You don't HAVE to, but it is a great investment if something were to ever happen to your puppy! If she ever had to have surgery or got really sick, you would be really glad you did! Both of mine are covered and thankfully I've never had to use it, but there are many members here who have. I personally have Pet Plan. There are different policies to choose from. My policies run about $250 per year per dog. You can check into it at
Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats - Petplan Pet Health Insurance