Pet Insurance Guide For First-Time Rabbit Owners: Why Do You Need Insurance Coverage For Rabbits In The United States?

The exotic vets in the United States come at a very hefty price tag. Many people do not know that rabbits count as exotic pets.  

Thus, despite these animals being among the most common companions in all households, it is hard to find a proper vet for them. 

Several chronic diseases can occur in these Lagomorphs. People often think that rabbits are like other pets, such as dogs or cats. GI stasis is one of the most common diseases among rabbits. However, treatment for conditions such as GI stasis can cost around $ 2,500 at a limited number of clinics in the United States.  

Ironically, in these situations, people can find only a limited number of nationwide carriers that actually provide insurance for exotic pets like rabbits.  

The pet insurance explained in this article helps you to make your decisions rationally while avoiding emergency issues. 

Do The Rabbits And The Small Mammals Actually Need An Insurance in The United States?

Pet owners often ask whether small mammals, such as rodents and lagomorphs, actually require insurance in the United States.  

Mostly, the rabbits and others come at a cheaper cost when it comes to the common breads. But purchasing a rare breed can cost considerably more. 

However, the value of your bunny is not solely dependent on how much you have spent to bring it home. There goes a lot more than that when you get emotionally connected to your bunny. 

1. The Cost For Treatment is vs. the Cost Of Adoption  

Pet owners are often stunned to learn that the cost of adoption is much lower than the cost of treating the rabbit.  

Hence, an average emergency exam in the United States costs around $150+.On the other hand, the bare minimum cost of taking the rabbit through treatments like Surgery or even hospitalization can cost around $800-$2500. 

2. High Cost For Exotic Vets  

Rabbits are among the most commonly kept pets in the United States. Thus, people often forget that most vets consider them exotic pets. Therefore, only a limited number of vets actually treat animals like rabbits.  

This greatly increases the cost of treatment for animals like rabbits. You cannot really take your rabbit to a common vet for canines or felines. However, several vets equally specialize in all of them. 

Certain conditions in the rabbits require high-cost treatments. Moreover, this includes conditions such as GI Stasis, Dental Malocclusion, Bladder Stones, and others. 

Gi Stasis is one of the most common problems in rabbits. Moreover, the rabbits’ digestive system is weak. Rabbits regularly groom themselves or try to keep themselves clean.  

While the rabbits groom themselves with their tongue, they often ingest hair. Hence, this causes GI Stasis in the rabbits. Conditions like the Gi Stasis require costly treatments with the help of IV fluids, X-ray, a force-feeding tube, and several other treatments. 

Dental malocclusion involves sedation. Moreover, sedation costs in the United States can be high. Conditions like Blader stones require imaging along with surgery. Thus, all these conditions make it important to have proper insurance for the rabbits.  

How Does Exotic Pet Insurance Work In The United States? Pet Insurance Explained

In the United States, there are a limited number of carriers that actually provide pet insurance for exotic pets like rabbits. Rabbit insurance in the USA comes in two varieties. One of which is reimbursement, and the other is a cashless policy.  

Nationwide is one of the leading providers of rabbit insurance. Moreover, nationwide offers a reimbursement of $ 1,698 for the $ 2,123 bill. Hence, the Owners will have to provide only $425 in total. 

In addition, US reimbursement policies mostly use fixed payouts. In contrast, the reimbursement for the cats and dogs remains significantly different.  

Rabbit insurance policies differ from those of cats and dogs in multiple ways. Most carriers classify rabbits as exotic pets.  

The policies are often limited in scope. This limitation primarily affects the scope of wellness care for rabbits. 

Thus, the insurer does not cover the specific conditions that are limited in case of exotic pets like rabbits. However, the insurance rates, the deduction rates, and several other things remain the same. 

The typical reimbursement rates for the rabbits in the United States can vary. Mostly it is between 14 and 30 days.  

Thus, you will always need to keep the amount ready whenever necessary. 

Which Are The Top Pet Insurance Providers For Rabbits & Exotics In The United States?

There are only a limited number of insurance providers for rabbits in the United States. The pet insurance explained in this section is specifically for rabbits in the United States.  

We have listed out the leading insurance providers. Here are some of them. 

1. Pet Assure  

The insurance provider offers a rabbit pet insurance alternative because they do not offer direct insurance for exotic pets like rabbits.  

Pet Assurer claims to help you and your bunny in multiple case scenarios. 

The insurance alternative can help in unique situations, such as GI issues, infections, and others. 

In addition, the insurance alternative also helps with several of the rabbit’s pre-existing conditions.   

The insurance company offers low-cost treatment through a veterinary discount if people subscribe to its plan. 

The plan has no exclusions due to age, hereditary conditions, or the animal’s age. The plan even covers the pre-existing conditions. You will need to click the link to get a quote for your bunny’s insurance. Hence, the pet insurance explained on their website does not cover exotic pets like rabbits.  

2. Nationwide  

Nationwide is the only national US carrier that actually provides proper insurance coverage for rabbits.  

The insurance includes coverage via a “Whole Pet with Wellness” policy. The company has protected bunnies for more than two decades. 

The insurance does not just provide monetary compensation. It also provides access to some of the country’s best exotic vets. However, premiums can vary by state within the nation. 

Moreover, the Nationwide pet insurance remains the only option for the rabbits. Thus, it is the only reliable choice for bunny keepers.  

The bunny parents should call this toll-free number 844-397-8937 to get a quote for their bunny.  

Pet insurance explained on their website will help purchasers get the best policies.  

3. Why Do The Other Pets Insurance Companies Do Not Provide Coverage For Bunnies? 

The state rabbits have been explicitly excluded from the US policies. Thus, companies like Trupanion, Spot, and Lemonade do not really work in the United States.  

