So you have a brand new pet and you’re wondering do you really need Pug pet insurance? I’m going to share why you should definitely consider it and what I wish I would’ve done differently with my black Pug.
Pugs are prone to several health issues and having the right insurance can help you save up to 90% on vet bills. The best time to get health insurance for your pet is when they are healthy puppies because you’ll have lower premiums.
Is Pug Insurance Worth It?
Owning a pet is expensive, and I’ve talked about the costs in this post. The last thing you want to do is spend money on dog insurance. You might even think that you can’t afford it, but let me tell you, it’s definitely worth looking into.
*This page contains affiliate links to products I recommend. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you
Don’t worry, I am going to share some tips on finding the best pet insurance for Pugs. I’m also going to share why I think it’s extremely important for every pet owner to have some type of insurance.
If you’ve never bought pet insurance before, here’s a great guide to show you what to look for. Plus, I’ve done my own due diligence to share with you, but first.
A Quick Story
As you know, I had Mindy my black Pug for over 15 years. We tried being responsible pet owners and had pet insurance for her when she was a baby. However, we ended up having some financial difficulties and had to cut corners.
At that time Mindy was about 5 years old and hadn’t had any issues. We figured, why should we continue paying for a pet insurance plan when we weren’t really using it.
So we let it go and didn’t think anything about it. However, as she got older, Mindy started having some health issues and we couldn’t afford to pay those expensive vet bills.
That meant that we weren’t able to take her to the vet as often as we should have. Yes, she lived 16 years and was in good overall health, but I have no doubt that her last year with us would’ve been better had we been able to take her in for her routine checkups.
You might not think that having pet insurance is necessary, but it is. The average cost of a vet visit can cost you anywhere from $50 – $250 for specialists and emergency visits.
Most people don’t have that type of disposable income lying around. There are companies like Embrace Pet insurance that help you save on these costly bills.
They have reasonable premiums and you’ll feel a lot better knowing your best friend is protected with the right coverage.
How to Find The Best Pet Insurance for Pugs?
Finding the right insurance takes some due diligence. There are several things that you need to look at when shopping for Pug dog insurance. Here are some things you need to consider when shopping for the best coverage for your dog.
What Is Covered?
Most health care plans will cover things like illnesses, accidents, and hereditary conditions. As a pet owner, you want to make sure that behavioral issues fall into the coverage as well.
Just like our health insurance plans, not all of them are equal. Make sure you shop around to find the right balance of price and value. A cheap plan isn’t always going to help your pet get the medical attention they need.
How Does It Work?
Pet insurance helps pet owners save on veterinary costs when your dog gets injured or sick. Most plans are paid on a monthly schedule and cost a few hundred dollars a year. By paying a premium, it all enables pet owners to get reimbursed on most medical costs. (most insurances do not cover pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures, and breeding costs)
Like normal health insurance, the policyholder will be required to pay a small portion of the bill and your pet insurance company will pay the remainder. Some veterinarians will require you to pay the entire bill and get reimbursed by the insurance company.
You’ll definitely want to make sure you check out the policy to find out how it works and how long it takes to get reimbursed.
What Are Your Deductibles?
Does it have any type of limitations? Is the incident limit a lifetime limit or does it get renewed every year? Are you being reimbursed out of a fee schedule? As a pet owner, it’s up to you to find the best structure benefit payments, you can start with Embrace Pets free insurance quote.
Most of all, make sure that you’re getting the best plan you can afford to keep and provides your Pug with the health care coverage they need.
Read The Fine Print
It’s so easy to overlook the simple things like the diagnosis and treatment fees and the vet office fee. Make sure you find out if they are covered. You also want to make sure that the prescriptions and medications your Pug will need are covered.
Companies have their own policies, so make sure that you take your time and do your due diligence before choosing one.
When Should You Buy Insurance?
The best time to get insurance for your pet is when they are a puppy. You’ll find the lowest premiums when your dog is the healthiest. Most pet insurance plans will won’t offer general medical coverage for senior Pugs. Most companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, so by the time your Pug develops something, it may be too late for coverage.
Do They Offer Preventative Coverage?
As a responsible Pug owner, you’ll be taking your pet to their preventative check-ups such as dental cleanings, flea/heartworm prevention, and etc. Make sure that you get cash back for these types of services.
Even if you don’t think this coverage is necessary, make sure you choose a company that offers reimbursement for them. You may end up changing your mind when you get your first pug vet bill.
Can You Customize Your Plan?
Reputable insurance companies will allow you to tailor your plan to fit your budget and needs. This means you’ll be able to choose the amount of the deductibles and annual limits you want to pay.
