Pet Insurance

[TooLove]

This is currently the talk of the NY Times article thread, and got me wondering...
Who has had or has pet insurance?
What company?
What pets do you have it for?
What type of plan do you have? Does it cover wellness visits or emergencies only?
Do you feel as though its been worth it?
Will you keep it for your pets when you finish vet school?

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[bunnity]

This is currently the talk of the NY Times article thread, and got me wondering...
Who has had or has pet insurance?
What company?
What pets do you have it for?
What type of plan do you have? Does it cover wellness visits or emergencies only?
Do you feel as though its been worth it?
Will you keep it for your pets when you finish vet school?

I have insurance.
VPI for my rabbits and PetPlan for my gf's dog.
Emergencies/sicknesses only.
Yes x1000 on the dog. She is super accident prone and the company was very easy to work with when she gave herself bloat eating an unprecedented amount of stolen kibble. The rabbits only just got theirs (finally found a company that insures exotics) but it is $12/rabbit/month so definitely will be worth it.
Yes.

The only drawback is that you usually have to pay up front and then get reimbursed. But it makes it much more feasible to throw down a bunch of your own money, take out a loan, or borrow money from someone when you know you'll get the insurance check within a couple weeks.

 

[Lissarae06]

I have insurance.
VPI for my rabbits and PetPlan for my gf's dog.
Emergencies/sicknesses only.
Yes x1000 on the dog. She is super accident prone and the company was very easy to work with when she gave herself bloat eating an unprecedented amount of stolen kibble. The rabbits only just got theirs (finally found a company that insures exotics) but it is $12/rabbit/month so definitely will be worth it.
Yes.

The only drawback is that you usually have to pay up front and then get reimbursed. But it makes it much more feasible to throw down a bunch of your own money, take out a loan, or borrow money from someone when you know you'll get the insurance check within a couple weeks.

So the company is pretty quick to reimburse? Are there any procedures or treatments that aren't covered?

 

[TooLove]

I have VPI for my U2. I didn't have a choice in companies because VPI is the only one that will insure exotics. I have to say I think that they have been a bit stingy lately with some claims on our canine patients, from what their owners are telling me.
I pay about $23 a month for the wellness plan and the sick/emergency plan, and so far I've submitted over $600 in claims. Now, I work for his vet, so I didn't actually have to pay $600 but they assess you claims based on the full amount without discounts. After discounts, the refund checks basically cover everything. In the few months since I've used it, I've been refunded more than I will pay for the year so I think it's definitely worth it for exotics, but I looked into it for my boyfriends dog and I didn't feel as though it was worth the expense, even with the discount you get for insuring multiple pets. Also, for VPI at least, your rate is locked in for the lifetime of your pet. My bird will be 8 soon, so 30 years from now I could still be paying $23 a month even if I am submitting thousands of dollars of claims. This makes me nervous, because how could that be sustainable?
I'm on the fence for keeping it after school, it depends if I end up treating avian and exotic patients (that's the plan). But if I don't, then I will be taking him to (likely) another clinic, in which case I would probably keep it. I know DVMs often get professional discounts from specialists, but it might be a good thing to keep just in case...

 

[TooLove]

So the company is pretty quick to reimburse? Are there any procedures or treatments that aren't covered?

It really depends on your plan, and the species. I had a few hiccups in getting reimbursed, but I think they stemmed from me being an employee of the hospital. Regardless, got my check in about 45 days. The second claim was reimbursed within 30 days.

Also, make sure you read the policy over carefully.. Just had clients who recently did not get reimbursed for a CCL repair because of a little stipulation saying cruciates weren't covered until the pet had been insured for 6 months....ouch.

 

[Rainheart]

I have petplan for my golden. I haven't used it yet, but this week I am going to be making my first claim for his growth removal. I pay about $30 a month for him and it is just for things like this, surgeries, emergencies, the inevitable cancer down the line. I don't mind shelling out $30 a month just to know that if he needs something major down the line, I'll be able to afford it. I'm not sure if I will keep it after graduation, it depends. My golden is turning 2 this month.

 

[bunnity]

So the company is pretty quick to reimburse? Are there any procedures or treatments that aren't covered?

