*By Carlo Versano*
It has become a hallmark of the modern millennial: Babies? Maybe later. Fur babies? Absolutely.
Seven out of 10 members of the millennial generation own a pet at an average cost of around $1,000 per pet yearly.
Given that pets are increasingly treated as family members, more animal owners want to insure them against accidents and illness.
Indeed, the gross written premiums for pets in North America doubled ー from $575 million in 2013 to $1.15 billion in 2017, according to the National Association Pet Health Insurance Association.
Whether that's a smart use of funds is another question.
Jeff Blyskal, senior writer for the [Consumer's Checkbook](https://www.checkbook.org/), one of the original consumer review outlets, told Cheddar that pet insurance is often not worth the price.
"You're treating the pets like children, so you want to protect them," he acknowledged. But with premiums costing anywhere from $30 to $60 a month for mixed breed cats and dogs, the totals add up fast.
The average monthly cost to insure a dog against accident and illness is $45, according to NAPHIA, while the average monthly cost for a cat is $28.
Pure breeds, Blyskal noted, will cost far more as they are generally more prone to congenital diseases. A purebred Dogue de Bordeaux (think [Hooch](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212798/) from "Turner & Hooch") costs about $400 a month to insure.
Premiums will also skyrocket as your pet ages, Blyskal warns. That's why the [majority of U.S. veterinarians](https://www.checkbook.org/national/pet-insurance/articles/Is-Pet-Insurance-a-Smart-Purchase-7096) don't recommend it.
While accident and illness plans are most common, there's a growing market for wellness insurance for routine pet care. "It's really a waste of money," Blyskal said. If you're going to insure your pet, "buy insurance to protect against the unpredictable stuff."
Even then, you might be better off negotiating with your vet when the bill comes due, Blyskal said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-costs-and-benefits-of-pet-insurance).
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
Tesla, the car company run by Elon Musk, reported Wednesday that it sold more vehicles in the past three months after boycotts hit hard earlier this year, but profits still fell sharply. Third-quarter earnings fell to $1.4 billion, from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Excluding charges, per share profit of 50 cents came in below analysts' estimate. Tesla shares fell 3.5% in after-hours trading. Musk said the company's robotaxi service, which is available in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, will roll out to as many as 10 other metro areas by the end of the year.
Starbucks’ AI barista aims to speed service and improve experience. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune Business Editor, explains its impact on workers and customers.
As Big Tech reports Q3 earnings, investors await proof that massive AI and cloud investments from Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet are driving real growth.
Eric Trump joins us to discuss American Bitcoin’s mission, market strategy, and why he believes the U.S. must lead the next era of digital currency innovation.
