Pet insurance can help with veterinary costs (if you plan ahead)

How much would you be willing to spend to care for your beloved pet when he or she is sick? For most readers, we’d guess the answer would be “whatever it takes.” But what happens when your pet becomes suddenly ill or injured and you’re faced with a ginormous vet bill?

To answer that question, pet owners are beginning to turn to pet insurance (although it’s far more popular in Europe than in the United States). The Associated Press reports:

Less than 1 percent of pets are insured in the U.S., according Petplan USA — one of just 13 plans available in the U.S. The company was founded by British natives Natasha and Chris Ashton, who said that in England, over 20 percent of all pets are insured and in Sweden the figure is close to 50 percent.