Pet Insurance

Veterinary costs have risen substantially over the past decade, and unexpected procedures — surgery, cancer treatment, emergency care — can run into the thousands with little warning. Pet insurance exists to blunt that risk, but the category is genuinely more variable in quality than most insurance types.

The most important thing to understand before buying is that pet insurance almost never covers pre-existing conditions, and many policies have waiting periods before certain coverage kicks in. Buying while your pet is young and healthy locks in far better terms than waiting until a health issue appears.