Your dog knows the sound of your keys before you've picked them up. Your cat has an opinion about your work-from-home setup. And at some point, probably during a 9 p.m. emergency room visit for a swallowed sock or a routine round of vaccinations, you've done the math on what that companionship actually costs.

The unpredictable stuff, a broken bone, a bad reaction to something they ate off the sidewalk, is exactly what's hardest to budget for. That's what the Nationwide pet insurance discount included with your well-being provider, ComPsych, is built for: coverage around accidents and routine wellness care, the two categories most likely to catch you off guard or add up over a year.

What the discount gets you:

• Accident coverage (broken bones, sprains, lacerations, poisoning) included on every plan
• Optional wellness coverage (checkups, vaccinations, flea/tick prevention) if you want it
• Your choice of deductible and reimbursement level, so you can dial the plan up or down to fit your budget
• Free 24/7 access to vethelpline®, where a veterinary professional can tell you by phone whether a symptom needs an emergency visit or can wait
• Your choice of any licensed vet, no networks, no referrals

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"I bought pet insurance for my large breed puppy, Sombra, the day we adopted her, and I'm glad I did!" said Lourdes Rodriguez, dependent care manager for Human Resources. "I've already had two emergency room visits, which were reimbursed within 48 hours. It also paid for her allergy tests and medicine. Best $55 I spend a month."

What you get back

Pets cost money. That's the obvious case, and it's the one this discount addresses. But it's not the only case.

Pet ownership has real physical and mental health effects: lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels; less loneliness and stress; better mood; and more built-in reasons to walk and get outside. One study found that people under stress calmed down faster with a pet nearby than with a supportive friend or spouse in the room.

You don't need a pet of your own to get a piece of that. LWC partners with Pet Partners of Southern Arizona to bring therapy dogs to campus throughout the year through Take a PAWS in Your Day. Departments can request a visit too. At BIO5, event coordinator Amy Barber started bringing Take a PAWS to her team after noticing how stressed and overworked everyone had become, and it's grown into one of the semester's most popular breaks. Check the events calendar for upcoming visits.

None of that shows up on a vet bill, but it's worth knowing it's there, especially when you're deciding whether coverage is worth the monthly cost.

How to use the discount:

Log in to your ComPsych portal, find the pet insurance link, and get a quote. You'll see your actual deductible, reimbursement, and cost options for your specific pet. If you already have a Nationwide policy, contact them directly to apply the discount at your next renewal.

For more on the health research behind pet ownership, read the full piece: Does being a pet owner benefit a person's health?