Most people would not give a second thought to making sure their child or an ailing parent had some type of health insurance.

   Now a growing number finds getting health insurance for their pets equally important.

   Many pets, after all, are as much a member of the family as one of the children. Well, at least, an adopted child.

   “Over the last couple years, we’ve been seeing an increasing number of people who bring in pets for treatment have animal insurance policies to help them handle costs,” said Dr. Nichole Moskes, a veterinarian at Animal Medical Care Center in Niles. “I think about 20 percent of our clients now have medical insurance for their pets.”

   Having insurance for pets increases the chance that owners will take them in for routine checkups rather than waiting until something is obviously wrong.

   “With these checkups, veterinarians can spot illnesses in their early stages,” Moskes said.

   There are different kinds of insurance, depending on animal breed, age and cost.

   “In most policies I’ve seen, the owner will pay up front the cost of whatever treatment is done and then will be reimbursed by the insurance company,” she said.

   The willingness of people to buy health insurance has increased over the last 20 years.

   “In the past, people saw their animals — even their dogs and cats — as work animals,” Michael San Filippo, spokesman with the American Veterinarian Medical Association said. “Today, we see them more as companions that keep us company and are members of our families.

   “Because they are closer to us, people are more willing to do different kinds of treatments, including chemotherapy and expensive surgical procedures. Veterinarian medicine is becoming more like human medicine,” he said.

   And a single vet visit could cost thousands of dollars.

   Robert Thomas, co-owner of Gibson Governor Insurance in Warren, says his company has been providing a business liability insurance for Kennels, groomers, dog daycares and mobile grooming vans since the mid-1980s when the National Dog Groomers Association of America approached the company about insurance coverage for one of its members.

   And now pet insurance represent nearly 20 percent of Gibson’s business.

   The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association estimates that Americans will spend $9.4 billion this year on care and illness prevention in pets and farm animals. That’s a $4.4 billion increase since 2004.

   According to Veterinarian Pet Insurance company, most insurance policies are structured similarly to property insurance policies rather like human health insurance policies. The policies cover accidents, injuries and illnesses. Owners generally have to add a rider to cover costs of preventive medical care.

   With approximately 450,000 policies written on household pets nationwide, VPI holds about 75 percent of all U.S. policies.

   That company has seen a growth spurt from 195,000 in 2002 to 450,000 today.

   ‘‘There are a number of reasons for this growth,’’ Brian Iannessa, a spokesman with the company said. ‘‘In addition a growing bond between pets and their their owners, advancing medical technology is making it possible to do more things to make the lives of dogs and cats more comfortable.

   ‘‘Vets now can treat animals with chemotherapy and ultra sound,’’ he said. ‘‘With the advances in medical treatment, people are seeing it is more cost effective to have insurance in preparation for emergencies. Everything costs more, just like human medical insurance.’’

   Due the increase, even some car insurance companies have begun offering coverage for dogs and cats when they are riding in their customer’s cars. Progressive Insurance, for example, provides pet injury coverage if the vehicle owner’s policy includes collision insurance. The policy provides up to $500 for veterinary bills and medicine.

   Unlike pet health insurance, Progressive’s injury insurance applies only to pets that are injured in motor vehicle collisions. 

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