Moreover, these companies classify the rabbits as exotic pets. Thus, they do not have any pet packages or programmes in the United States.  

What Should Be Covered Under The Insurance Policy 

Any pre-existing symptom shall remain excluded before buying the policy. The purchaser should inform the insurers of the pre-existing conditions and warn them thoroughly.  

The dental treatments are covered. However, illness and other things should be treated differently.  

Rabbit insurance generally does not cover the cost of spaying or neutering a rabbit.  

Moreover, spaying or neutering a rabbit can save the rabbit from uterine cancer and several other forms of cancer. 

Thus, the rabbit parents should not avoid performing the procedure, as it is important for risk reduction. Furthermore, the procedure can cost a little more than $250. 

A Step-By-Step Guide For Buying The First Rabbit Policy: Pet Insurance Explained

This section explains how to initiate the process of purchasing the right policy for your bunny. The person trying to buy the policy should complete these procedural nuances.  

1. Schedule A US Exotic Vet Wellness Exam 

The bunny parents should ensure that their bunny does not have any pre-existing conditions or symptoms that get missed by the program. If the bunny remains completely healthy, then purchase insurance. 

Otherwise, inform the insurers about the bunny’s health-related issues before obtaining insurance. 

2. Choose The US Deductable And Benefit Caps  

Deductibles vary, and the price cap depends on the benefit caps. The deductible remains directly connected to the annual benefit caps. Animals with pre-existing conditions have to pay a higher premium. 

3. Verify Licensed US Exotic Vet Acceptance 

Verify the US exotic vet acceptance and license in the USA by checking the USDA’s Accredited Veterinarian Search for accreditation status. Use the AAVSB’s License Lookup for state licensing, and contact the State’s NVAP Coordinator. 

People can find the specialized vets through the American College of Exotic Pet Medicine (ACEPM). 

What Are The Small Pet Needs And Requirements In The United States?

The rabbits, hamsters, and other small animals that belong to the legomorph or rodent family are mostly marketed as beginner-friendly pets. However, the reality is absolutely different from that.  

Most of these pets have complex bodies and are susceptible to more serious issues, such as GI Stasis, infections, and others.  

Moreover, these smaller animals require proper care for an extended period. Animals like rabbits can live up to 8-12 years in a captive environment. Several families often purchase these animals but fail to adopt them properly. Thus, this results in abandoning these animals.  

Pet stores often try to drive sales by claiming these animals are starter pets. However, they require enough attention from the owners. 

1. Rabbits Are High-Maintenance Exotic Pets In The United States Of America  

Rabbits are among the most expensive pets in the United States, requiring high maintenance. They need quality food, such as Timothy Hay, a high-fibre grass hay.  

This hay is often less available in the United States. Moreover, this improves a rabbit’s dental and digestive health.  

The rabbits also need prompt action when they face problems like GI Stasis and other infections. In cases like GI Stasis, every moment matters.   

On the otherhand people often keep rabbits in their apartments. Thus, the rabbits in the household can usually cause unpleasant odors and other issues. 

Thus, insurance, such as Nationwide, or an emergency fund can be very helpful in these situations.  

2. Things To Keep in Mind About Guinea Pigs  

Other pets, like guinea pigs, often suffer from problems like  VitaminC deficiency. The commercial feeds widely available in the USA usually cause bladder stones and other issues in the rabbits. 

3. Hamsters Are One Of The High-Risk Pets In The United States For Children  

The hamsters are high-risk pets for the children because they tend to bite when handled. They tend to bite when they get startled. The hamsters are nocturnal and have very poor vision during the day.  

They carry germs like Salmonella in their mouth. Thus, this poses a high risk of infection from their bites to children. 

What Is The Average Vet Cost In The USA  For Small Pets  

The sheet below shows the average cost to spend on small pets depending on their size  

Animal	Average Cost
Rabbit	$800–$2,500
Guinea Pig	$600–$1,500
Hamster	$300–$800

Insurance vs. Emergency Funds: Which Is Better?

People often argue that proper insurance can be helpful during any medical crisis. However, that is not always the case. The insurance provides multiple added benefits. 

Some of these benefits include immediate access to the clinic. However, the rabbits are exotic pets. Thus, it is difficult to find a proper exotic vet for them.  

Hence, in these situations, proper insurance can help people with what they need.  

On the other hand, treating issues like GI Stasis and others can even cost as much as $2000. Even if you save $ 20 per month, it will take at atleast 8 years to reach that amount.  

However, the practical lifespan of a bunny stays around 10-12 years. Thus, the fund would be of no use if the rabbit already grown old.  

How To Find An Exotic Pet Vet In The United States?

Finding an exotic pet vet in the United States is more difficult than getting a normal vet. Moreover, rabbits are among the most common animals kept in households. 

Thus, people often forget that it is categorized as an exotic pet by most breeders and vet clinics. 

However, when you purchase a policy or health insurance for your rabbit, you get access to several leads of the best vets in the United States.  

The bunny parents can also find information about the exotic pet vets from the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians (AEMV) directories.  

Pet Insurance Explained: What Are The Things That You Should Consider Before Applying For Insurance?  

Moreover, insurance is useful only when the policy provides US exotic coverage. However, most insurance organizations do not offer coverage for exotic pets. Only Nationwide has a proper, dedicated plan for exotic pets. 

Hence, emergency funds can be really useful in these situations. Thus, people should not bring exotic pets, such as rabbits, into their homes in the USA if they do not have sufficient funds for emergencies.  

Frequently Asked Questions: Pet Insurance Explained 

Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about pet insurance.