At $15-$30 a month to cover dogs and cats, pet insurance isn't cheap, but it also isn't so overpriced as not to be effective. Should your beloved pet become injured or suffer a severe illness, their care could easily reach hundreds, or even thousands of dollars. In the past, many loving pet owners were forced to put their animals down when they found themselves faced with such astronomical care bills. Many of these animals could have been saved had their owners had the protection that today's pet insurance offers.

It is true that most pet insurance policies do not cover preventative or routine veterinary costs, vaccines, existing conditions or long term care, they do generally cover most surgery, in-patient care, medications and the like for animals that have been in an accident or are struck with a sudden illness.

Some insurance carriers do offer preventative care riders that can be purchased at an additional cost to help cover regular office visits to your veterinarian.

In addition to health care coverage, some pet insurance policies also cover:

Loss and Reward Services.

In the event your precious pet is lost or stolen, your policy may cover the cost of finding him/her and returning them home. This may include advertising fees, rewards, and even compensation for animals that aren't found. Many owners with pedigree and exotic pets opt for this coverage since the cost to replace their pet can be quite high.

Liability Insurance.

You may have the mildest mannered pet on the planet, but that doesn't mean the still can't cause injury to someone or something in the future. With today's high litigious society, a dog bite alone can cost you thousands in compensation fees. As a pet owner, you are solely responsible for any damage they may cause. Renters especially should consider a liability policy since they don't have a homeowner's coverage to fall back on should their pet hurt someone or a neighbor's property.

It may be true that investing in insurance for your pet may have been a luxury reserved for the rich and eccentric years ago, the high costs of veterinary care has made it more of a necessity for many current pet owners. To find a policy that best meets your needs and budget, check out one of hundreds of websites available that list a variety of insurance carriers and the coverage they offer.