How to Grow Your Pet’s Nest Egg !

Pet’s Nest Egg. Money is scarce for many in these tough economic times! Paying your daily bills is hard enough, but what happens when your pet encounters an emergency? Here is a new idea that may help to keep your pet, and your wallet, from suffering! Historically, veterinary medicine has always been a bargain for pet owners. Unfortunately, when a serious illness strikes or the pet is injured, pet owners are often shocked by the estimates and invoices they receive. Furthermore, when the estimate exceeds the amount in their checking account, some pet owners feel trapped between a decision to fix the pet and hurt their savings, or lose their pet forever. Unfortunately, this scenario is quite common in veterinary medicine. Many pets with health problems and/or curable diseases have been euthanized due to financial reasons.

Pet insurance can help, but since there are no third party payment systems in veterinary medicine, the pet owner must still pay the invoice up front and wait for reimbursement. Likewise, personal financing options are available. Sadly, the very people who need the most help aren’t often able to qualify for credit. Thankfully, Pet Health Savings Plans may provide some hope for pet owners as a new option in covering pet health care costs. Pet Health Savings Plans allow an owner to make an automatic deposit into an FDIC insured account set up specifically for them and their pet. Since the deposit is automatic, most owners never truly miss the money. The account is also interest-bearing, so pet owners can actually see sustained growth in their pet’s nest egg!

One of the major controversies with pet insurance is that if your pet never needs it, owners feel as if they have paid the premiums for nothing. With the new pet health savings plans, the money stays with you, so that you can use it for any purpose. Conversely, pet health savings plans do take time to build and a sudden pet emergency could still leave you without funds. Many pet insurance policies will provide reimbursements even after payment of just a single premium. Unlike personal financing options, pet health savings plans aren’t going to require a substantial credit check. If you have a checking or savings account, you will likely be eligible for one of these plans as well.

A great example of a pet health savings plan can be found at pawsitivesavings. Pawsitive Savings was started by a veterinarian as another way to try and help his clients handle unexpected pet expenses. Pawsitive Savings gives their members a debit card complete with a picture of their pet on the front. Through a network of veterinarians and veterinary suppliers, owners enrolled in Pawsitive Savings also receive numerous benefits and coupons for products and services.

But, perhaps the biggest advantage pet owners and veterinarians have seen with pet health savings accounts is the fact that the money stays with the owner. If the pet never needs emergency care, special surgery, or long-term health care, the money can be used for the next pet or for whatever the owner would like. Beyond finding out how to pay for an emergency situation with your pet, veterinarians remind owners that one key to lower pet health care costs is to practice pet preventive care and use common sense. Don’t skimp on heartworm preventive or your annual vet visit in an effort to save money. Likewise, trying to cut costs by using less expensive foods or over the counter imitation products can also lead to a pet health emergency.

We know that we can’t prevent every single accident our pets might have, but preparing for future situations makes a lot of sense. Pet health savings plans help provide pet owners with some peace of mind and, these accounts designed for saving money just might be life-saving as well!