Pets Get Better Healthcare Than Owners: Poll

Many pet owners provide better healthcare for their pets than themselves, a new poll finds.

The CIGNA Preventive Care Research survey indicates nine in 10 pet owners know when their dog or cat is due for their shots. Yet only 50 percent of family health care decision makers know their blood pressure, and only one in five know their biometric numbers like cholesterol and BMI.

That’s far less than the eight in 10 women who know the frequency with which they get manicures and pedicures, and the 80 percent of men who know the mileage between oil changes.

The upshot: Americans are doing a great job at preventive care for their pets, but not so much for their own bodies and health.

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The findings are based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers between 25 and 75 years of age who have health insurance and are the primary healthcare decision makers for their families. The survey, conducted in September 2015, also found:

•    55 percent know they should go for an annual health check-up, lower among men.
•    50 percent of people know their blood pressure.
•    20 percent know their cholesterol levels or body mass index (BMI).
•    45 percent  know an annual check-up costs nothing for people who carry health insurance.
•    45 percent realize that vaccinations and immunizations are covered in their annual check-ups.
•    Less than 20 percent know they can get depression screening and alcohol and drug abuse assessments as part of the annual check-ups.

On the other hand, pollsters found:

•    85 percent of pet owners know when Fido and Morris are due to get their shots.
•    80 percent of women can tell you the frequency of their manicures and pedicures.
•    80 percent are aware how frequently they need to change smoke detector batteries.
•    70 percent know their monthly premium for car insurance.
•    50 percent remember their college GPA.

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