best pet insurance for bengal cats

Best Pet Insurance for Bengal Cats

  • August 1, 2023

As much as we dread the thought, there are times when your Bengal may need medical attention that is beyond the normal vet visits that you make. Often when this happens, we are struck with the harsh reality of just how much these medical bills can be. This is why it could be a good idea to consider getting pet insurance for your Bengal.

In this article, we will cover the following:

  • Reasons to Consider Getting Pet Insurance
  • How to Choose Pet Insurance
  • Our Top Choices for Pet Insurance

Reasons to Consider Getting Pet Insurance

Most of us treat our cats more than just pets, most of us treat them as part of the family. This is why when they get sick, we are willing to do anything we can to make sure we get the proper care.

This is where the questions arise; Is pet insurance worth buying? What are the benefits?

There are a variety of reasons why a lot of pet parents don’t buy pet insurance, but in the long run it turns out that often pet insurance is just as important as the insurance we get for ourselves.

Many pet insurance plans will reimburse over 80% of the vet bills and this often includes a lot of good packages that will make sure your Bengal lives a happy and long life.

Here are just a few reasons why getting pet insurance is a good idea:

  • Bengal Cats are Very Active – All cats are active, but Bengal cats are one of the most active breeds there are. That said, active breeds tend to play more and can end up getting hurt more often.
  • Peace of Mind – Like any insurance, pet insurance is something that can give you peace of mind because it helps to prepare you for any unfortunate event which might happen to your Bengal like accidents or illness. It also gives you the ability to choose the best medical treatment available for your cat.
  • Helps You Save Money – If you have pet insurance, it keeps you from having to dip into your family emergency fund or other savings. It actually could save you thousands of dollars of costs that are unexpected if your Bengal is severely hurt or has to have surgery.
  • Vet Costs are Rising – The average vet bills usually range in the $500 to $3,000 or more. Of course, it all depends on what’s wrong with your Bengal. While most vets say this rise in cost is the result of the development in new drugs and medical technology, a lot of pet parents simply can’t afford the cost. Because of this, too many pets are dying of illnesses or not getting proper medical care. Pet insurance can help with that.
  • Can Help You Find a Missing or Stolen Pet – A lot of pet insurance policies will cover the cost of advertising for your missing pet. They often will take the responsibility of covering a reward for returning your lost or stolen pet as well (within reason).
  • Offers Flexible Packages – When it comes to pet insurance, many of them offer flexible packages that fit your budget and individual needs. You can choose a yearly maximum package, deductible type, or reimbursement percentage for services like vet exams, therapies, surgeries, and more.
  • Some Cover Third-Party Liabilities – Many pet policies will cover third party liabilities that will help your get back some of the expenses that you may have had to pay out for any damage your pet may have done to someone’s property or any accidental injuries caused by your pet.

How to Choose Pet Insurance

It can be pretty challenging to shop for the right pet insurance for your Bengal. When you are shopping for pet insurance, here are a few important things you need to remember:

1) What does it cover? It’s important to know what a plan covers, such as accidents, illnesses, congenital and hereditary conditions and optional routine care as well.

  • Accidents – This would be common accidents like a broken leg or a bad cut. These should always be part of a plan. You also want to look for plans that will help pay for surgery if needed as there can be times when more serious physical problems occur and these are typically very costly.
  • Illnesses – This includes curable conditions along with chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, both should be covered.
  • Hereditary and Congenital Conditions – Examples of this are things like hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, glaucoma, cherry eye and more.
  • Routine Care – This is almost always offered at an additional price. This is what should help pay for preventive measures such as exams, blood work, dental cleanings, and vaccinations.

2) Coverage Levels – With vet costs rising it can sometimes make low coverage limits almost unrealistic. It’s important to pick a plan that covers all the true costs of any unexpected accident or illness.

3) What Deductibles to Choose? - By picking a higher deductible, it’s going to lower the monthly price for the plan, but this also means you will have higher out-of-pocket costs if something occurs. When you choose a lower deductible, it will raise your monthly payment, but the out-of-pocket cost is going to be reduced. It’s important to pick one that fits your budget and needs.

4) Reimbursement Plans – These types of plans are generally calculated in one of two different ways:

  • As straightforward percentage of the vet bill.
  • As a percentage of a benefit schedule that limits the amount the insurance company is willing to pay.

5) Look for Plans That Allow You To:

  • Visit any licensed vet you want
  • Visit emergency clinics even if it’s after hours
  • See a specialist

Our Top Choices for Pet Insurance

Since looking for pet insurance can be as confusing as looking for your own health insurance, we decided to check out a few of them for ourselves in order to come up with a short list that might help you narrow down your search for the best pet insurance for your Bengal cat.

All things considered and after our thorough review, we feel that Healthy Paws pet insurance is the best bet for anyone who owns a bengal.  

Below you will find more details about the top pet insurance companies that we believe could benefit you and your Bengal.

Healthypaws Pet Insurance

ABOUT: Healthypaws is an insurance company that is dedicated to making sure that pets get the care they need and making sure that what they offer their clients can afford and still get a package that fits their needs. They even offer separate dog and cat insurance plans for major unexpected events.

