Health insurance for buns?

[ErinF]

I’ve been told that Nationwide offers a policy that covers rabbits (I’m in the US). Do other folks have health insurance for their buns? Find it to be worth it?

[GlennTheLionhead]

Hey. I am UK based. We also have rabbit insurance here and it literally is a life saver. My buns have been able ti have life saving treatments I would not have been able to afford otherwise.

I would recommend insurance if you don’t have savings or a heafty income your willing to sacrifice for sudden illness.

Rabbits are known for being somewhat sickly pets sometimes due to their digestive systems and ability to get ill from something as simple as stress.

[EliseTonyGio]

Hi Erin! I am so glad that you suggested Nationwide. I have been looking for pet insurance for my little bun and was unable to find any. But, I just called Nationwide (844)-244-3691 and enrolled me & my bunny in insurance! It is $50 a month and does not cover pre-existing conditions. They did say on the phone that they are the only national insurance offering pet insurance for bunnies. Thank goodness someone is and thank you for bringing this up!

[ErinF]

Thank you both! You gave me the nudge I needed to call and at least seriously look into it further. It’s helpful to have an idea of the cost going in. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed to use the company’s name on here, but the rabbit rescue that told me that also said Nationwide was the only one. I’m glad that helped get you and your sweet bun connected!

[RabbitPam]

Hi, I saw this and was hoping someone had found one besides Nationwide, but no luck. I’d called a half dozen other companies that offered pet insurance about 6 months ago, named by my vet, but they are only for dogs and cats. Nationwide is the only one for bunnies. They had very low premiums for years (I won’t say-you’ll feel badly) but only 50% coverage. Now, I pay what you do with about 95% coverage after the deductible. It is a lot for young bunnies, but you do want to establish yourself with them to avoid the pre-existing issue. It is totally worth it for full adults, especially senior bunnies. A gastric blockage can happen at any age and is serious. Teeth can get wonky young, but seniors get arthritis etc and the care is very expensive once something goes wrong. I’ve used it many times with my 2 prior pets and now Spike. It allows you to say Yes to the treatments your vet wants to do. Most vets stick to what’s necessary. Spike is now 8 and I’m relieved to have the insurance. Btw, call an adult around 2 years old and a senior about 5 and up. One day we’ll find a competitive company. Hope this helps.

[Bam]

I’m not in the USA, but I’ve always had insurance for my buns. It’s pretty much not feasible to be without it here. It’s been a huge help. My insurance covers 80% after the deductible, but there are none that cover more.

 

[LBJ10]

I haven’t personally used pet insurance. I guess it depends on what your vet charges, which can vary A LOT depending on where you live.

 

ETA: My Spikey Marbles is NOT old enough to have arthritis.

[DanaNM]

Personally I don’t do pet insurance anymore because with four rabbits and my cat it would be over 300 per month and I know that I’m not spending 3600 per year on vet bills normally. I know an emergency can wrack up a huge bill though. The one time I had something go wrong with my cat it wasn’t covered. I think the options in the UK are better, because the US option also doesn’t cover dental issues for rabbits, which is a common issue and one of the things that did cost a lot in vet bills with Moose.

I have enough credit that I mentally keep track of how much I would have paid in insurance over the years and don’t feel bad about putting big vet bills on my credit card if something huge happens. Before I had a decent amount of credit (like when I first got my cat) I did think it was really important to have insurance though! I also think with dogs it’s really important to have insurance because they are ALWAYS getting into trouble!

This is a long-winded way of saying make sure to look carefully at what is covered and what’s not when deciding whether it’s worth it for you.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[LBJ10]

Dana, that’s very true. Somethings the costs outweigh the benefits. And if something major isn’t covered, then it may not be worth it.

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