Pet insurance becoming a more popular employee benefit

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 29 (UPI) -- More companies are starting to offer pet insurance policies for their employees through Veterinary Pet Insurance and other pet organizations, U.S. experts say.

Although only a small proportion of the 165 million pets in the United States are covered under pet insurance, an increasing number of employers are providing it as part of their benefits package.

For example, Nevada's largest employer, MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, added pet insurance in 2006.

Chipotle in New York offered pet insurance benefits in 2002, AnnArbor.com reported. About 100 of the fast-food chain's 3,000 eligible employees get the insurance, and the company pays $10 per pet for up the three pets.

One pet costs between $10-$57 a month, depending on coverage plans and deductibles, a company official said.

There are many plans and some have deductibles and co-pays, while some policies don't cover pre-existing conditions. Some have caps on how much treatment they will pay for one pet.

Similar to the Affordable Care Act's marketplace or exchanges where consumers can compare individual health insurance plans within a state, Pet Insurance Review provides premium information, features and consumer ratings at: www.petinsurancereview.com/dog.asp