Does anyone out there have Pet Insurance? Any input on companies, service, etc would be great. I'm going to buy for Sam, Dot & Tucker because if not I'll be living in a cardboard box if something happens. ;)
We do. Actually I just have it for the girls b/c it's not very cost effective for Sherman (he's 10+). Email me at ferndoggleblog at yahoo dot com if you want details on rates & stuff.
We don't have any pet insurance so I'm not really sure why I'm even responding! I have looked into it in the past, though, and it wasn't cheap, but if you use it a lot (which I'm sure you would) I think it's worth it. It was through VPI Pet Insurance. I will probably get it for Suki eventually since pugs are notorious for their health problems as they age.
My mommy has VPI Pet insurance, it pays for some of the expenses. It pays for some of the expenses, but not all. You get some money back for medications, heartworm, flea and tick, surgeries, etc.... check it out for yourself. http://www.petinsurance.com/
I have it for Sophie and it was great with her TPLO, but it is expensive and I'm actually thinking of cancelling it. It's $50/month and this year, her deductible goes up to $300 (an age thing), so before the insurance will even start working for me, I will be forking out $900. If I don't claim anything at all, I'm paying $600. The way I see it, it is only worthwhile if she has TPLO surgery every year for the rest of her life. If she lives to be 12, I will have paid in at least $2400, and that's only if she has no claims. I think my new plan is to put $50 in a jar every month and use it for whatever ails her. If there is $2400 in it at the end of her life, I'm going to throw all her doggie pals a great big party to celebrate what a fabulous beast she was .... is. IS!!!!!
Oh ... and she's on Pet Plan. I'm not sure if it is only Canadian. I think they are all more or less the same. Something to keep in mind also is that they will not cover any pre-existing conditions. Good luck with your search!
I agree with other puppies here that insurance is usually more expensive than it is worth, but there are organizations that will help you with big veterinary bills. One of our dogs needed an MRI, so I know how expensive that is. Here is a place to begin looking for someplace that can help. -Magnum
We've found that instead of forking over lots of money to an insurance company, then having to pay up front for procedures and wait to get reimbursed, its much better to start a savings account just for the dogs. They have their own savings account, money gets put in there each month automatically and it builds up pretty quick. So far, that savings account has paid for a hip replacement and Sam's spine surgery, vaccines, ER trips, etc. The dogs have more money in their savings account than we do because it only gets touched if they need something. This is much more peace of mind than worrying about where the money will come from in an ER, and whether or not it will be covered. Some insurance companies will also make you see a specific vet, which we do NOT like at all.
Some people will get a credit card and not use it unless its for their dogs.
Everyone said what I was going to say. Expensive, limited coverage, high deductible, excludes pre-existing conditions, some even have limits based on breed. Meeshka's human woman has a great idea! If you can afford to pay $50/month for the premium, just put it in a savings account.
I must say, I agree with the others. Set up a savings account just for fur baby emergencies. And if you never use it (and we pray you don't) then it's still your money and not the insurance company.
We have VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) for Abby and Sam. I was uninsurable because of my murmur and enlarged heart. So far VPI has paid very well. It paid back almost $1200 of Abby's $1400 ACL surgery for her knees.
We also have our own credit card, that is ONLY used for doggies. We got it through the AKC and it has a Siberian Husky on it. It has come in handy on several occasions. Then, when VPI reimburses us, we just put it all towards the card.
11 comments:
We do. Actually I just have it for the girls b/c it's not very cost effective for Sherman (he's 10+). Email me at ferndoggleblog at yahoo dot com if you want details on rates & stuff.
Jen
Hey Maryann,
We don't have any pet insurance so I'm not really sure why I'm even responding! I have looked into it in the past, though, and it wasn't cheap, but if you use it a lot (which I'm sure you would) I think it's worth it. It was through VPI Pet Insurance. I will probably get it for Suki eventually since pugs are notorious for their health problems as they age.
Our shelter provides information to adoptive parents for ShelterCare pet insurance (sheltercare.com). I have not heard any feedback on it though.
My mommy has VPI Pet insurance, it pays for some of the expenses. It pays for some of the expenses, but not all. You get some money back for medications, heartworm, flea and tick, surgeries, etc.... check it out for yourself.
http://www.petinsurance.com/
Balboa :)
I have it for Sophie and it was great with her TPLO, but it is expensive and I'm actually thinking of cancelling it. It's $50/month and this year, her deductible goes up to $300 (an age thing), so before the insurance will even start working for me, I will be forking out $900. If I don't claim anything at all, I'm paying $600. The way I see it, it is only worthwhile if she has TPLO surgery every year for the rest of her life. If she lives to be 12, I will have paid in at least $2400, and that's only if she has no claims. I think my new plan is to put $50 in a jar every month and use it for whatever ails her. If there is $2400 in it at the end of her life, I'm going to throw all her doggie pals a great big party to celebrate what a fabulous beast she was .... is. IS!!!!!
Oh ... and she's on Pet Plan. I'm not sure if it is only Canadian. I think they are all more or less the same. Something to keep in mind also is that they will not cover any pre-existing conditions. Good luck with your search!
I agree with other puppies here that insurance is usually more expensive than it is worth, but there are organizations that will help you with big veterinary bills. One of our dogs needed an MRI, so I know how expensive that is. Here is a place to begin looking for someplace that can help.
-Magnum
We've found that instead of forking over lots of money to an insurance company, then having to pay up front for procedures and wait to get reimbursed, its much better to start a savings account just for the dogs. They have their own savings account, money gets put in there each month automatically and it builds up pretty quick. So far, that savings account has paid for a hip replacement and Sam's spine surgery, vaccines, ER trips, etc. The dogs have more money in their savings account than we do because it only gets touched if they need something. This is much more peace of mind than worrying about where the money will come from in an ER, and whether or not it will be covered. Some insurance companies will also make you see a specific vet, which we do NOT like at all.
Some people will get a credit card and not use it unless its for their dogs.
Meeshka's human woman
Everyone said what I was going to say. Expensive, limited coverage, high deductible, excludes pre-existing conditions, some even have limits based on breed. Meeshka's human woman has a great idea! If you can afford to pay $50/month for the premium, just put it in a savings account.
The Dachsies Mom
I must say, I agree with the others. Set up a savings account just for fur baby emergencies. And if you never use it (and we pray you don't) then it's still your money and not the insurance company.
We have VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) for Abby and Sam. I was uninsurable because of my murmur and enlarged heart. So far VPI has paid very well. It paid back almost $1200 of Abby's $1400 ACL surgery for her knees.
We also have our own credit card, that is ONLY used for doggies. We got it through the AKC and it has a Siberian Husky on it. It has come in handy on several occasions. Then, when VPI reimburses us, we just put it all towards the card.
Holly
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