I need advise on pet insurance. Is there one out there that is better than the rest?

Question

We just lost our dog last week. He had meny health issues. We spent thousands on vet bills and although we don't expect issues with a new puppy, we would prefer to be prepared. You can't just sign up for the insurance when you have a problem.

Thanks for any help!
Jill

Answer 1

I am sorry for your loss. It's hard going through all the treatment and the anguish only to have them pass.

Yes, some pet insurance companies are better than others, at least here in the US, I'm assuming that's where you're from.

First of all, you are wise to be in a frame of mind that acknowledges that health problems can come up and, when they do, they can cost a lot of money.

The best time to insure your puppy is now. Your puppy probably has few, if any, pre-existing conditions. Your premiums will probably also be very low. So your future coverage options look good.

Now back to what I said about some companies being better than others. Well, for a long time, pet owners and veterinarians thought that Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) was the only game in town. Not any more.

VPI's pet insurance product has two big problems that affect nearly all pet owners:

1. They do not cover anything that is genetic or congenital in nature and you may not find out until you've submitted a claim just what *they* think is genetic or congenital and

2. They reimburse you based on what is known as a "benefit schedule". So basically if your dog gets poisoned, for example, their benefit schedule may refund you only $300 - 400 after deductibles even if the claim is for $2,000 or $3,000. So you won't get a lot of money back.

So I would advise you to steer clear of VPI unless you live in a rural area where veterinary costs are reasonable and you don't mind not being reimbursed for anything genetic or congenital.

You might want to think about whether you want your pet insurance to help with the cost of routine care, things like vaccinations, spaying & neutering, etc. Strictly speaking routine care isn't good value when bundled as insurance. You're better of looking for companies like Pets Best that let you add routine care as an additional package but not insurance itself.

You want a pet insurance company that is open, honest, reliable, and that is upfront with you about how they handle claims, these things matter a lot more than whether you can get the absolute cheapest policy because the stress of arguing with them isn't worth the $5 or 6 a month that you'll save.

Some of the questions you should ask your pet insurance companies:

(1) Will my premiums go up as my puppy gets older?

(2) Do you cover congenital and genetic illnesses?

(3) Do you cover alternative and complementary therapies?

(4) Do you cover routine care?

(5) Do you cover prescription pet meds?

(6) How long will you take to assess my claims?

(7) Will you raise the premium on my puppy if I make claims?

(8) Do I receive any discounts for having my puppy microchipped or having a wellness check every year?

(9) What is the annual limit on my policy?

(10) Is there a reimbursement limit per body system or per incident?

(11) What is my deductible? Do I pay it each visit or once per year?

I have made a list of the most well-regarded pet insurance companies in the Sources table below.

Good luck.

Answer 2

We use PetCare for our new puppy. They have a range of different coverages, but the one we chose costs about CDN$30 per month. Last month our puppy got smacked in the eye by a big German Shepard. His eye got swollen and we took him to the vet. No scratches but the vet gave us some antibiotic eye ointment and suggested we claim it on the insurance, so we did. We paid the vet the full amount of CDN$80 for the visit and the medicine and got a refund just the other day for the $80 minus a $50 dedictible for an eye injury. You're best to check out the amount of the deductibles on whichever plan you choose, but had his eye injury been more serious, and cost a lot more, the deductible would have still been $50... No problems with the claim, the vet put it through automagically and we didn't even have to call the insurance company.

Answer 3

I checked on ins. for my dog and it's really not worth it..I know vet bills are expensive but no more than insurance.. The plans I found were like $30-100 a month with a $50-100 deductible per VISIT.. most of the time, the entire visit isn't as much as the deductible.. I would say do some research and see for yourself..Most policies (affordable) only cover accidents and not illnesses., shots, etc. However, do take it out (if you are going to) before something is wrong with your new puppy. I tried to get it after my dog (age 2) was dx with asthma..I can't get insurance on him now..My advice is to save the money u would spend on insurance in an account like ING direct (pays 5% interest) or put in back somewhere..

Answer 4

I know at the clinic I used to work for we told our clients about VPI pet insurance. I dont know if there are others but I do know that this one is a good thing. The younger the animal the better off you are becuase they dont cover preexisting conditions and they do offer plans that help with yearly exams and things like that. You might look into it. The website is www.petinsurance.com

Hope this helps

Answer 5

I can't imagine that I could say it any better than Carlton has, so I won't even try. :o) I'll just add that we have had a good experience with Pets Best so far and recommend them to friends and family. I, too, am very sorry for your loss and hope that a new loved one is in your home and heart soon. Best wishes.

Answer 6

We don't use it, but maybe asking your vet whom they think is. They'll know about other complaints they've heard from other clients, as well as what company pays on time.