The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) just released the Top 10 Claims list of 2013 gathered from proprietary data in its State of the Industry Benchmarking Report.
Dogs:
$40,606 Hip Dysplasia - 3-year-old female Border Collie Cross
$36,485 Pleural Effusion (build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lung) - 1-year-old male Rottweiler
$29,173 Insulinoma; Post-Op Pancreatitis / Biliary Obstruction - 7-year-old male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
$27,142 Toxic Myelodysplasia (serious blood condition) - 8-year-old female Beagle
$25,442 Spay Complication / Systemic Infection - 1-year-old female mixed breed
Cats:
$17,685 Inflammatory Bowel Disease - 6-year-old male Siamese Cross
$16,704 Acute Renal Failure Syndrome (failure of the kidneys) - 10-year-old male Domestic Shorthair
$16,552 Hypoglycemia Crisis With Seizures - 3-year-old male mixed breed
$10,000 Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) - 12-year-old male Domestic Shorthair
$7,000 Sarcoma (cancer) - 12-year-old female Domestic Shorthair
“A lot of people would never imagine their dog could run up a vet bill as high as the cost of a luxury car,” says Kristen Lynch, Executive Director of the North American Pet Health Association (NAPHIA). “And if so, would they believe you could get coverage that would pay for it?”
But it really does happen—and insurance companies are there for pet owners when it does. Having pet health insurance means making the best choice for your pet’s care won’t come down to finances, she adds.
“Through our benchmarking initiative, we know that member companies pay out millions of claims each year,” says NAPHIA President Dennis Rushovich, “…for problems both large and small.” While typical claims are for less serious issues like urinary tract infections, respiratory problems or ear infections, Rushovich says, “It’s important to remember that treatments and claims come in all sizes, just like our pets.”
For those who believe their cat or dog will never be affected by a serious health condition or accident, Rushovich says, “Think again,” adding, “It’s not out of the realm of possibility that every pet will have at least one major illness in its lifetime.” With pet health insurance, responsible pet owners know they’re prepared.
Other interesting Industry Facts
- There are currently more than 1 million pets insured in North America
- 876,441 dogs are insured by NAPHIA member policies
- 157,542 cats are insured by NAPHIA member policies
Pet Insurance Really Does Pay: North America's Top 10 Claims
