fell down an abandoned well, each of the 12 nominees have uniquely harrowing tales. All nominated pets have made full recoveries and received Nationwide insurance reimbursements for eligible veterinary expenses. Below are brief summaries of the 12 unusual claims nominated for the 2017 Hambone Award. For a more detailed account of each story, photos of the …
Petplan, National Police Dog Foundation announce first grant award recipientsSeptember 18, 2017Petplan and the National Police Dog Foundation (NPDF) announced the winners of the inaugural K-9 Health Insurance Grant, a joint effort between the Newtown Square, Pa., pet insurer and the Foundation, awards one year of pet insurance to five currently active police dogs throughout the U.S. The winning grant recipients are: Reximus, a 3-year-old German shepherd dog with the Nome Police Department in Alaska. ' handler, started the K-9 program at the Nome Police Department after many years without a K-9 unit. Reximus specializes in narcotics detection and is the only four-legged officer in all of Western Alaska. "I've been paying for Reximus' veterinary care, including airfare for emergency transport, with the understanding it may not be reimbursed," Timm said on his grant application. With his new Petplan policy, 90 percent of Reximus' unexpected veterinary expenses will be covered. Rudy, a 2-year-old German shepherd dog/Belgian malinois mix with the Upland Police Department in California Rudy's K-9 team is funded primarily through donations from the public (the city covers vehicle upkeep and the handlers' salaries only). The Petplan/NPDF grant will allow the Upland PD to maximize existing funds and put future donations toward …
Insurance group announces first companion horse health coverageJune 7, 2017Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group of Akron, Ohio, has launched veterinary care insurance for companion horses. Policies will be underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Co. and produced by C&F Insurance Agency Inc., a Crum & Forster company.
Veterinary survey says pet insurance is a practice boonMay 13, 2017When pet owners carry pet health insurance, it is a win for them, their pets and veterinarian caretakers; pet insurance can be a hard sell but veterinarians can prove the difference, according to John Volk, senior consultant, Brakke Consulting, a Dallas-based animal health and veterinary practice management consulting firm.
Why pet insurance is a win for vets and petsMarch 28, 2017Europe loves pet health insurance. North America? Not so much. Even though the North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s latest survey showed record growth in the number of insured pets—1.6 million as of 2015—that accounts for less than 1 percent of the total population of owned dogs and cats in the United States and Canada.
