PHILADELPHIA, April 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the average tax refund in 2010 was $3,036.  But what do Americans do with this unexpected windfall?  A 2011 CNN/Money survey found that many report paying down debt or saving their refunds.  However, more than 54 percent report spending their tax refunds on vacations, major purchases and everyday items.  With many Americans anxiously awaiting their tax refunds, Petplan, America's top rated pet insurer, encourages pet parents to consider spending a portion of any tax refund on pet insurance.

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"In 2010, one in every three pets in the United States required unplanned veterinary care and pet parents spent almost $13 billion on veterinary services," says Dr. Jules Benson, Vice President of Veterinary Services at Petplan. "That number is staggering, but when you review the reimbursements made by Petplan in 2010, you can see how significant veterinary care is. For example, Petplan paid $16,000 to the parents of a dog with hip dysplasia, a common hereditary disorder, while also reimbursing a family whose cat incurred more than $9,000 in veterinary costs associated with lymphoma, the most commonly diagnosed feline cancer. Without pet insurance, these pets would likely not have received the quality of care that they did."

Petplan also reports that 40 percent of all pets who experience unexpected veterinary care in any given year will develop chronic conditions, which require ongoing treatment and subsequently increase costs.  "Using part of a tax refund for pet health insurance can be the best financial investment a pet parent makes in 2011 and for years to come," says Benson.

To learn more about Petplan and how to find a pet insurance policy that works best for you, visit gopetplan.com.

ABOUT PETPLAN

As America's top-rated pet insurance company, Petplan offers customizable policies to meet any coverage requirements and budget.  Petplan is the only insurer to cover all hereditary and congenital conditions for the life of the pet – without dollar limits per condition. For information, visit www.GoPetplan.com or call 1-866-467-3875.

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Jules Benson

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SOURCE Petplan