The Association Blog

More and more shelters are partnering with pet insurance companies to ensure their communities have access to veterinary care—and that their adopters have peace of mind

In 2021, Doctor Jim Lloyd, a senior consultant at Animal Health Economics and the former Dean of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, published a study that projected a shortage of 15,000 companion animal veterinarians by the year 2030. United States pet healthcare spending is predicted to increase by 33% by 2030—also the year that pet population is expected to number nearly 102 million dogs and more than 82 million cats.

In light of these stats, many shelters are partnering with pet insurance companies to offer their communities more options for access to veterinary care. The Association’s Katherine Shenar recently sat down with Brad Watkins, Director of Animal Welfare at MetLife Pet Insurance, and Matt Pepper, CEO of Michigan Humane, to talk about the benefits of such partnerships, as well as to bust a few myths (yes, we’re looking at you, pre-existing conditions). Listen to the podcast for the complete convo.

It Gives Adopters Peace of Mind

At Michigan Humane, adopters are offered the opportunity to sign up for 30 free days of insurance through MetLife. “Whether they’re coming to us for their first adoption or their fourth or fifth,” says Pepper, “it’s both the most amazing time and it’s also the scariest time for the adopter and their families. We hear that what stops many potential adopters is the unknown. They think, ‘What happens if a medical issue arises?’ or ‘What if something happens that I can’t afford and I and I have to return the animal?’”

Part of what pet insurance does is take that fear off the table. “The fact that adopters have access to insurance coverage for the first 30 days, as well as a 24/7 vet chat, offers them peace of mind,” says Pepper, “and that can make all the difference.”

It Covers a Lot More Than People Think

Hands down the biggest myths about pet insurance surround pre-existing conditions. “There are actually several different forms of pre-existing conditions,” explains Brad Watkins, “and each insurance company will define the term differently.” At MetLife, for example, “We define it as any injury or illness contracted, manifested, diagnosed or treated prior to when the pet insurance benefits went into effect. I always put it more plainly to folks and say, ‘Hey, it’s actually, ‘Were there any signs, symptoms or diagnosis prior to the policy starting?’” 

Watkins outlines the various categories, including curable pre-existing conditions—those that are temporary and can fully resolve with treatment like bladder infections or UTIs—and incubating conditions, such as kennel cough, which develop days after a seemingly healthy pet goes home. Watkins reports that both of these categories would be covered; listen to the podcast for the full breakdown.

It Allows Shelters to Focus on Families That Most Need Help

Adopters from Michigan Humane who have MetLife pet insurance have the opportunity to go to other veterinarians—they don’t have to go back to the shelter for care. “The reason this is so important,” shares Pepper, “is it allows us to focus our attention on those who are truly struggling and maybe don’t have access to pet insurance. And if I think about Detroit and its 630,000 people, twenty percent of them make less than $10,000, and 70% of that number live at or below the ALICE threshold.  Knowing that adopters who have insurance through MetLife are already taken care of, we get to focus on those who need it most.”

Does your shelter have a similar partnership? Leave a comment and share your experience.