How access to veterinary insurance affects animal welfare outcomes and the systemic barriers that leave many animals without adequate veterinary care.
Access to veterinary care is a fundamental welfare issue that intersects with socioeconomic inequality. Animals owned by lower-income households are more likely to suffer untreated pain, disease, and injury due to financial barriers. The solution is not to restrict pet ownership but to improve access to affordable care through insurance, community clinics, and veterinary education programs. Insurance that covers routine preventive care as well as emergencies produces better welfare outcomes than policies covering only catastrophic events.