Pet insurance has surged in popularity over the past three years. Still, only 1-2% of pet owners in the U.S. actually have pet insurance, in part because it can feel both expensive and complicated. Naturally, alternatives to traditional pet insurance are cropping up to try and fill a void in the market by helping pet owners more affordably care for their pets.

What is Community-Based Pet Insurance?

One of the most talked-about alternatives to pet insurance is the community-based care plan. It’s essentially crowdsourcing for pet expenses, and Eusoh is leading the charge. Eusoh is the only community-based care plan for pets and that “community” is growing exponentially each year. Community cost-sharing for pets is a simple concept. Community members (i.e. pet owners) sign up for a subscription, pay a small one-time deposit, then split the cost of any pet-related medical expenses with their community. At Eusoh, that translates to around a $10/month subscription, a $48 deposit, then a 20/80 split between pet owners and the community deposit pool. Out-of-pocket monthly expenses never exceed $48.

Here are a few of the questions the folks at Eusoh say they’re often asked about this kind of alternative pet insurance: Do I have to use a specific vet? No. All community members use their own preferred vet then simply upload the invoice from their service for reimbursement. Is there a deductible? Yes. Having the community reimburse for medical expenses requires payment of a small one-time deductible of $250. What kind of services are covered? Any pet-related medical services are covered! Surgeries are one of the most common, but cancer treatments, dental extractions, and complicated diagnostic tests are all things Eusoh members activate their benefits for.

Why Choose Something Like Crowdfunded Pet Care?

Eusoh says the number one reason pet owners choose to be part of their community is cost. Traditional pet insurance can have incredibly high premiums and deductibles. The system is also notoriously confusing to navigate. Another intangible benefit of using a community-based insurance plan is the community. Eusoh takes a lot of pride in connecting pet owners who otherwise would never have met each other, their resources pooled to the group’s benefit.