LUCIE IN SEPTEMBER. NEW AT SIX PET INSURANCE. IT IS A GROWING TREND IN $1 BILLION INDUSTRY OF PET CARE. ACCORDING TO THE NORTH AMERICAN PET HEALTH INSURANCE ASSOCIATION, 3.1 MILLION PETS WERE INSURED IN 2020. COMPARE THAT TO 2022 WHEN 5.3 MILLION PETS WERE INSURED. MORNING ANCHOR ERIN GUY LOOKS AT THE PRICE OF PET INSURANCE AND ASK, IS IT WORTH IT? THE VETERINARIAN I TALKED TO IS A BIG FAN OF PET INSURANCE. SHE SAYS IT ALLOWS HER TO TAKE CARE OF PETS. THE WAY SHE KNOWS HOW. BUT SHE DID SAY IF YOU THINK HUMAN CARE IS EXPENSIVE, PET HEALTH CARE IS ON THE RISE AS WELL. THIS IS BASIL. SHE HAD A LIFE FULL OF HEALTH PROBLEMS AS SHE DEVELOPED EPILEPSY AT THE AGE OF FIVE. AND MEDICATION WAS EXPENSIVE. HER EPILEPSY MEDICATIONS WERE ABOUT 500 A MONTH. BUT I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT IT BECAUSE INSURANCE PAID FOR THOSE. SHE NEVER COULD HAVE ENDURED THE MORE THAN $70,000 IN VET BILLS OVER TIME. WE INSURE RISK. WE INSURE WHAT WE LOVE. AND I LOVED HER. SHE PUT ME THROUGH AND HELPED ME THROUGH A LOT OF HARD TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. AND SHE WAS LIKE MY CHILD. AND SO I WOULD NOT HAVE ANOTHER PET AGAIN WITHOUT INSURANCE. DR. BETH KAISER AT GARDENS ANIMAL HOSPITAL, HIGHLY RECOMMENDS PET INSURANCE. I’VE SEEN CASES WHERE THEY’VE HAD INSURANCE AND IT SAVED THEIR LIVES AND THEY ARE SO THANKFUL FOR THAT. AND I’M THANKFUL FOR IT BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF FINANCES. WE CAN’T DO WHAT WE WOULD LOVE TO DO. THAT’S WHY WE WERE VETERINARIANS. THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 COMPANIES THAT OFFER PET INSURANCE. SO HOW DO YOU PICK THE BEST INSURANCE FOR YOUR PET? AMERICAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS LOOK FOR ONE COVERAGE OPTIONS. DOES IT COVER INJURIES, SURGERY, DIET AGNOSTIC TESTING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY LIMITATIONS, LIKE FOR AGE OR SPECIFIC BREED EXCLUSIONS? AND THREE, PRICE ALWAYS A BIG DEAL. SO SEE IF THERE IS A CO-PAY ANNUAL OR EVEN LIFETIME BENEFIT. YES. SO HOW MUCH WILL IT SET YOU BACK TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR FURRY FRIEND ON AVERAGE? OF COURSE, IT DEPENDS ON THE PLAN. IT CAN COST BETWEEN 25 AND $45 A MONTH