How Many Of You Have Pet Insurance? If So, Who Do You Have It With?

[zadok]

I am pondering about it, soon after the link from "scarecrow" in my last query. I would most likely go with the ASPCA for the insurance coverage. First I want some input from you guys.

[Nykko]

Hi,   I have PetCare Gold. They have a number of options. I have the 1 that pays 70% of the bill. I did have to use it in February. Our male Standard Poodle was diagnosed with Leukemia and had to be place to sleep. It would have been $3000 out of our pocket but we only had to pay $900.   I have a internet site about Normal Poodles and there is a web page about Pet Insurance coverage. Verify it out, it may support.   http://www.standardpoodlesusa.com/pet-insurance coverage.html

[Garrin]

input from my side i am a veterinarian with two practices with approximately 10,000 active clients and i will tell you we have less than 10 -- not 10 % -- but 10 people with pet insurance. For most people it is more cost effective to just pay out of pocket. The one exception to this is if your pet has a serious health issue or major injury-  ie develops cancer or is hit by a car -- then the insurance is worthwile. I would tell you this- ask your veterinarian which companies he is familiar with or recommends-- i have had no problems with some companies but i had one which cancelled the owners policy without paying her claims for no apparent reason. anmldr 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[hyun-su]

i am a veterinarian with two practices with approximately 10,000 active clients and i will tell you we have less than 10 -- not 10 % -- but 10 people with pet insurance. For most people it is more cost effective to just pay out of pocket. The one exception to this is if your pet has a serious health issue or major injury-  ie develops cancer or is hit by a car -- then the insurance is worthwile. I would tell you this- ask your veterinarian which companies he is familiar with or recommends-- i have had no problems with some companies but i had one which cancelled the owners policy without paying her claims for no apparent reason.

[Blaine]

Pet insurance is great to have when you need it, but if your dogs are healthy, you can spend a whole lot of dough on premiums. It?s fairly expensive; when I looked into it for my dogs, it cost more to insure them than it did for my own healthcare insurance! For one dog, it is affordable, but when you have multiple dogs like you and I do, it is cost prohibitive. That said, with the rising costs of veterinary care and the increasing options for treatment of illness and disease in dogs that didn?t exist 20 years ago, it certainly is something to consider.   From the research I did, I do think there are companies that offer better insurance than others. AKC and VPI are two companies that offered what I felt were good policies, but be aware that pet insurance does not work the same as human insurance. It works great for illness or injury, but there are a lot more exclusions with pet insurance - forget them covering anything they consider genetic - like hip or elbow dysplasia. They won?t cover anything pre-existing, and unless you sign up for the top priced policies, routine care is also not covered. It is less expensive for young dogs, and premiums rise sharply as the dog ages.   If you can afford the monthly premium but maybe not an expensive emergency vet visit, then I?d say go for it, but if it is a stretch to make the premiums, I?d suggest putting aside a set amount every month to cover emergencies and illness instead.

[Cidro]

I was the manager/hospital admin. for a veterinary hospital for 6 years and got VPI insurance for our dogs at that point. There are times when I look at the money out vs. the benefits and wonder why I am doing it. But, I pay the monthly fee and forget it because I can't tell you how many times I saw a disease or something big happen to a dog, in particular, and the insurance really helped with the cost. Veterinary medicine is SUPER expensive. We did hip replacements, acl repair and all kinds of crazy surgery that cost in the tens of thousands. The people who were insured really got some relief from those type bills.   For just vaccines and flea meds. it is good to. I think it covers a percentage of the cost for the routine vaccines and then I get to choose between a spay, teeth cleaning, a supply of heartworm medicine, etc. It really is worth it in the long run. I can't tell you how many foxtails I saw inside animals and that alone can be a three hundred dollar removal. The insurance made it painless.   Good luck. If you can afford it, I recommend it.

[Ace]

Pet Insurance Hi,   I have PetCare Gold. They have several options. I have the one that pays 70% of the bill. I did have to use it in February. Our male Standard Poodle was diagnosed with Leukemia and had to be put to sleep. It would have been $3000 out of our pocket but we only had to pay $900.   I have a website about Standard Poodles and there is a page about Pet Insurance. Check it out, it might help.   http://www.standardpoodlesusa.com/pet-insurance.html shrsandy 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Chaim]

My Take on Pet Insurance Pet insurance is great to have when you need it, but if your dogs are healthy, you can spend a whole lot of dough on premiums. It?s fairly expensive; when I looked into it for my dogs, it cost more to insure them than it did for my own healthcare insurance! For one dog, it is affordable, but when you have multiple dogs like you and I do, it is cost prohibitive. That said, with the rising costs of veterinary care and the increasing options for treatment of illness and disease in dogs that didn?t exist 20 years ago, it certainly is something to consider.   From the research I did, I do think there are companies that offer better insurance than others. AKC and VPI are two companies that offered what I felt were good policies, but be aware that pet insurance does not work the same as human insurance. It works great for illness or injury, but there are a lot more exclusions with pet insurance - forget them covering anything they consider genetic - like hip or elbow dysplasia. They won?t cover anything pre-existing, and unless you sign up for the top priced policies, routine care is also not covered. It is less expensive for young dogs, and premiums rise sharply as the dog ages.   If you can afford the monthly premium but maybe not an expensive emergency vet visit, then I?d say go for it, but if it is a stretch to make the premiums, I?d suggest putting aside a set amount every month to cover emergencies and illness instead. working_dogz 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Guin]

VPI I was the manager/hospital admin. for a veterinary hospital for 6 years and got VPI insurance for our dogs at that point. There are times when I look at the money out vs. the benefits and wonder why I am doing it. But, I pay the monthly fee and forget it because I can't tell you how many times I saw a disease or something big happen to a dog, in particular, and the insurance really helped with the cost. Veterinary medicine is SUPER expensive. We did hip replacements, acl repair and all kinds of crazy surgery that cost in the tens of thousands. The people who were insured really got some relief from those type bills.   For just vaccines and flea meds. it is good to. I think it covers a percentage of the cost for the routine vaccines and then I get to choose between a spay, teeth cleaning, a supply of heartworm medicine, etc. It really is worth it in the long run. I can't tell you how many foxtails I saw inside animals and that alone can be a three hundred dollar removal. The insurance made it painless.   Good luck. If you can afford it, I recommend it. Sophiethedog 77 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.