One of Lehigh’s newer voluntary benefits is for the furrier members of our families.
Did you know that Americans share their homes with about 144 million dogs and cats? That’s a lot of purring and drooly friends, and a lot of veterinarian bills.
Unfortunately, recent studies indicate that a lot of pet owners aren’t taking their animals to the vet. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, dog vet visits have dropped 21 percent since 2001 and cat visits are down 30 percent. Not surprisingly, emergency vet visits have increased at the same time.
Of course, by the time you wind up at the emergency veterinarian, the bills are sure to soar even higher. If you notice something unusual about your pet’s behavior, putting it off because of the cost of a vet visit could wind up costing you far more.
One way to be prepared for vet bills is by enrolling in pet insurance. A relatively new product, pet insurance can help defray the cost of veterinary treatment. Insurance gives pet owners the confidence to seek more and better pet care because finances are less of a barrier – they don’t have to choose between their wallet and the health of their pet.
Through our relationship with Capital Blue Cross, Lehigh has offered discounted access to PetPlan pet insurance since February 2012. PetPlan is the largest pet insurance provider in the world. Their policies cover veterinary treatment performed by any licensed vet for any illness or injury, including:
Prescription medications
- Lab tests and other diagnostic testing, scans (x-ray, MRI)
- Surgery
- Hospitalization
- Cancer treatments
- After-hour emergency and specialist visits.
In addition, PetPlan is the only U.S. carrier to cover congenital and hereditary diseases with no dollar or time limits per condition. All applications are accepted. Once you enroll, you can never be cancelled and rates are not raised as a result of claim submission.
PetPlan is a voluntary benefit. Lehigh employees have discounted access to PetPlan, however, Lehigh is not involved in the delivery of the benefit.
To learn more about PetPlan’s coverage options and get a price quote, go to www.gopetplan.com. You can also speak with a representative by phone at 1-855-224-PETS (7387). When you do, be sure to mention the promo code “LEHIGH” to the representative to receive your 15 percent premium discount.
If you’re enrolling online, once you have selected a coverage level, you can simply enter the promo code “LEHIGH.”
Do you use PetPlan pet insurance? Then we want to hear from you. Share a photo of your furry friend with us at hik210@lehigh.edu and we will post it on the Work/Life Lehigh Facebook page.