Yeah I think it was a couple weeks.
Anything wellness related isn't covered. Anything that the animal is showing symptoms of at the time you start the policy is considered pre-existing and is not covered. However, a genetic/congenital disease that shows up down the road is covered. Anyway they spell it out pretty much here:
http://www.gopetplan.com/dog-policies

I'll have to get back to you on VPI bunny insurance since they haven't sent me all my paperwork yet.From what I can see, PetPlan for dogs looks better than VPI because they don't have a limit based on what the diagnosis is. VPI is the only one that insures exotics though.

 

[cuitlamiztli]

This is currently the talk of the NY Times article thread, and got me wondering...
Who has had or has pet insurance?
What company?
What pets do you have it for?
What type of plan do you have? Does it cover wellness visits or emergencies only?
Do you feel as though its been worth it?
Will you keep it for your pets when you finish vet school?

My dog and cat are covered through PetPlan.
Accident/illness/injury only
My cat has had a few major issues since late 2011 (drug reaction leading to hospitalization, regular monitoring of heart murmur) so it has definitely been worth it! I haven't submitted any claims for my dog (probably could have a few times), but he's almost 10 and it's nice to know it's there.
There's no way I'm dropping their insurance after graduation.

 

[Trematode]

I'm Canadian. I heard great things about Pet Secure here and will be getting my cat insured. I have to call them up soon and set up a plan for our cat, Maddie.

 

[cuitlamiztli]

Yeah I think it was a couple weeks.

That's been my experience as well.

 

[Escalla]

I'm Canadian. I heard great things about Pet Secure here and will be getting my cat insured. I have to call them up soon and set up a plan for our cat, Maddie.

Really? I heard that Trupanion was the way to go. Just the general feeling around the clinic I'm at. I don't know the specifics in how they're different though.

I think the really crappy part about pet insurance is that they don't cover the consult fee at all. Cat needs a Optho consult? I would be forking over the couple hundred for that and only the medications would be eligible for coverage.

Good in the case of emergencies and chronic issues that develop. Or if you need an U/S done by a specialist. But not so much unless these problems arise.

 

[bunnity]

Really? I heard that Trupanion was the way to go. Just the general feeling around the clinic I'm at. I don't know the specifics in how they're different though.

I think the really crappy part about pet insurance is that they don't cover the consult fee at all. Cat needs a Optho consult? I would be forking over the couple hundred for that and only the medications would be eligible for coverage.

Good in the case of emergencies and chronic issues that develop. Or if you need an U/S done by a specialist. But not so much unless these problems arise.

It really depends on the plan. I don't think the consult thing is universal.

 

[Escalla]

It really depends on the plan. I don't think the consult thing is universal.

Ok, good to know. That is the case with the two main insurance providers in Canada which is a bummer.

 

[TooLove]

Took this from my policy.


EXCLUSIONS
This policy will not pay for:
* Injury or illness contracted, manifested or incurred prior to the policy effective date, unless such injury or
illness has been cured and there has not been a reoccurrence or manifestation of the injury or illness requiring treatment. Support documentation from a licensed veterinarian must be submitted to us for consideration of removal of any medical exclusion.
* Internal or external parasites, preventive treatments and diagnostics for or conditions relating to parasites.
* Routine care, examinations, vaccinations.
* Congenital or hereditary defects or diseases
* Elective and maintenance procedures, including but not limited to sexing, cosmetic surgeries, wing clipping,
beak filing, nail trims, teeth filing or clipping, removal of leg bands.
* Breeding or conditions relating to breeding.
* Surgical removal of reproductive organs, expression or removal of scent glands.
* Boarding or transport expenses.
* Special diets, pet foods, vitamins, mineral supplements, grooming costs, and bathing (including
medicated baths).
* Diseases preventable by vaccines (unless administered by a veterinarian), within the protocol as defined in
current veterinary references.
* Behavioral problems not listed on Veterinary Services Benefit Schedule, training or therapy.
* Orthodontics, teeth cleaning, polishing, endodontics and removal of deciduous teeth.
* Diagnostic test(s) and treatment(s) for conditions excluded or limited by this policy and complications of
conditions excluded or limited by this policy.
* For ferrets, diagnosis, medical management, or surgical correction of any endocrine tumors, both benign and
malignant, or endocrine hyperplasias of any kind, or associated splenectomy.


