According to the AVMA, pet owners increasingly see their animals as part of the family. That trend, as well as the appeal of elective benefits, has led some larger companies to offer pet insurance as a benefit to employees. The coverage is sometimes cheaper for the employee through work than if they pursue it independently.
The number of employees who own pets is on the rise. According to the American Pet Products Association’s 2011-2012 National Pet Owners Survey, 72.9 million U.S. households own a pet — an all-time high. Approximately 40 percent of these households own more than one animal.
Just as employees’ medical care costs have jumped in recent years, so too have those for their furry (or feathered) friends. Veterinary visits — routine and surgical — top the list of greatest expenses for owners of all types of pets excluding fish, according to the American Pet Products Association survey.
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