Pet Insurance

[Cherry]

I know this has been brought up several times, as I did a search. But I want to know the majority of members that currently have insurance for their pets and what provider they use. I have been really considering getting Sadie VPI and my husband isn't fond of the idea.

Has it come in handy?

Is it worth it with the co-pays, limitations?

What plan are you on?

I have VPI and I can't stand it. The only reason I still have it is because of her pre-existing conditions. She wouldn't be covered anywhere else. They make up every excuse not to cover. I have the Supoerior with WellCore Coverage, the highest plan you can get and I have gotten reimbursed MAYBE $200 out of the couple thousand I've spent on her. Thank goodness for Banfield's insurance. I have that as well for preventative care. Only reason I keep VPI is if something major happens, like if she gets hit by a car or needs expensive surgery.


They made up a diagnosis out of nowhere when I submitted the claim for her allergy test. They declined it because eusophoilic ulcers isn't covered. WHERE THE HELL DID THE VET SAY SHE HAD ULCERS??!!!??


I would go with pet plan. They seem to be the best!

[PinKster]

I know this has been brought up several times, as I did a search. But I want to know the majority of members that currently have insurance for their pets and what provider they use. I have been really considering getting Sadie VPI and my husband isn't fond of the idea.

Has it come in handy?

Is it worth it with the co-pays, limitations?

What plan are you on?

I have VPI and I can't stand it. The only reason I still have it is because of her pre-existing conditions. She wouldn't be covered anywhere else. They make up every excuse not to cover. I have the Supoerior with WellCore Coverage, the highest plan you can get and I have gotten reimbursed MAYBE $200 out of the couple thousand I've spent on her. Thank goodness for Banfield's insurance. I have that as well for preventative care. Only reason I keep VPI is if something major happens, like if she gets hit by a car or needs expensive surgery.


They made up a diagnosis out of nowhere when I submitted the claim for her allergy test. They declined it because eusophoilic ulcers isn't covered. WHERE THE HELL DID THE VET SAY SHE HAD ULCERS??!!!??


I would go with pet plan. They seem to be the best!

Hmmm thanks for the info, the banfield thing...is that something I can do now? I remember it was more preventive and wellness checks right?

Thanks!

[Cherry]

Ya, I paid $80ish the 1st payment and $30 a month for the highest plan. We had her on the plan that covered spaying so it's a bit higher. That is where we take her for all the testing because office visits are unlimited and you get 20% off meds and stuff. I don't like the vet we have but she's getting better and hasn't tried to force Science Diet on me in awhile. For emergencies or life threatening things, we take her to our more trusted vet and file a claim with VPI.

[BDestroyer8418]

I had Pets Best and I was not happy with them at all. I made a post about it on here not to long ago. I changed over to Pet Plan. So far I have not used it but I did call them a few times last week and was able to get someone on the line very fast compared to Pets Best where I use to wait 20 mins and then fight with them another 20 mins.

I went back and forth over the coverage and price and Pet Plan was the better choice I did pay in full for 1 year at the price of $277.72 which you save about $20 over the yr. I took $200/80% and the silver plan. I think Pets Best also gave you this but at Pet Plan if your pet is micro chipped you get 10% discount.

Good luck on what you choose since most places don't cover pre existing conditions if your pet has any.

[PinKster]

No she doesn't have any...yet! That's why I am concerned and want to make sure I know my shizznit!

My local vets now aren't too expensive but I would like to have something in case of emergencies.

I did read alot about the wellness plans with Banfied and I am not liking it at all. You have to sign yearly contracts and it specifically states in these contracts that if your pet dies, you will still be required to pay your wellness plan payment every month. That seems like total BS! Nice sympathy they have!

But I don't want to fight with an insurance company if and every time Sadie is injured either....GRRRRR

[tiva]

We just joined petplan for my accident-prone Vanya. I haven't needed to use it yet, thank heavens.

[PinKster]

We just joined petplan for my accident-prone Vanya. I haven't needed to use it yet, thank heavens.

I didn't know about petplan....Its interesting, I will have to look into it! Thanks!

[JokerGirl]

Sugar came with 45 days of free insurance through ShelterCare. I've gone back in to look at their normal pricing, and wasn't happy with how much they want per month, so I will just let the policy run out at her 45 day mark.

[Nickdawg]

I had petplan and had the accident plus select illness coverage (they have changed how they do things so may not be exactly the same) - anyway for $25/month it was WELL worth it - they paid out nearly $4000 plus for Nick ...

Honestly I think the lower plans as above are well worth it- if nothing else then accident coverage (I think the higher plans are not worth it)... one may think I can just put $$ away every month but a significant trip to the vet or hospital (eg. pancreatitis) can be boom... $1500.

[Nickdawg]

Just wanted to add that they did change the % they would cover after a fair number of claims (from 100% for accident and 80% for selected conditions to 50%) - in the fine print it says they can which seems ridiculous- but it was still very helpful.

For Nick it was for pancreatitis and 2 other mystery GI's, spear grass up the nose, arthritis meds, shots, xrays etc., and his bone cancer.... I did look after him super well really but in his mid/later years he and I were hit with a lot of stuff (I used to say he would be the poster dog against back yard breeding - I did get him from the shelter but know that is where he came from).

I never had a problem with reimbursement.

[MikeZev]

I have VPI for sicily but havent used it yet

[tiva]

For petplan, I'm paying about $10 a month, with a fairly high deductible ($300?), for a 2-year old dog. I figure it's worth it, as insurace against something big. Calling your dog a mixed breed saves a LOT ("pit mix" rates are almost half "pit bull" rates, and since our darling is from the humane society, we can call him what we like!).

[PinKster]

I wonder if my vet has her as Stafford Terrier, if I will be able to call her a "Mixed Breed", She was a rescue and I don't know what her lines are.

[PinKster]

So PetPlan doesn't cover anything preventive?

Exams, vaccinations, ect?

Petplan policies provide the most comprehensive reimbursement for veterinary fees relating to treatment administered by a licensed veterinarian for illness or injury (provided that it is not pre-existing or occurred during a waiting period) such as:
•Hospitalization - including emergency treatment
•Diagnostic testing - such as MRIs, x-rays, endoscopy
•Surgery - including cruciate ligament surgery and organ transplants but not spay/neuter
•Cancer treatment - regardless of the type of cancer
•Non-routine dental treatment - such as tooth extraction, root canal but not routine teeth cleaning
•Prescription medications
•Referral and specialist treatment
•Alternative and complementary treatments - such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy or chiropractic treatment

[Alyssa]

I've mentioned this on other forums and maybe here before as well, but I'll do so again for the heck of it ....

Most insurance plans will take your cash happily enough - but few pay out when the time comes.

If you are truly dedicated and wanting to put money into a health care fund for your dog, it makes better sense to open a special bank account just for the dog - and then stick 10-50 bucks (or more) into it for the care of your dog.

That way you earn interest - and if something happens - you have funds to help deal with it. And NO one can deny you.

Basically you pay an insurance company to hold that money for you should something happen, but they can and often do deny you use of those very funds. Why even allow that?

If you start having a large excess of funds, start using it to pay for things for your dog - like agility equipment, or weight pulling equipment, or a new leash, or a year's supply of flea prevention or heartworm medication.

It's the same thing really, except that YOU have the final and full say as to where the money is used.

You would need to be able to honor the account though and if you borrow from it, pay it back, or it is useless, but if you can honor the setup and stay off the funds accruing there, it's just as good as putting out monthly towards an insurance plan that might decide to tell you that you can't use all that money you shelled out to them to hold for you in case you need it.

Just an alternative way to go