This was taken from the emergency and sickness policy. Since I have the wellness plan too routines are covered, but not to the extent that an emergency or surgery would be. I only got $10 back on a fecal direct and gram stain

 

[bunnity]

Took this from my policy.


EXCLUSIONS
This policy will not pay for:
* Injury or illness contracted, manifested or incurred prior to the policy effective date, unless such injury or
illness has been cured and there has not been a reoccurrence or manifestation of the injury or illness requiring treatment. Support documentation from a licensed veterinarian must be submitted to us for consideration of removal of any medical exclusion.
* Internal or external parasites, preventive treatments and diagnostics for or conditions relating to parasites.
* Routine care, examinations, vaccinations.
* Congenital or hereditary defects or diseases
* Elective and maintenance procedures, including but not limited to sexing, cosmetic surgeries, wing clipping,
beak filing, nail trims, teeth filing or clipping, removal of leg bands.
* Breeding or conditions relating to breeding.
* Surgical removal of reproductive organs, expression or removal of scent glands.
* Boarding or transport expenses.
* Special diets, pet foods, vitamins, mineral supplements, grooming costs, and bathing (including
medicated baths).
* Diseases preventable by vaccines (unless administered by a veterinarian), within the protocol as defined in
current veterinary references.
* Behavioral problems not listed on Veterinary Services Benefit Schedule, training or therapy.
* Orthodontics, teeth cleaning, polishing, endodontics and removal of deciduous teeth.
* Diagnostic test(s) and treatment(s) for conditions excluded or limited by this policy and complications of
conditions excluded or limited by this policy.
* For ferrets, diagnosis, medical management, or surgical correction of any endocrine tumors, both benign and
malignant, or endocrine hyperplasias of any kind, or associated splenectomy.


This was taken from the emergency and sickness policy. Since I have the wellness plan too routines are covered, but not to the extent that an emergency or surgery would be. I only got $10 back on a fecal direct and gram stain

Should say: for ferrets: don't bother.

 

[TooLove]

Should say: for ferrets: don't bother.

 

[Coquette22]

I have PetPlan for my cat Kuromi. I don't know what care she'll need over the next 15 years and I'd like to be prepared for it. My sister's Chihuahua is also insured, with PetSecure. Mom's bulldog isn't, but only because when we got her as a puppy, pet insurance was still really really rare. By the time it got more common around here, the cost to insure a geriatric bulldog almost makes it not worth it.

 

[BlackDog17]

Took this from my policy.


EXCLUSIONS
This policy will not pay for:
* Injury or illness contracted, manifested or incurred prior to the policy effective date, unless such injury or illness has been cured and there has not been a reoccurrence or manifestation of the injury or illness requiring treatment. Support documentation from a licensed veterinarian must be submitted to us for consideration of removal of any medical exclusion.

I have a cat with FIV who I've been thinking about insuring. He's healthy now, but if his health takes a turn for the worse in the future it would be nice to have some money on my side. I'm sure each plan is different, but does anyone know if "secondary illnesses" would be covered? Or if I could even get him insured in the first place considering he has a pretty serious pre-existing condition?

 

[TooLove]

Your best bet is to call and speak with a rep. I would say that it's unlikely you will get coverage for anything that could be related to his FIV status, but I may be wrong.

 

[dvmdreamer]

I have carried insurance on my horses. I think they are a little different than other pets since there is all the soundness for intended use business and Mortality is the main focus, but I'll weigh in anyway.

The company I use (Hallmark Equine) has been good to work with. The rates are reasonable for Major Medical and Mortality. It gets more expensive as the horse ages. You have to submit paperwork justifying valuation every year, but aren't required to do a vet exam unless the horse gets into the 6digit range. It covers major events, not farm calls, vaccinations, Adequan, or other routine care. You do have to pay out of pocket, but they are quick to reimburse- I can put it on a credit card and get the reimbursement check before the payment actually has to be made from my bank account.

The bad thing is everything becomes a pre-existing condition that is no longer covered. If you submit a claim for maintenance hock radiographs, hock conditions are excluded the next year. So you have to think about the potential for future catastrophic things when making claims for minor (but still expensive) things.

