Pet insurance enables owners to afford life-saving and welfare-improving treatment that would otherwise require euthanasia of treatable animals, but coverage gaps create welfare inequity.
The ability to pay for veterinary treatment is currently the primary determinant of whether an animal receives care or is euthanized. This welfare inequality is morally troubling — two animals with identical conditions receive different welfare outcomes based on their owners financial situation. Pet insurance partially addresses this but coverage gaps, premium costs, and breed exclusions maintain significant inequality.