Pet Insurance
|
|
| I used to work for a vet who was against pet insurance. How it worked (at least several years ago) is on top of your premium, you have to pay for your services, and submit an invoice. The pet insurance did not always cover all services.
What he suggested that you do instead, was to open a bank account in your pets name. He said if you just put away $10 a paycheck into the account and did not touch it, that if you needed the money as your pet aged, or for an accident, you now had it. Plus, you could get an interest rate on your money. |
| Just my view... if I can't afford the premium, I probably can't afford a serious injury or illness let alone two in a row. I want my dogs to have the best care so with a pack, I don't think insurance is optional.
The AKC plans have paid thousands- http://www.akcpethealthcare.com . One dog has maxed out on her allergy coverage- $3,000. One surgery for the other was over $900. They paid quickly with no fuss. Genetic or congenital conditions are specifically excluded (from Essential Plus plan anyway)- http://www.akcphp.com/BHIACMS/menu_page ... Plans.html We carry 24 Pet Watch Insurance on our Border Collie-mix and Schipperke-mix. We took out coverage about 5 years ago and never had to use the policies until this year. We recently collected on both policies for liver issues and they paid quickly. I think this policy has maximum payouts based on the system affected but that hip dysplasia is a covered condition. http://www.24petwatch.com/petinsurance/ ... e-gold.asp We have Embrace Pet Insurance on Bumble... http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/default.aspx Interesting plan because you can do some customization and genetic/congenital conditions are NOT excluded. There's also an option for Continuing Care Coverage. http://www.embracepetinsurance.com/cove ... tions.aspx We used the policy recently but I'm not sure if we've been reimbursed yet... have to look at the paperwork. Petfinder is promoting a policy that appears to have a genetic/congenital coverage option too. I was recently checking for coverage on a new dog- http://www.petfirsthealthcare.com/petfinder/ And if you have a dog with preexisting conditions or congenital defects that make them uninsurable for standard health insurance, you can still check into an accident policy like the ASPCA's plan. http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/pet-in ... plans.aspx Our blind OES and OES with hip dysplasia do have accident insurance for $114 per year per dog. Just policies we have. Check out all the options, restrictions, limitations... read the outline of coverage carefully. Some people fail to do this then complain that something isn't covered  . Preexisting conditions are always excluded for either a specified time (if it's curable) or forever so it's best to get insurance when a dog is young... before any issues begin to appear.
Also check deductibles, co-pays, etc... see if the deductible is annual or per incident. You'll kick yourself if you need it and don't have it... or kick yourself it you had it but never needed it.  |
| We have PetCare Insurance, see: http://www.24petwatch.com/petinsurance
We really like it because they pay a % of CHARGES, not what they perceive to be customary charges. They pay quickly too. We previously had VPI, which many Vetirinary Hospitals seem to embrace, but we did not like VPI, as they pay a % of what they believe are customary charges, which were way below what any animal hospital in our area charges. One thing we learned along the way is to get your puppy insured ASAP, before any medical conditions arise and become "exclusions" for life. |
| Wish I had it before Gigi was diagnosed with both shoulders having OCD and hip dysplasia. I will be getting it for my other OES.
thanks for all the info |
| I have AKC pet partners also and recommend them to everyone. They've paid me back thousands. My one pup was hospitalized with a high fever, bill was over 1600. AKC paid me back close to 1400....Another hospitalized with MRSA and AKC paid me back 3 grand.
They ahve several different option plans and you do not need to be registered with the AKC nor even have a pedigree dog. In the last year, we've paid out close to 15 thousand in medical bills and without the insurance we would have been in trouble! Worth looking into. |
| I will be picking up my little bundle of joy in just over 2 weeks. Wow, I really can't believe it! I was talking with some friends who have pet insurance---1 has a Golden and the other has a Border Collie--- Both friends have VPI. I never had pet insurance with my other dog which was an OES and now I am wondering if this is a route I should consider. Does anyone have any recent opinions and thoughts or experiences with having a puppy and getting pet insurance? |
| We got insurance for Mady. The vet suggested we get it for the first year, as it would pay for itself in part of the spay, microchip, puppy shots costs. Then after a year you would have a good sense as to whether or not your dog was pretty robust and could decide to cancel the insurance or downgrade to something like accidental insurance. We went with Pet Secure and found them to be fine. We always got our money paid back quickly and without fuss. Now I do sometimes wonder if we should put that premium money into a bank account and then, if it doesn't get used then we still have the money. On the other hand I know us and I know that we would pretty much sell our house if we had to to keep Mady healthy. Craziness, never ever thought I would be one of 'those' people... |
| We chose a Petplan policy for my son's boxer. He wanted coverage for congenital problems as well as catastrophic injury or illness. To keep his premiums low, he opted for 80% coverage, thinking he could handle the rest. He also pays for her annuals, routine flea and heartworm meds, etc. The insurance is simply for the huge expenses. There are so many options, you need to decide what you need for your puppy. Like Jaci, I think it's money well spent to provide that level of care when your baby is really sick. Compare companies and read the fine print. You'll get many good responses here too. Good luck, and congrats on your new pup! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|