It was worth it for two horses. One I only had mortality on, but he got really sick during the first year I owned him and had to be euthanized after occuring some major vet bills. The mortality covered the vet bills, so I wasn't both horseless and in debt. My other horse had major medical until he was too old. He had cancer and they paid for him to have surgery and two rounds of cisplatin bead implants (like almost $2000 worth...). I wouldn't have been able to pay for this otherwise. They still insure him for mortality and surgical procedures for any purpose other than the specific tumor he had before.

 

[Trilt]

Exactly what I thought when looking at insurance for my furritos. Don't cover the two major diseases they get? Great.

 

[AceRH731]

Working at a clinic for what feels like forever now, I have dealt with all the above mentioned insurances. I personally have seen so many of our clients get ripped off my VPI. They are quarterly based, so even though your policy may have a limit of $10,000. You will only get paid the quarterly amount. A word of warning, make sure you read reviews on the companies. There are some out there that will only pay back what they feel the clinic should be charging clients. We had one say we should only be charging $20 for a consultation instead of $50.

We have a long way to go but in Europe it works very well. I personally am an advocate for Embrace. They offer a free two month trial so you can check them out. Clients get checks two weeks after submitting the invoice. Their plans can cover wellness, accidents and with some plans you get $400 free a year. Most people use them for teeth cleanings!

 

[orcagirl]

I once read an article in a finance magazine that recommended having a separate savings account, rather than pet insurance. Basically put the money into the account like you would pay for the insurance. They made it seem like a better option. Any input?

 

[Lissarae06]

I once read an article in a finance magazine that recommended having a separate savings account, rather than pet insurance. Basically put the money into the account like you would pay for the insurance. They made it seem like a better option. Any input?

That's what we do pretty much. Instead of paying $20/mo for insurance, we put close to that amount aside for vet related stuff. It's there right when we need it and you don't have to worry about exclusions. A negative is if something big happens and you don't have enough saved up yet.

 

[DVMDream]

That's what we do pretty much. Instead of paying $20/mo for insurance, we put close to that amount aside for vet related stuff. It's there right when we need it and you don't have to worry about exclusions. A negative is if something big happens and you don't have enough saved up yet.

I saw quite a few clients that did this, it seemed to work out really well for them. They would set aside x amount of money/month and put it into their "pet fund". The only downside is as Lissa mentioned... if there isn't enough saved up and something happens.

 

[AceRH731]

We see people put it on credit cards and care credit cards. The money comes so fast that you haven't had to sart repaying your card.

 

[Rainheart]

I would love to just set money aside for my boy, but being a golden, I know that he will have cancer down the line and those last few years of life a very costly. So, that is why I have insurance instead of a savings account.
I have my own savings account I put $25 twice a monthly into and it grows slowly, but even after saving for a while, I don't have enough right now that I would feel secure to be able to pay for an emergency.

 

[krist]

I would love to just set money aside for my boy, but being a golden, I know that he will have cancer down the line and those last few years of life a very costly. So, that is why I have insurance instead of a savings account.
I have my own savings account I put $25 twice a monthly into and it grows slowly, but even after saving for a while, I don't have enough right now that I would feel secure to be able to pay for an emergency.

not really funny but I have a 1.5 year old golden and I always joke everytime something is wrong with him that it's cancer and how I'm going to start having prophylactic rads taken of all of his limbs abdomen and chest every 6 months starting at the age of 4

 

[Rainheart]

not really funny but I have a 1.5 year old golden and I always joke everytime something is wrong with him that it's cancer and how I'm going to start having prophylactic rads taken of all of his limbs abdomen and chest every 6 months starting at the age of 4

My boy will be 2 this month, but I am totally with you. I have told myself he is going to need to be ultrasounded a few times a year (mostly to check spleen) for my sanity, haha!

 

[grrrr121]

I have accidental insurance for my dog through ASPCA. I've never had to submit a claim *knock on wood* so I couldn't tell you too much about it. I just have the basic 80% reimbursement up to $2500 a year and it only covers accidents, no illnesses. It's $13/month. I figured some insurance is better than none

 

[AmandaC]

Check out www.petassure.com. They offer a great discount program for a low monthly cost. The discount will apply to all medical costs you ask about. Saves you a bundle on vet bills!!

