Pet Insurance

[MissKitty]

It is a PITA to get allll the vet records from your dog's whole life together. If I ever get another dog, I will buy the policy right away, even before the first vet trip.

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Same here!

[nic]

First thing I do when I get a new dog is insure them.

[malalibop]

I looked into insurance for Sadie, but it cost as much as insurance for my daughter! So we went with a microchip and low cost emergency coverage. According to the policy, if she is picked up injured away from home, the numbers on the microchip will automatically authorize up to $5,000 worth of care even if i cannot be contacted. So if she is hit by a car or something, she'll get treated right away. I only went for this because it fit my worries. Sadie is an escape artist... she has gotten out a couple of times. And while she always comes home, and we do live in a rural area, I do worry something will happen when I'm not around. If she's home and I'm able to take her to the vet, it's really just easier for me to cover vet costs with cash then pay for insurance that might not get used.

Case in point.. I would have paid a few thousand for a year worth of insurance... but her recent knee surgery was only 400 and I don't see racking up another thousand or more in costs over the next year. (Not that soaking 400 was easy.. but it was very worth it)

[Nichole]

My insurance costs about $23/month per each dog. Why would it cost thousands a year to insure your pup?

I was recently hit with a 4k vet bill. Color me happy I don't have to pay all of it.

[MissKitty]

Mine costs a grand total of $252 a year and has pretty extensive coverage and a low yearly detectable, no where near a few thousand dollars.

[Red]

I looked into insurance for Sadie, but it cost as much as insurance for my daughter! So we went with a microchip and low cost emergency coverage. According to the policy, if she is picked up injured away from home, the numbers on the microchip will automatically authorize up to $5,000 worth of care even if i cannot be contacted. So if she is hit by a car or something, she'll get treated right away. I only went for this because it fit my worries. Sadie is an escape artist... she has gotten out a couple of times. And while she always comes home, and we do live in a rural area, I do worry something will happen when I'm not around. If she's home and I'm able to take her to the vet, it's really just easier for me to cover vet costs with cash then pay for insurance that might not get used.

Case in point.. I would have paid a few thousand for a year worth of insurance... but her recent knee surgery was only 400 and I don't see racking up another thousand or more in costs over the next year. (Not that soaking 400 was easy.. but it was very worth it)

Your dog should not be able to get out, period, insurance or not. Sorry, big pet peeve of mine and I see statements like this way too often. I have a male who can get over a 9 foot solid fence and has not manage to leave my yard in the 7 years I have had him. It is not luck, it is efforts, planning and being responsible.My other guys are crafty as well, still don't get out and it better stay that way forever.

I pay over a thousand dollars per year in pet insurance (Healthypaws) for 3 dogs, which I got recently, since I have been hit with some serious vet bills last year. I always put money away for my dogs care, but $10.000 for a couple of situation....nowhere close to be wealthy here, need some help. So, not sure what you mean by the "I would have paid a few thousand for a year worth of insurance", since I got myself the best plan available for the insurance I chose, for 3 dogs, and still do not pay a "few thousands". Also, S400 for a knee surgery? Not sure what the problem was but I racked up over $5000 for a single knee surgery on one of my dogs so that $ 400 sounds a bit unreal to me and, often, you get what you paid for. If your dog was insured you could have afforded a specialist and you would not have to worry looking for the "best deal".

Not wanting to sound like a hypocrite, since I have put money aside religiously for my animals for so many years and did not have an insurance. With 5 dogs living here up to last year, a good insurance is not cheap to pay on a monthly base. I still managed to give my dogs the best care available in my State for a long time, but when bad luck hit I was reminded me that to even attempt to save the life of two dogs I loved to no end is very, very expensive.

[HarleyHyena]

After I adopted Gauge, they gave me a sheet with a list of Pet insurance companies. I haven't looked at all of them just yet. But here they are!

Veterinary Pet Insurance ( VIP)
888-899-4VPI
www.Petinsurance.com

Union Plus Pet Insurance
866-473-7387
www.unionplus.com

Pets Best Pet Insurance
888-899-0402
www.petscareinsurance.com

Pets Health
800-807-6724
www.Petshealth.com

[bethh]

I have Petplan for Otis. Got it when he was 4 months, he's 4 now. $30/month. He's been healthy until two weeks ago, split a toenail ($700) & they've discovered a grade 3 heart murmer. I'm very happy with Petplan. They are responsive and looks like we're going to have some expensive bills, so glad I got it.

[MissKitty]

Hmmm, I filed a claim with Healthy Paws and a few days later received an email that they are raising my rates about $4 a month. It isn't a big deal but I don't like feeling as if it was the claim that caused the price hike.

[IloveBlu]

I currently have trupanion, and our rates went up $7 a month recently. So after reading about healthy paws on this thread. I was curious to check it out. They have a bilateral exclusion for cruciate repairs. So if Blu blew his other knee it would not be covered. With trupanion, I was told it would be covered if it was more than two years since the surgery for the first onso I will stay with trupanion for this reason

[MissKitty]

I got my reimbursement in the mail today, after the deductible (which I regret not making lower) I got $17.98.

I was happy with the turn around time and when I double checked, they covered things I didn't think they would.

Overall, I am pretty happy!

[Red]

Just wanted to add good reviews for the pet insurance I have, Healthypaws. Fast and reliable customer service, 90% vet bill reimbursement (my plan) and always a nice note added in return to my claim. Tux's care has been thousands of dollars just this year and the insurance has been a huge help.

This week I also received the news that the insurance will start covering covering alternative therapies at no additional costs, on January 1st, 2013.Examples are: chiropractic, acupuncture, hydrotherapy and rehabilitation services. These treatments can be used to complement or replace traditional therapies.

https://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/

[MissKitty]

I forgot to update, about 3 months after my rate was raised I received a letter stating that it was a mistake and they refunded me the difference.

I am really, really pleased with HealthyPaws!