OUR RATING: 

PRICE: 

$$

POLICY FEATURES: They offer unlimited benefits with no per accident, annual or lifetime caps. They allow you to customize your out-of-pocket expenses by adjusting the insurance policy’s co-pay at 10%, 20%, or 30% along with deductible choices of $100, $250, or $500 right when you sign up. They also have a lot fewer coverage exclusions than some other insurance companies. As long as you keep your payments on time, claims never seem to get denied.

Their plans cover:

  • Surgeries
  • Hospitalization
  • Cancer and other chronic illnesses
  • Prescription medications

PROS:  They have an annual deductible instead of a per incident deductible. Offer unlimited lifetime coverage. Pricing is competitive. Your pet will be covered in the United States or Canada. Claims are easy to submit and reimbursements are done quickly.

CONS:  Vet exam fees or behavioral therapies are not covered. There are age restrictions. If your pet is older than six years old you are required to have a vet exam within 30 days of enrollment. They don’t offer a wellness plan.

Pets Best

ABOUT: They were founded in 2005 by Dr. Jack Stephens, considered to be the “father” of the pet insurance industry in all of North America. He originally started his first pet insurance company in 1981 after he realized that people needed a way to be financially prepared for any unexpected vet care. Pets Best is made up of pet owners and pet lovers that have veterinary backgrounds and are also involved in animal rescues.

OUR RATING: 

PRICE: 

$$

POLICY FEATURES: • The accident only plan covers broken bones, car accidents, lacerations, poisoning, and foreign object ingestion that ends up in surgery. Accident and illness covers all the above and includes treatment of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, allergies, ligament injuries, skin and ear infections, urinary tract infections, and epilepsy. It also covers hereditary and congenital conditions, cancer treatments, emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, ongoing chronic conditions, prescriptions, diagnostics, behavior conditions, dental, prosthetic devices, travel coverage, and euthanasia.

They also offer wellness plans that cover:

  • Exams
  • Teeth cleaning
  • Vaccinations
  • Other routine preventative measures.

PROS:  There are no lifetime limits on any of their plans. They have good pricing. Claim payments are done quickly usually in less than five days. They give a 5% discount for multiple pets. They have no age limits.

CONS:  There is a six-month waiting period for CCL (cranial cruciate ligament) injuries. There is a 14-day waiting period or Illness and Routine Care plans and three days for the accident plan.

PetPlan

ABOUT: PetPlan prides themselves on being different than the rest of the pet insurance companies and this is why they include reimbursements for the cost of vet exam fees, dental coverage, and hereditary conditions in their standard policies. They also feel it’s important that pet parents are well educated and offer resources to help educate their policy holders.

OUR RATING: 

PRICE: 

$$$

POLICY FEATURES:  Their cat insurance plan covers accidents, injuries, and illnesses.

This includes:

  • Full coverage of hereditary and chronic conditions that your cat might have. There are no hidden limits.
  • The full cost of vet exams is reimbursed
  • They cover dental treatments
  • MRIs, CAT scan, and ultrasound, diagnostic treatments
  • Prescription medications
  • Cancer treatments
  • Surgery and rehabilitation
  • Alternative therapies
  • Policy holders also receive their monthly publication “fetch!”, a PetPlan mobile app and access to their PetCoach website where they can get answers to important health questions from veterinary experts.

PROS:  Their plans are customizable and the monthly cost can be adjusted based on the coverage amount, deductible and reimbursement choices. Claims are paid quickly within 5 to 14 days.

CONS:  There have been recent policy holder complaints that the prices have gone up drastically. It’s required you have to take your Bengal to the vet within 48 hours of noticing any symptoms for coverage to apply. No wellness plans are offered.

Embrace

ABOUT: They pride themselves on their top-quality customer service and their genuine care for pets and their pet parents. They believe it’s important that their policy holders be able to personalize the insurance plan they want for their pet to fit their budget. They offer annual maximum, annual deductible, and reimbursement percentage coverage plans in order to try and find the right price for each individual client.

OUR RATING: 

PRICE: 

$$

POLICY FEATURES:  Pets covered by Embrace can visit any vet their pet parents want to take them to.

Their coverage includes:

  • Breed specific conditions
  • Cancer treatment
  • Chronic conditions
  • Congenital conditions
  • Diagnostic imaging and testing
  • Specialist and ER care
  • Surgery, hospitalization, and nursing care
  • Rehabilitation and alternative therapies
  • Prescription medications
  • Behavioral therapy

PROS:  There are no per incident limits on their claims. No lifetime limits. They offer optional wellness plans. Plans are quite affordable. Claims are paid within 5 to 15 days. No extra waiting period for CCL surgery or hip dysplasia.

CONS:  The require a two day wait period for accidents. There’s a 14-day waiting period for the illness coverage to kick in and a six-month waiting period for any orthopedic conditions. Will only cover pets 14 years and under for accident and illness insurance. Coverage for prescription medications does cost extra. There’s no unlimited claims options.

After looking over theses four different pet insurance companies, we came to the conclusion that the one we feel is our favorite out of the four is Healthy Paws. The reason that we believe that this is the best out of the four is that it seems to meet more of the important criteria that we feel Bengal pet parents are looking for.

Even though all four of these plans have a lot of their own great features, we believe if you are looking for an insurance that gives you a lot of choices and price ranges to fit your needs and budget, Healthy Paws seems to be the one that does that. In the end however, the choice is up to you and what you feel you need and can afford.

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