What Are People's Experiences With Pet Health Insurance?

[Lowell]

ASPCA sponsors one and there are other companies as well. We'd like to know how successful--or unsuccessful--buying health insurance to cover your dog's health has been.

[Abijah]

...at the time I was considering it, it wasn't available for pets older than eight years. Since at that time all of my animals were over that age tghat made it an easy decision. That has changed, but there are still a lot of exclusions. For example, VPI excludes hip displasia and a number of breed-specific illnesses. For a Shar-Pei for example, this includes Amyloidosis, Lens luxation, Synovitis, Shar-Pei fever, and Mucinosis, and for Chows, Dermatomyositis, Myotonia, Sebaceous adenitis, and Seborrhea(very common here in south Texas).Other excluded conditions include:Elective and cosmetic procedures Expression or removal of anal glands or anal sacculitis Breeding or conditions related to breeding Special diets, pet foods, vitamins, mineral supplements, boarding or transporting expenses, grooming costs Diseases that are preventable by vaccines Behavioral problems Diagnosis of, or treatment for, internal or external parasites Orthodontics, endodontics and removal of deciduous teeth Diagnostic tests and treatments for conditions excluded or limited by the policy or complications arising from conditions excluded or limited by the policy Routine examinations, vaccines, teeth cleaning and spay/neuter, unless the optional Pet Wellcare Protection? Coverage is purchased.I also have multiple animals and the monthly cost of Pet Insurance would be very high.Because my cats all live in the house and because my dogs only go outside the property on a leash with me, I have chosen to self-insure them. In essence I set aside the equivalent of the fees spent on pet insurance and ear mark it for use on the animals. I also have a maximum amount that I am willing to spend on a curative treatment of $1000. I have had to do that only once in many years of living with pets.In addition, all but one of my animals have been mixed breeds, all apparently enjoying the proverbial hybrid vigor. They have had few health problems, which amazes me since all were rescues and, in some cases, vicitims of neglect or abuse.In the vast majority of cases I have had to spend little beyond the routine annual exams and vaccinations until my animals get to be very old. At that point usually the biggest question is quality of life and whether the expensive treatments would still allow the animal to enjoy itself.I do choose to buy premium pet foods and watch their weights carefully.My current animals are four dogs, aged 3, 8, 13 and 15 years, and 8 cats ranging in age from 2 years to 15 years. We lost a fifth dog this year, a Shar-Pei, aged 9, to a very fast-moving lymphoma. Treatment was not really an option as it was too virulent, so pet insurance wouldn't have helped much.I do recommend Pet Insurance if you have an animal that is likely to be involved in activities where accidental injury could happen, such as a hunting dog or one that competes in agility or other type of activity. Also, I have found that pure bred animals sometimes have more health problems. Itis also easier to get if you have a young animal. And finally, if you only have one animal it could be quite affordable.However, when I did the number-crunching, it turned out to not be cost-effective for me, but it might be for you.

[Asif]

I did not get Pet Insurance because... ...at the time I was considering it, it wasn't available for pets older than eight years. Since at that time all of my animals were over that age tghat made it an easy decision. That has changed, but there are still a lot of exclusions. For example, VPI excludes hip displasia and a number of breed-specific illnesses. For a Shar-Pei for example, this includes Amyloidosis, Lens luxation, Synovitis, Shar-Pei fever, and Mucinosis, and for Chows, Dermatomyositis, Myotonia, Sebaceous adenitis, and Seborrhea(very common here in south Texas).Other excluded conditions include:Elective and cosmetic procedures Expression or removal of anal glands or anal sacculitis Breeding or conditions related to breeding Special diets, pet foods, vitamins, mineral supplements, boarding or transporting expenses, grooming costs Diseases that are preventable by vaccines Behavioral problems Diagnosis of, or treatment for, internal or external parasites Orthodontics, endodontics and removal of deciduous teeth Diagnostic tests and treatments for conditions excluded or limited by the policy or complications arising from conditions excluded or limited by the policy Routine examinations, vaccines, teeth cleaning and spay/neuter, unless the optional Pet Wellcare Protection? Coverage is purchased.I also have multiple animals and the monthly cost of Pet Insurance would be very high.Because my cats all live in the house and because my dogs only go outside the property on a leash with me, I have chosen to self-insure them. In essence I set aside the equivalent of the fees spent on pet insurance and ear mark it for use on the animals. I also have a maximum amount that I am willing to spend on a curative treatment of $1000. I have had to do that only once in many years of living with pets.In addition, all but one of my animals have been mixed breeds, all apparently enjoying the proverbial hybrid vigor. They have had few health problems, which amazes me since all were rescues and, in some cases, vicitims of neglect or abuse.In the vast majority of cases I have had to spend little beyond the routine annual exams and vaccinations until my animals get to be very old. At that point usually the biggest question is quality of life and whether the expensive treatments would still allow the animal to enjoy itself.I do choose to buy premium pet foods and watch their weights carefully.My current animals are four dogs, aged 3, 8, 13 and 15 years, and 8 cats ranging in age from 2 years to 15 years. We lost a fifth dog this year, a Shar-Pei, aged 9, to a very fast-moving lymphoma. Treatment was not really an option as it was too virulent, so pet insurance wouldn't have helped much.I do recommend Pet Insurance if you have an animal that is likely to be involved in activities where accidental injury could happen, such as a hunting dog or one that competes in agility or other type of activity. Also, I have found that pure bred animals sometimes have more health problems. Itis also easier to get if you have a young animal. And finally, if you only have one animal it could be quite affordable.However, when I did the number-crunching, it turned out to not be cost-effective for me, but it might be for you. Sources: My Opinion as a pet owner AND http://www.petinsurance.com/coverage/whatsnotcovered.cfm?a=06AB34A7-BB77-B5E2-E02F9FA25F7C6921&b=06AB34B7-96C7-F26B-D40DF488215E769D&c=06AB34C6-CF1E-CC10-02F75E71C5C30025 darwin? 76 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.