PET INSURANCE…need info on good or bad experiences with pet health insurance for my 8yo dog-Opinions/Advice?
Looks like it costs about -40ish/mo for my 8yo Australian Cattledog.He’s in great health, but dont want any surprise k+ bills if he gets hit by car(he IS normally leashed)or otherwise injured.I’m worried about spider bites,snake bites,coyotes,etc.We live in the mountains in AZ,so lots of creatures 2 come in contact with.I’ve hit a few sites for pet insurance(the ASPCA offers a policy now too)and they all give sales-pitch-here’s-why-u-don’t-want-the-other-company lists…therefore,very confusing.Altho I’d love a "pay for all/no yrly limits" policy if there was one,realistically hoping to find Catastrophic Coverage especially if it’s cheaper per month(again,my main concern is to avoid a vet bill that could buy a car!So many horror stories out there!)Thanx in advance 4 any PERSONAL experience-both good & bad- &any ADVICE/OPINION…for BaiBai,who has had a very "ruff" life for 8yrs(rescued from Thailand,abused,etc.)NO WAY will I put this dog down if he needs surgery!
Filed under: Pet Insurance
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I have VPI which is Veterinary Pet Insurance, I’ve had this for about 2 years now. Its good and does pay in a reasonable amount of time, but watch the exclusions for previous conditions or congenital problems. Overall I’ve been pleased with the company, customer service is excellent and they really try to help when you have a problem. My 2 year old German Shepherd got into a batch of pills for my other dog and ate roughly 15- 20 pills, long story short she survived but the bills totaled $2800. VPI reimbursed us for 1/2. Which is pretty standard after the per incident deductable.
Best advice is do your homework, see what policy best fits your needs and ask lots of questions. I’ve had many policies over the years and cheaper isn’t always better.
I’m in the UK so can’t comment on the companies/policies available to you but in general terms;-
Look for the cover you need. Many policies have inclusions you know you won’t use but you’ll still have to pay the premium for them.
Look at the excess, higher excess often means lower premiums and routine visits aren’t covered anyway so if you on;y want a buffer in case of accident or big bills then paying a lower premium and putting the difference aside towards any incidentals makes good sense.
BEFORE you sign up, google the company’s reputation.
There is one UK firm that offers very cheap premiums but is notorious for avoiding paying out – eg – on grounds like the company wasn’t contacted before calling the vet when the dog collapsed on a Sunday evening as in one case I personally know of.
As many insurers have a cut off start age you need to get a policy set up sooner rather than later. You could ask Vets if they have any prefered companies?
I live in Australia and I have three Border Collies. My mum insures them with a company called Pet Plan which I know is available overseas as well but I’m not sure which countries. Pet Plan is fantastic it covers everything including snake bite and sickness caused by ticks, something that most companies don’t cover. There are many different plans. At the moment my dogs are insured for $8000 annually (each) and it costs $25 dollars a month. When one of my Border Collies crashed through a glass door, it costs $2000 (we had to pay $100 excess but its better than paying $2000!) for the operation to fix him up and Pet Plan covered all the costs… they were fantastic! The only things they don’t cover are the costs of de-sexing and vaccinations against diseases.
I highly recommend this company.
Hi
If you are in Canada or the U.S, a very good one I have found is Vet Insurance, that is the name of it. I have them, and they have been awsome. Pet Plan insurance has been a horrid experience for me. Vet insureance is a little more than other, for dogs over 5 i thinkt it’s $48 a month. But that gives you $20,000 coverage. There is no limit per injury like some others, some other will limit you to $2,500, per injury. I really like vet insurance.
Everyone is right about VPI Pet Insurance: http://www.petinsurance.com
Best person to ask is your vet :0) Most around us in PA will tell you VPI.
If you are just looking for accident coverage, you might be able to reduce your premiums a little bit by selecting a policy as such. If you do get a more comprehensive policy, make sure you understand the exclusions that may be applicable to your particular breed. That is perhaps one of the most common frustrations pet owners buying insurance face. Each company can be different, and even different policies within a company can possibly be different.
Also, call them on the phone and ask some specific questions. If they aren’t helpful on the phone, I would continue shopping.
I had Banfield (when I lived in the US) – which is affiliated to Petsmart – they have locations all over the country – so it was very convinient if you move.
I paid a monthly fee and it would include everything – I saved a lot of $ while I had this insurance. I would defenetly recomend it.