1. Chelsea Albert Cory Dobkins Josh Bowman Ross Cable

2. Introduction of Pet Insurance The cost for medical care for pets is rising as fast as the cost for medical care for humans This is helping boost the sales of pet insurance

3. Different Designs There is a rapidly growing array of policy designs Designs range from high-deductible designs to coverage of alternative-medicine treatments Some policies focus on accidents and illnesses Other policies include wellness checkups and shots Insurance also now covers hereditary conditions

4. More Policy Designs Some policies pay flat amounts for various treatments. Some policies pay a percentage of the vet bills Some policies limit payouts to a percentage of what they consider “usual and customary” fees, which may be lower than what the vet charges.

5. Limitations and Premiums Pet insurance often places strict limitations on how much it will pay. Insurance will not cover pre-existing health conditions, inborn conditions, behavioral modification, or pregnancy- related costs. Premiums vary from around $10 a month to $75 a month Premium level is dependent on the richness of the plan, your location, and your animal’s breed and age.

6. Increased Spending on Veterinary Care This year pet owners are expected to spend around $12.2 billion for veterinary care That is $11.1 billion more than last year and $8.2 billion more than five years ago.

7. Reasons for Increased Spending The reason for the increase spending is because complex procedures used for people are now being used for animals These expensive procedures include chemotherapy, dialysis, acupuncture, and chiropractic

8. Increase in Pets Insured Currently, around a million U.S. pets are insured This number is growing about 10% a year. This is still just a tiny fraction of all the pets. About 90% of the insured are dogs, about 10% are cats, and a small percentage are other animals including hedgehogs, snakes, turtles and geckos.

9. Many Different Pet Insurance Companies Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) the is biggest U.S. pet- insurance company. VPI is a unit of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. Other competitors include Pets Best LLC, Petplan Inc., Embrace Pet Insurance Agency LLC and Trupanion, a unit of Vetinsurance International Inc.

10. Why Get Pet Insurance? Some pet insurance holders claim they have their pets insured because of quality-of-life issues. Others claim they purchased pet insurance because they don’t want financial concerns to guide decisions about their pets’ care. Pet insurance gives the owner peace of mind that they would have some financial help if something were to happen to their pet.

11. Workplace Benefits Some consumers may be able to purchase pet insurance through their workplace. Around 19% of employers offer the policies as a voluntary benefit These companies include Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

12. Tips When Considering Pet Insurance Start Early!! Start shopping around for insurance policies while the pet is still young and healthy. Do research. Review pet insurance Web sites to find individual pet insurance firms and premium quotes. Look at what you will have to spend out of your own pocket if your pet gets injured or ill.