 

[orca2011]

Just wanted to bring this thread back to life. I just adopted a dog and am definitely getting insurance for him. I'm leading towards Healthy Paws, PetPlan or Trupanion and just wanted to see if anyone has had more to add about their experiences with any of them.

 

[Rainheart]

Just wanted to bring this thread back to life. I just adopted a dog and am definitely getting insurance for him. I'm leading towards Healthy Paws, PetPlan or Trupanion and just wanted to see if anyone has had more to add about their experiences with any of them.

I have petplan and haven't had any complaints! I've only made one claim and there was no issue. I'd also look into Embrace- I really liked them, too, and almost went with them.

 

[deleted498041]

I have all four of my horses insured through Connaway insurance. They're insured for major medical (up to $7500) and mortality. I get a quote each year for how much they're worth and then decide how much I'll be insuring them for. When I was quoted $75,000 for my just on the ground foal, I almost had a heart attack.
I shop around for equine insurance every year, and I've never been able to find anyone better.

 

[hygebeorht]

I have PetPlan for my three cats. I've been reimbursed a few times, and they are very prompt and the customer service is good. Wellness isn't covered, and the deductible is something like $200 depending on the cat (I got different plans for each cat to keep it affordable).

It's good to have claims forms printed out to bring to the clinic with you if it's not an emergency visit. Most clinics are very good about filling the form out and faxing it to the company.

I've had friends say I should be putting that money in a savings account instead of the insurance, but even if I did, by the end of vet school I'd only have about $1200. I like having a bit more security than that.

 

[bbeventer]

I wish I had insurance on my dog. She now has an autoimmune thing going on, and the gold standard treatment (which is the only feasible treatment besides pred) is $300 a month. Yep... should of got pet insurance

 

[Easnadh]

I got Petplan insurance for my cat and my puppy after she had to be treated for parvo, and I couldn't be happier with the decision. A few months later, she had to have an emergency gastrotomy, and I was reimbursed for 90% of the cost. Petplan was the best option for me because I didn't really care about wellness coverage, and they offered multi-pet discounts, vet industry discounts, and a few others.

 

[hygebeorht]

Just got off the phone with PetPlan, and if you haven't called them to let them know you're in the vet industry, you should do it. It's a 20% discount.

Also, if anyone is considering petplan, if you PM me your email address I can send you a link to use to sign up that will give me a bonus, which I'll be happy to split with you.

 

[Rainheart]

Yep, the discount is nice!
I guess I can input more of my reasoning into pet insurance. My main thing is that I have a golden retriever, so you know, he is inevitibly going to have cancer somewhere down the line. If I were to put the same amount I pay into my insurance every month (this year it is about $33/month. It does go up as they age) I wouldn't have enough to pay off something significant if it were to happen (foreign body, cancer, accident, etc). I have the gold plan with them and $200 reimbursement and it is worth every penny just so I can have the peace of mind to be able to pay anything I need to with him. I NEVER want to be in the position that I can't afford to do what is needed for my dog (and any future pups, too).

 

[kakurubird]

Don't have anything for my dog, but I met a client recently who had gone through very extensive treatments for their previous dog for multiple issues and was comparing insurance costs recently for their new dog just so that if it ever came to something like that again, she could go into deciding a treatment plan based only on prognosis/quality of life/etc. and not have to make decisions on a financial basis. Just an interesting way to think about it.

 

[StartingoverVet]

I've had friends say I should be putting that money in a savings account instead of the insurance, but even if I did, by the end of vet school I'd only have about $1200. I like having a bit more security than that.

This is actually a pretty poor argument from your friends who only see insurance company profits....

Insurance operates on a few principles.
1) The law of large numbers. Have lots of clients, and only a few of them have losses..... pool the risk together makes it easier to manage.
YOU are one person. One loss to an individual is catastrophic. Sure if you insure yourself 100 times it will balance out, but we don't have that luxury.

2) Investment returns. Insurance companies take the premiums and make a return on them. That is where most of their profits come from. Most of us don't have the time or expertise to manage our pet health savings account so that our money would grow at the same rates as the insurance companies.

