Vet bills are much more expensive than many people think. The increased costs have come about because vets now can help pets in ways they simply could not before. Many of the diagnostics, treatments and drugs available to humans now are being used for pets. Any unexpected illness or accident could put you under financial strain unless you have pet insurance.

    Pet insurance pays a portion of your vet bills when your cat or dog is sick or gets in an accident. Typically, you pay the vet bill and the insurance company reimburses a portion of your costs. Pet-insurance policies have the usual deductibles, maximums, co-payments and policies, and they often do not cover all the treatments your pet might receive, such as routine care or transplants. Premiums typically are approximately $30 to $40 per month for middle-of-the-range coverage.

   As you might expect with a product like this, you cannot decide on price alone, so arm yourself with good information to help you choose the insurance policy that is best for you and your pet.

Laura Bennett Is a pet lover and the CEO and co-founder of Embrace Pet Insurance, a pet insurance company set to launch in early 2006. More information on pet insurance can be found on her blog (blog.embracepetinsurance.com) or at www.embracepetinsurance.com.