Say you want to get reimbursed more each year, you’ll choose a higher annual limit plan. If you’re on a budget, you can choose a plan with a lower annual amount.
Is It A Reputable Company?
You don’t want to buy pet insurance from some local unknown provider. Instead, you want a company that will be around for the life of your Pug. Of course, you will never know if a company will be around that long, but if you choose a reputable company, you’ll have a better chance of being able to rely on them for the long haul.
How Much Does Pug Dog Insurance Cost?
Most people will base their opinion solely on the cost of the premium. However, this isn’t the best way to buy any type of insurance. You might be surprised at how much you can end up paying and the insurance doesn’t cover.
I’ve done some due diligence for you to see what a Pug owner can expect to pay for their pet insurance. Of course, these prices will vary according to the area you live in, the health of your pet and various other factors.
Pug Vet Bill Costs
Every breed comes with their own set of health issues. Unfortunately, a Pug is no different. Purebred Pugs are known to struggle with their own health issues that can cost quite a bit.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the issues your Pug can suffer from as well as the cost of treatment.
| Condition | Risk Potential | Treatment Cost |
| Fold Dermatitis | HIgh | $300-$2600 |
| Portosystemic Shunts | HIgh | $2000-$6000 |
| Entropion | HIgh | $300-$1,500 |
| Necrotizing Meningo-Encephalitis | HIgh | $1,500-$4,000 |
| Collapsed Trachea | Medium | $3500-$6500 |
| Arachnoid cysts | Low | $1500-$5000 |
I had Mindy my black Pug for 16 years and overall, she led a healthy lifestyle. It wasn’t until the last year of her life that she really started going downhill.
Hopefully, you’ll have a healthy Pug that won’t have a lot of health issues. If you take them for preventative check-ups, you should be able to catch the ailment before it becomes a full-blown issue.
4 Types of Pet Insurance Plans
As a pet owner, you’ll have the option to choose from the following 4 types of plans:
Accident Only Plans: These types of plans cover most emergency vet visits due to ingestion of foreign objects, bloating, poisoning, cuts & lacerations, being hit by a car.
What’s not covered by Accident only plans?
Here’s a list of what’s not covered:
- Prescription drugs
- Illnesses
- Dental Care
- Chronic Conditions
- Congenital Conditions
- Breed Specific and Genetic Conditions
As you can see, an Accident only Plan is perfect if you’re only wanting coverage for injuries.
Insurance with Embedded Wellness: This is the most popular type of plans that pet owners get. This is a comprehensive plan that covers both accidents and illnesses. Most companies will even cover things like prevention, cremation, burial, vaccinations and etc.
I have a friend who insures their Pug with Embrace Pet Insurance and here is a list of things they cover with their full-coverage pet policy.
- Cancer
- Behavioral therapy
- Exam Fees
- Congenital Conditions
- Breed-specific & Genetic Conditions
- Chronic Conditions
- Alternative Therapies & Rehabilitation
- ER & Specialist Care
- Diagnostic Testing (check with the company first)
- Hospitalization & Surgery
- Prosthetic Limbs and Mobility Aids
- Dental Illnesses up to $1,000 per year (check your state)
Even if you have a full-coverage plan, you’ll find that pre-existing conditions are still not covered.
Accident and Illness Plans: These plans cover the same types of issues as the Accidents Plan above, but it also allows you to be reimbursed for major and minor illnesses such as UTI’s, digestive problems, allergies, cancers, and etc.
Endorsements: These plans help you save money on preventative care including vaccinations, dental cleaning, microchipping, spaying/neutering, and wellness prevention products (flea and tick).
Is There A Waiting Period?
Every pet insurance company has waiting periods. Embrace Insurance policies have a 14-day waiting period for illnesses and a 48-hour waiting period for accidents. (this is shorter than most insurance companies I found online.)
All orthopedic conditions require a 6 month waiting period. The cool thing is that your waiting periods start the day that your policy becomes effective. If a condition occurs during the waiting period, it may fall into the pre-existing condition category.
Which Plan Is Right For You?
I’ve done my best to find out everything you need to know to deal with Pug health care. As a pet owner, there will be times that you are going to have to take your Pug to the vet.
Vet costs vary from state to state, you can read this article to find out what the average cost is. While you don’t have to run your pet to the vet for everything you do, like clipping their nails or cleaning their wrinkles.
It is possible to extend their lifespan with preventative check-ups.
If you’re still looking for pet insurance for your Pug, I highly recommend this one. A friend of mine has their Pug insured with it and has nothing but good things to say about it.
When and if I get another dog, you can bet that this time around, I’ll make sure they have the right health coverage. Don’t make the same mistake I made, get your free quote to see how much it will cost you to get health coverage for Fido.