We have two of the best dogs ever: Buddy and Atticus. They are different ages and breeds, and both come from unknown backgrounds. They are Rescues, with their own personalities, quirks, and endearments. We love them both, and they get along great with each other.
Sick Puppies
Both have health issues. Buddy, our seven-year-old Border collie mix, is a cancer survivor. When he was diagnosed in 2016, he was given maybe a year to live. After surgery and a year of chemotherapy, its more than three years later and he is currently cancer free. His every three-month blood test is normal. He is the subject of research papers and medical seminars by his Veterinary Oncologist, with pictures of him chasing a ball in the back yard and sunning on Atlantic beaches long after he was supposed to be gone. He is a medical success story, and we hope he’s saving other dogs.
Atticus is our two-year-old Yellow Lab. We found him on the “kill list” of the Franklin County (Columbus, Ohio) shelter. His ears were completed infected, so much so that he really couldn’t hear. The Shelter wouldn’t begin treatments without surgery, and couldn’t afford to take care of him. We saw him on Facebook, and we couldn’t let him die.
It took over six months to clear up his ears. We found he was allergic to almost everything he wanted to eat: beef, dairy, grains. Atticus is now on a strict diet of a fish and sweet potato mix. He can have very little else, except for carrots. Both Atticus and Buddy love carrots, and celery when they can get it.
The Cost of Health
Special foods, medication for both, and the usual purchases of flea and tick pills: walking into the Vet’s office is never a cheap deal. Last month, it was cost $319. As I was paying at the counter, I jokingly said, “…can I get these guys on my health insurance plan?”
Instead of the expected giggles, I got information on Dog Insurance. Nationwide Insurance, located here in Columbus, is a big “mover” in the pet insurance business.
There’s nothing cheap about Dog Health Insurance. An average cost might by $40 a month per dog; but a dog as old as Buddy is closer to $80. But, when you add up our actual costs a year, we are way beyond that, at least $3000 last year, not including special foods. So maybe we should sign up.
Now this is a political site, about politics and America and what’s going on today. So you know there has to be a political side to this essay.
Pre-Existing Conditions
That operative term is: PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. If you don’t get pet insurance from puppy-hood, which ain’t happening with Rescue dogs; then all of those problems we’ve had with Buddy and Atticus aren’t covered.
Sure Buddy’s covered for accidents and new problems. But if it relates back to his lymphoma or treatments, it’s off the table. He’s considered in “remission,” but never “cured.” And sure, if Atticus comes up with something new, then the insurance would help. But his main health issue, allergic reactions to most normal dog diets; doesn’t count.
So while we could go ahead and purchase dog insurance for them, the cost would be more of an addition to their current health costs than a savings. While it might avoid some future catastrophic costs, we would likely end up paying more annually.
Life without the ACA
It’s a lot like the alternative to the current human insurance rules under the Affordable Care Act. Humans may be covered under their parent’s coverage from birth, but once they leave “puppy-hood” and become adults (defined as 26 under the ACA, but it used to be 21) they are forced into the open market to find their own insurance, usually through employment. And if their employer’s coverage doesn’t include the pre-existing conditions they bring with them, as many didn’t before the ACA, they are stuck.
So if you are considering “on the market” dog insurance, get it early, when your dog is a puppy. That way, all of their health issues will be covered, and, as long as you don’t lapse coverage, it continues to be covered. And since, unlike human insurance, they can’t “age out” of your coverage, you and your dogs will be protected.
And what about those Rescues, those dogs that enter the health world with problems in the first place? Just like those humans unable to get coverage for pre-existing conditions, they are going to struggle to afford health care. Maybe they’ll get lucky, like Buddy and Atticus, and find people who will pay the price to take care of them.
Some humans got lucky and found employers with insurance coverage of pre-existing conditions. But if the Affordable Care Act, or whatever replaces it doesn’t force insurance companies to accept those conditions, then those humans will be out of luck, and out of money.
