Americans are increasingly treating their pets like family members, feeding them gourmet meals, paying for day care, and giving them birthday parties. On the Internet, you can even buy the same pajamas for the whole family, including the dog.

Therefore, it is not surprising that an increasing number of people are looking for complex and expensive medical procedures for their animals.

Therefore, the country has not only health insurance for people, but also for animals. It helps to cover the growing veterinary costs and avoid financial problems, but at the same time makes it possible for the animal to receive high-quality treatment. More than two million pets in the U.S. and Canada (most of them in the U.S.) were insured at the end of 2023, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association.

But advocates say pet owners should learn how it works before buying insurance.

More than two-thirds of families in the U.S. own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association. Americans spent about $70 billion on pets in 2023, including purchases of animals, food, veterinary care, drugs and other services.

"People are much more inclined to think of their animals as children and treat them as such," said James Serpell, a professor of animal ethics and welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Robert Hunter, director of insurance with the Consumer Federation of America, said pet owners should bring a healthy skepticism when buying pet insurance. Buying a product "is often motivated by a combination of love and fear," he said. "So the buyer may be particularly vulnerable."

Details vary depending on the insurer and policy, but the cost of pet insurance generally depends on factors such as the cost of veterinary care, where you live, and the age and breed of the pet. The median insurance price for "accidents and illnesses" was $516 per pet in 2023, while the average payout was $278, according to the Pet Health Insurance Association.

Jeff Bliscal, a senior manager at a nonprofit group that evaluates services in the city's major insurance markets, said pet owners need to make a sensible assessment. Buying insurance can be more expensive for some pet owners than without it if their pet doesn't require much care.

The costs associated with paying for pet treatment usually include not only the regular payment of the cost of insurance, but also other out-of-pocket expenses. Insurance may not fully cover the treatment, so you will still have to pay for part of the treatment.

One way to buy cheaper insurance and get bigger payouts is to buy pet insurance through an employer. 11 percent of employers in the United States offer pet health insurance benefits. Typically, companies offer pet insurance as a "voluntary" step.