Cabela’s starts selling dog insurance policies

John Egan

Alongside outdoors gear and guns, you now can buy dog insurance from the Cabela’s retail chain.

Cabela’s insurance program, which is managed by Ohio-based Embrace Pet Insurance, is designed for dogs that are used in hunting and other outdoor sports.

Hunting and sporting dogs are susceptible to many hazards, including gunshots, snake bites, muscle strains, cuts, puncture wounds, car accidents, animal attacks, infections and heat stroke. Under a Cabela’s policy, claims can be submitted to cover veterinary bills for these and other pet medical problems.

“When we talked to owners of sporting dogs, we were surprised by how much time and money they invest in their pets. Generally, these are expensive, purebred dogs with an extensive pedigree that have been through years of costly training,” Laura Bennett, CEO of Embrace Pet Insurance, says in a news release. “Unlike average pets, these dogs work very hard in the field and have an essential role in the pursuit of a sport.”

Bennett tells InsuranceQuotes.com that the Cabela’s policies cost $20 to $60 a month, depending on the type of dog, the age of the dog, your geographic location and other factors. A typical policy for a Labrador Retriever would run $37 a month, according to Bennett, with $10,000 in annual coverage, a $300 annual deductible and an 80 percent reimbursement rate.

The Cabela’s dog insurance is sold only online at www.cabelaspetinsurance.com. Policies are underwritten by RLI Insurance Co.

Nebraska-based Cabela’s operates 32 stores in the United States and two in Canada.

Bennett estimates 1 million cats and dogs are insured in the United States. She expects the U.S. pet insurance market to be valued at roughly $375 million by the end of 2011.