3) There is no psychological component, and only $$ matters. Society benefits from lower risk in the system. We sleep better at night if we know we don't have to worry about something. The pooling of risk is very beneficial.

Insurance came about to help lower the risk associated with BIG LOSSES from losing a ship or whatever, and that is the best use of insurance, to help us against big unexpected expenses (like a major medical issue for our pets). Too many people think insurance should pay for everyday recurring costs which really are better handled ourselves.

And NO, I have nothing to do with the insurance industry (except they were clients of the firms I worked for way back in the day).

 

[TooLove]

I think both Embrace and Trupanion are great. You can also check through any insurance company you have policies with, as some do offer pet coverage. I have VPI for my bird as they are currently the only company which covers exotics. I have nothing but good things to say from my personal experience, however, I have noticed that for dogs and cats their reimbursement amounts seem to be less as compared to previous years.

 

[puppyloomp]

I have VPI for my rabbit and I think our cat is under VPI as well and our dog is under PetPlan. I really like VPI for my rabbit (but I think it's my only option for him anyway haha) and it's been really helpful since he's gotten pretty sick a few times!

 

[orca2011]

I think both Embrace and Trupanion are great. You can also check through any insurance company you have policies with, as some do offer pet coverage. I have VPI for my bird as they are currently the only company which covers exotics. I have nothing but good things to say from my personal experience, however, I have noticed that for dogs and cats their reimbursement amounts seem to be less as compared to previous years.

Totally wish I knew companies did exotics before I took Solstice in for her sludge issues. Would be nice to get some of those diagnostics covered. That being said, the discount at the teaching hospital has made it pretty reasonable to pay out of pocket so far.

 

[Drag0nfly]

Hi, does anybody know about getting pet insurance if you are from the US, and going to school in Canada? I will be attending UPEI next year as a 1st year. Thanks!

 

[orca2011]

Hi, does anybody know about getting pet insurance if you are from the US, and going to school in Canada? I will be attending UPEI next year as a 1st year. Thanks!

If you read the sample policies for some of the companies, it tells you a little bit. I think I just read on PetPlans that they'll cover you if you're temporarily in Canada but they didn't mention a specific time limit. I'd single out what companies you're interested in and contact them directly.

 

[Drag0nfly]

Thanks!

 

[TooLove]

FYI guys, VPI gives a 5% discount to vet students. It didn't take much off my monthly premium but at least it's something!

 

[Kyra 6]

I have Trupanion for my GSD (in my avatar). I got it immediately, the day I brought him home at nine weeks, and he is two and a half now. I pay about $40 a month for the emergency and illness plan that pays 80%, I think, and I have submitted several claims. One was for something toxic he ate (never found out what) that was about $1000 at an EC. One for the same issue as bunnity's dog - we were on a road trip in Montana, and he got into a gravity feeder where we were spending the night and ate kibble until he looked like a pregnant cow. I didn't know it, so I thought he had bloated, and the nearest open vet was an hour away. That was a fun night. Around $700, I think, for x-rays and emergency fee. Another was to have a dental specialist extract a broken tooth. I think that one was around $1000, too. Don't remember for sure. I might have had a couple smaller claims as well. Always got reimbursed super quick.

I believe they are available in the US and Canada, so maybe this would be a good idea for Drag0nfly? If I remember correctly, they have a live human being answering the phone 24/7, and have always been extremely friendly and helpful whenever I've called to ask if something was covered. They do have limits on their coverage of course (at least with this plan) - if your pet is not fixed before one year of age, they stop covering a huge list of things, including HBC (presumably because intact animals are more likely to roam). They wouldn't cover his cryptorchid neuter or pay for a root canal on the tooth, but I agree with SOV - I have pet insurance for emergencies, to keep me from someday having to make a decision about my dog's care based on my funds (or lack thereof). I have enough money (and friends in this field) to deal with the small/routine things myself. The peace of mind is more than worth it to me.

 

[TooLove]

All I have to say right now is thank god for pet insurance. My bird was doing some weird stuff this morning and I was getting really concerned. I'm watching him for now but it's just nice to know I have that cushion there. Especially since he picks the most inopportune times to be sick (long weekend).