In the course of our pets’ lives, being responsible pet parents is essential, and this includes providing our pets with veterinary care when need be. However, veterinary costs can get overwhelming, especially in the event of pet emergencies. As pet parents, how do we ensure our pet’s overall health, wellness, and safety without leaving our wallets empty along the way?
Pet insurance and its alternatives may come to mind when it comes to making sure that our pets are given the proper veterinary care that they need as well as in choosing cost effective solutions in taking care of our pets. There are several pet insurances and alternatives to choose from, and it can get confusing to decide which one would be best for our pet. However, understanding the different terms and conditions as well as how they would benefit our pet’s specific case may help us determine which one to choose.
According to Dr. Philippa Pavia, VP of medical strategy at Bond Vet in New York, there are some who prefer setting aside money instead of having to pay a monthly premium, while others prefer having the peace of mind knowing that money will be ready in case they need it for their pet.
Below, we’ll be comparing two among the notable pet insurances (and its alternatives) - Petcube Emergency Fund & Costco’sy Figo Pet Insurance.
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Content:
- What is Covered By The Insurance
- What is Not Covered By The Insurance
- How Many Pets Can Be Insured
- What is The Waiting Period for Insurance
- How Much Does Insurance Cost
- How to Cancel Pet Insurance
- Conclusion
What is Covered By The Insurance
Depending on our concerns as pet parents regarding the coverage of the pet insurance, we may ask questions like: “Does pet insurance cover spaying?” “Is there pet insurance that covers vaccines?” and “Does pet insurance cover surgery?”, among many other questions. Below, we compare what is covered in Petcube Emergency Fund vs. Costco Pet Insurance / Figo.
Petcube Emergency Fund
Pet emergencies are covered regardless of age, breed, or medical history. Note, however, that all emergencies are evaluated on a case level by their certified vets.
Among the emergencies covered are:
- Foreign body ingestion
- Major trauma, broken bones
- Difficulty breathing, coughing
- Ingestion of toxins
- Insect or sting
- Vomiting or diarrhea
Costco Pet Insurance
The pet insurance covers unplanned and unexpected injuries, accidents, and illnesses. Below is a more specific list:
- Illnesses
- Accidents
- Congenital and hereditary conditions
- Diagnostics and laboratory testing
- Chronic conditions
- Cancer treatments
- Non-routine dental treatments
- Intravenous medications and fluids (IV)
- Alternative and holistic treatments
- Prescription medications
- Boarding, surgery, and hospitalization
- Orthopedic devices and prosthetics
- Euthanasia (upon the recommendation of a licensed vet)
- Cremation and burial expenses
To cover vet visit fees, an optional add-on to the base coverage can be purchased.
Read more: Petcube Emergency Fund vs Spot Pet Insurance
What is Not Covered By The Insurance
Petcube Emergency Fund
These are not covered by the Petcube Emergency Fund:
- Scheduled appointments
- Scheduled surgeries
- Regular check-ups
- Wellness visits
- Pregnancy issues
- Parvovirus
Costco Pet Insurance
Costco Pet Insurance doesn’t cover the following:
- Pre-existing conditions (exception: if the condition is considered curable, having no symptoms of the condition within 12 months since it was last treated)
- Spaying or neutering
- Treatments due to complications from breeding/pregnancy/nursing
- Organ transplants
- Experimental procedures
- Dietary foods, vitamins, and supplements
- Procedures associated with cloning pets
- Elective / cosmetic procedures (e.g. declawing, tail docking, grooming, ear cropping)
- Treatments for pets that are neglected or intentionally injured (by you or any of your immediate family)
- Preventative check-ups, vaccines, microchipping, etc.
Meanwhile, some that aren’t covered may be purchased as an add-on, with extra charge.
Read more: Petcube Emergency Fund vs Pawp Pet Insurance
How Many Pets Can Be Insured
If you have more than one pet, you might be wondering if there’s pet insurance for multiple pets. Let us compare how the following plans cater to the number of pets you may have.
Petcube Emergency Fund
The Pet Emergency Fund protects upto 6 pets during pet emergencies.
Costco Pet Insurance
With Figo, Costco’s pet insurance, multiple pets can be insured. Note, however, that 1 policy = 1 pet.
What is The Waiting Period for Insurance
How long does it take before you can use the funds in a pet insurance? Is there a pet insurance with no waiting period?
Almost all pet insurances have a waiting period for companies to assess your pet. Below are the waiting periods of the Petcube Emergency Fund and Figo Pet Insurance.
Petcube Emergency Fund
After signing up for the Emergency Fund, there is a mandatory 14-day waiting period before the funds can be used. Meanwhile, if you cancel and then renew your subscription in the future, the renewed subscription will also be subject to a 14-day waiting period.
Costco Pet Insurance
For accidents, the waiting period is 1 day (or 3 days in AK, CO, FL, ID, MO, NJ, NY, UT and WA) after enrollment. Meanwhile, illnesses have a waiting period of 14 days. The longest waiting period is for orthopedic conditions, taking 6 full months.
Read more: Petcube Emergency Fund vs ASPCA Pet Insurance
How Much Does Insurance Cost
Petcube Emergency Fund
The cost of Petcube’s Pet Emergency Fund is $29/month. Plus, blog readers can enjoy a 27% discount on their subscriptions by using this exclusive link.
Costco Pet Insurance
The cost of Costco’s Pet Insurance (Figo) widely varies depending on your location, the coverage limits that you choose, as well as your pet’s species, breed, and age. You can refer to this to get an idea of how much it would cost.
How to Cancel Pet Insurance
Petcube Emergency Fund
To cancel your subscription, you may contact Petcube’s support team via email at support@petcube.com to guide you through the process. Note, however, that once you cancel your subscription, you will lose all access to your Emergency Fund.
Costco Pet Insurance
To cancel your Costco pet insurance, you may contact Figo’s custoner service team via email at support@figopetinsurance.com.
All cancelations should be written. If the cancellation is made in the policy’s first 30 days, a full refund of the premium amount will be given, provided that no claim has been submitted yet. If cancellation is made after the 1st 30 days of the policy, the effectivity will start on the date of the written request for cancellation, where a pro-rata amount of the premium that you paid will be refunded, which may be subject to any state rules or regulations that may apply.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a pet insurance or pet insurance alternative for your pet, getting to know all its features, benefits, and limitations is important. According to Dr. Pavia, considering the coverage, premium costs, deductibles, limitations, and exclusions would help. Reading user reviews as well as consulting with your vet may go a long way in making an informed decision.