pet insurance

Bunnies are oftentimes branded as “easy starter” pets. So it’s no surprise that many pet parents are blindsided by just how expensive the vet bills are for rabbits.

Depending on the level of care your bunny needs and the vet prices in your area, some emergency visits can run you thousands of dollars into debt. And hopefully your rabbit doesn’t end up with a chronic condition that needs treatment every few months!

Baby (my lionhead son) and I have gone through a pet healthcare rollercoaster, and we’d like to offer our two cents on the topic.

What companies offer pet insurance for rabbits?

In the United States, Nationwide is the only company that offers pet insurance for rabbits.

That being said, it doesn’t work like human health insurance. If your vet bill is $1000, you have to pay the full amount up front to your veterinarian. You’ll be able to file a claim with Nationwide and potentially get reimbursed afterwards.

Should you get pet insurance for your rabbit?

This is a really tough and personal question.

My abridged version is this: Get pet insurance as early as possible – as soon as you get your bunny even. Pre-existing conditions are deadly to your wallet, so it’s best to get your bunny in while they have as few ailments as possible.

I used to think pet insurance wasn’t worth it

Before I had Baby, my family never had pet insurance for any of our past rabbits. My parents paid for checkups when needed and paid for care when ailments came up. Seemed easy enough!

So when I got Baby, my lionhead rabbit, I didn’t really think I needed pet insurance. It seemed like the monthly premium would be much more expensive than just paying for an annual checkup. I also added $100 or so each month to an emergency fund dedicated to Baby. After a few years of healthy rabbit living, I’d amassed a few thousand dollars.

Why would I ever want to pay extra money each month for a service Baby wasn’t even using? The ailments he did have (a slightly hurt leg, my delusions from looking at the internet and thinking he had megacolon) could all be covered with my stash.

The health crisis that changed my mind

Everything changed after Baby’s 6th-ish birthday. He had three instances of GI stasis within less than a year. Each visit ended up being around $2,500 in emergency vet bills.

After the first instance, I ramped up my savings to try to replenish the emergency fund, but there just wasn’t enough time. I ended up using all my stimulus money and my tax refund to help pay for all these medical bills. On top of that, when I did get sign up for pet insurance, GI stasis wouldn’t be covered.

I definitely regret not getting pet insurance sooner. It would have saved me so much money, and I wouldn’t have had to worry about how to pay for care.

On the bright side, now that I do have pet insurance, some of Baby’s new medical needs are taken care of. He recently needed dental work. Once I met the deductible, the rest was covered. When he has to go back for a three-month follow-up appointment, I don’t have to be as stressed about the money aspect of it, just his health.

What should you do?

There are some things to consider when deciding whether to get pet insurance:

How old is your bunny?
What illnesses does your rabbit already have?
Does you rabbit need to be spayed/neutered?
What can you afford?

Each rabbit is different. Some of my rabbits have lived long, happy lives with barely any health issues. One in particular seemed to have everything from head tilt to picky eater bouts. The problem is, you can’t necessarily tell in advance which one your rabbit is going to be.

Your bunny could cost you hundreds of dollars OR tens of thousands. Your savings could cover expenses OR you could have to decide between your rabbit’s health and crippling credit card debt.

In the end, you have to decide what is right for your family financially.

Example of a bunny insurance plan

The pet protection plan that Baby has covers accidents, illnesses, and hereditary conditions. I’m reimbursed 90% once the $250 annual deductible is hit.

Make sure to talk to an agent before deciding whether or not to get pet insurance. You may get a different rate depending on where you live and how many rabbits you’re covering. Your workplace may also have a deal that will allow you to get a discounted rate as part of your benefits.

You can also get a quote from Nationwide by filling out an online form.

What is NOT covered by insurance

It’s important to note that it’s 90% of eligible expenses.

Nationwide will not cover:

Medical waste
Tax
Over the counter “accessories”
Record or copying fees

A claim can be partially or completely denied because of these things.

Let’s say you had a bill that cost $100 and medical waste was $10 of that. Assuming you’ve reached your $250 deductible, Nationwide would reimburse 90% of the remaining $90.

Pre-existing Conditions are NOT covered

If you get nothing else from this article, understand that pre-existing conditions, any illness or condition your bunny has before you get health insurance, will not be covered. So if your bunny has a history of GI stasis, like Baby does, any veterinarian visits related to GI stasis will not be covered.

What does that mean for you?

If you plan on getting insurance, get it as soon as you get your bunny! DO NOT wait until your rabbit gets sick to get pet insurance. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself paying monthly for something you won’t even be able to use.

Know the details of your own plan

Each plan is different, so make sure you know what’s covered and what is not with your specific bunny.

When you first call Nationwide to get insurance, the agent will ask you a bunch about your rabbit. This is where they’d learn about pre-existing conditions, although I’m pretty sure they’ll contact any veterinary offices or hospitals you list to verify the information.

Make sure to ask as many questions and hypotheticals as you need to understand your new policy.

Make the right decision for your family

The topic of pet insurance is often a divisive issue in social media groups.

Some are convinced it is a scam. It’s frustrating to pay so much money especially if your bunny already has a bunch of pricey pre-existing conditions. Others have found the service a literal lifesaver!

I regret my decision not to get pet insurance from the beginning, but you live and you learn!

Be sure to make an informed decision for your own bunny family.