Pet insurance add-ons and riders: Are they worth the cost?

Pet insurance add-ons and riders offer extra coverage beyond a standard policy, allowing you to tailor your pet’s insurance to suit their unique needs and your budget. These optional additions cover treatments or care not typically included in base plans, such as wellness visits, dental care or behavioral therapy.

When choosing a pet insurance plan, it’s important to find the right mix of coverage and affordability.

How add-ons and riders work

Add-ons and riders enhance your standard pet insurance policy by covering treatments or services that may be excluded. Depending on your insurer’s rules, you can usually choose to add these options during enrollment or later on. For instance, if your basic policy doesn’t cover dental care, you might want to add a rider.

Remember that riders come with additional costs, so it’s important to weigh the benefits against the extra price tags.

To get a better idea of how add-ons or riders can benefit you and your furkids, consider how they change your coverage:

• Adding flexibility: Some of the best pet insurance companies let you modify or remove riders when it’s time to renew your policy, allowing you to adapt your coverage as your pet’s needs (or your budget) change.
• Customizing care: Riders enable you to tailor your policy based on specific needs, whether for wellness visits, dental work or managing chronic conditions.
• Expanding coverage: Think of them as a form of gap coverage. Riders fill gaps in your base policy, ensuring you have a comprehensive safety net for your pet’s health.

Types of pet insurance riders

Pet insurance riders cover a wide range of care needs for your pet. They vary by company, with some being more common than others.

Dental riders

Dental health is vital for pets, but many standard pet dental policies only cover the bare minimum of dental treatments, if any. A dental rider can cover extractions, cleanings and treatments for dental diseases. Some may even go so far as to cover a root canal for Fido.

Riders may cover dental treatments such as:

• Extractions: Coverage for necessary tooth extractions due to decay or other issues.
• Routine cleanings: Regular cleanings to prevent periodontal disease.
• Treatment for oral diseases: Coverage for diseases affecting gums or teeth.

While dental riders can boost your pet’s overall health, you need to balance the cost of the rider against potential savings on dental procedures.

Behavioral therapy riders

If your pet struggles with behavioral issues like anxiety, aggression or other unwanted behavior, this rider can cover costs related to training and therapy. It’s particularly useful if you’ve welcomed a new puppy or rescued an anxious kitten.

Riders can include coverage for:

• Consultations with behaviorists: Coverage for professional consultations to tackle behavioral issues.
• Therapeutic treatments: Coverage for anxiety medications or other treatments aimed at behavioral concerns.
• Training programs: Help with costs for training programs designed to improve behavior.

Behavioral therapy riders are valuable for pets facing anxiety or other behavioral issues and may help you improve their quality of life.

Chronic condition riders

Chronic conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis, require ongoing management and aren’t always covered by a comprehensive plan. This rider or add-on offers coverage for the ongoing care of these conditions, ensuring you can afford the necessary medications and treatments in the long term.

Chronic condition coverage could include:

• Medication coverage: Help cover costs for daily medications.
• Regular vet visits: Coverage for routine check-ups to manage chronic conditions.
• Specialized treatments: Funding for alternative therapies like physical therapy or acupuncture.

Having a chronic condition rider provides peace of mind, allowing you to focus on your pet’s health without stressing the financial implications of ongoing care.

Hereditary condition riders

Some breeds are more prone to certain genetic conditions, such as hip dysplasia or specific heart diseases. Unless you are dealing with a pre-existing condition, a congenital or hereditary condition rider can help cover treatment costs for inherited issues that aren’t included in standard policies.

Coverage could include:

• Diagnostic testing: Costs associated with diagnosing hereditary conditions.
• Long-term care: Funding for ongoing treatment or management of hereditary conditions.
• Surgical treatments: Coverage for necessary surgeries due to genetic predispositions.

If your pet belongs to a breed known for hereditary issues, investing in this rider can provide financial relief for treatment.

Wellness riders

There are three primary types of pet insurance, and this is one of them. Wellness plans or add-ons cover routine care and preventive services like vaccinations, annual exams and dental cleanings, helping you proactively manage your pet’s health.

Wellness plans typically include:

• Preventive medications: Coverage for flea, tick and heartworm preventives.
• Routine exams: Regular check-ups to catch health issues early.
• Vaccinations: Preventive vaccines against common diseases.

While wellness riders can add convenience and encourage proactive care, they usually come with an additional premium. Assess whether the coverage justifies the cost. Before writing these plans off because of their price tags, shop around. Some of the best cheap pet insurance companies offer affordable wellness plans.

Pros and cons of pet insurance add-ons

Is a rider worth it for you?

Deciding whether to add riders to your pet insurance depends on several factors:

• Financial considerations: The cost of pet insurance can vary. What you are willing to spend depends largely on your budget. Assess your financial situation to see if the extra premium is manageable. Calculate the average costs of routine care, dental work or chronic condition management for your pet. If those costs exceed the premium for riders, they could be a smart choice.
• Future health needs: Think about your pet’s future health as they age. Older pets may require more medical attention and might benefit from additional coverage. Riders focused on chronic conditions or dental care can be particularly useful.
• Personal preference: Some pet owners prefer a comprehensive policy for peace of mind, while others find standard coverage sufficient. Consider your comfort level with risk. If having coverage for additional treatments makes you feel secure, riders could be beneficial.
• Your pet’s health: If your pet has pre-existing conditions or is a breed prone to specific health issues, riders may provide essential coverage. For instance, a hereditary condition rider might be worth considering for a dog known for hip dysplasia.

The bottom line

Pet insurance riders can significantly enhance your coverage by offering financial support for specific treatments or care your base policy might not cover. However, it’s important to weigh the additional costs against the potential benefits. Consider your pet’s unique health needs, your financial situation and your need for peace of mind.

To make informed decisions, take a close look at your current policy to identify gaps riders could fill and research available riders from various insurers to find the best fit for your pet’s needs. Consult your veterinarian for insights into the types of coverage that may be most beneficial.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I add a rider later?

  Many insurers allow you to add riders during policy renewal, but specifics vary. Check with your insurer to understand their policies.

• Do all insurance companies offer riders?

  Not all pet insurance companies provide the same riders. Research various providers to see which add-ons are available and consider comparing their features and costs.

• How can I save on pet insurance?

  Consider options like higher deductibles or affordable providers to save on pet insurance. The key is to shop around for a pet insurance company and a policy or add-on that suits your pet’s needs and your budget. Also, check for discounts like multi-pet policies or bundling with other types of insurance.