Pet health insurance

[Krip 2]

Hi

We usually had nultiple dogs up to 4 at a time and never could really afford to buy health insurance for our dogs. So we were self insured.

Now that we're down to two dogs that are almost as old as we are, we're considering getting some insurance, we've been lucky so far but fixing a torn ACL cost us $2k last year. Our babies are worth it but we're retired.

So we're considering getting some people best friend (BPF)health inurance. Not to prolong the dogs misery, but imo to treat some normal injuries like a torn ACL etc.

We talked with some happy PBF insuraance customers, but insurance companies are consistant and have the fine print about pre existing conditions that they can apply to our PBF's.

So what do you all think about health insurance for PBFs, any insurance company tricks to watch out for, any insurance companies worse than other's.?

Any happy stories. If we have to we can continue with the self insurance thing, but we've already reduced our potenitial insurance premiums by 50 % by controlling our urge to rescue more friends.

To bad we can't have PBF insurance like people
insurance and have a family plan.

One friend or 7 friends at no increase in premiums would be very nice. But If we can't afford to take care of them we shouldn't have them

So what you all think. Seat belts check

PBF insurance?

R.

[TriGirl 343]

Be sure the policy covers such injury/emergency treatment first. Otherwise you're still paying for that $2K torn ACL. Also, definitely ask this question before signing a contract: if the pet dies during the contract duration, do you still have to keep paying the insurance?

Seems like a silly question. I had heard of that before, and then my sister bought insurance for her dog. About 4 months later her dog had an accident and died. The insurance did not cover any of the dog's emergency care (it was for routine treatments only, it turned out), AND she had to continue to pay during the rest of the contract term.

See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus

Shut Up & Jump!

[BIGUN 1,488]

Major Medical - Sound Good?
http://www.petinsurance.com/plans-and-coverage.aspx

Check this out - Sound even better (hover over a condition to see how much major medical will pay)
http://www.petinsurance.com/plans-and-coverage/whats-covered.aspx

Now, from the bottom of that page... let's drill down one more layer.
http://www.petinsurance.com/plans-and-coverage/whats-not-covered.aspx

And even one more drill down from that page...
http://www.petinsurance.com/plans-and-coverage/plan-restrictions.aspx

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[jtval 0]

My thought on insurance:
Its all a scam.

I started saving money for my dog's as soon as I got them. If they get injured and need medical atteniton I will pay cash.

If you start early enough , in many cases, you can avoid the added cost of insurance.

If I paid $10/month/15yrs I'd spend $7,800 for a $2,000 surgery. But, THAT'S ONLY IF THE INS CO PAYS FOR THE SURGERY. They will do everything to find a way to call it pre-exisitng or try to fault the dog for being a dog.
My Dog's breed have issues with the patella. They would not cover a knee surgery last time I asked about it.
Why would I need insurance, if they won't pay for the issue I feel I would need the coverage for?


I put the money in the bank. It's more fun. It's like gambling but EITHER WAY you wont get fuct by the ins company.

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[BIGUN 1,488]

The Doc's at work right now... but that's pretty much been her advice.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

If I paid $10/month/15yrs I'd spend $7,800 for a $2,000 surgery. But, THAT'S ONLY IF THE INS CO PAYS FOR THE SURGERY.

I read the fine print when I first learned of pet insurance and noted that the per injury/illness limits were all under $1500 with most half-that.

aspca now has pet insurance which claims to pay "reasonable and customary fees" for various situations but I haven't dug deeper.

[airtwardo 7]

Quick rant on the subject...


I got a bit upset a couple months ago after taking 'Sassy' to the vet for her annual check-up, shots & license.

Sassy is a mutt that someone threw away 15 years ago a few days after birth, she wandered out of the woods in a thunderstorm and our Great Pyrenees brought her to the door looking to take care of her...

She's a tough ole gal...but IS old.

Our usual vet has changed in the last year since I've been there...not for the better.

Use to be a one doc one assistant operation. You got good service at a fair price and everything seemed on the up & up.

This time...there were at lease 3 vets working the small building on the edge of town, I wasn't allowed to be with Sas during the examination...and when everything was done, I'm hit with a $550.00 bill.

Added were 'grooming' fees...they cut her nails which not only did I not request, but they snipped 'em too short and she was bleeding with each step. (I sand them down myself every other week)

AND...charged me for X rays! WTF?!

Who authorized THAT?!

It was explained to me that since my beloved pet was favoring a hip they wanted to be sure nothing was broken inside...

Talk about one large sized pissed off Pollack hitting critical mass ... I made it quite clear in no uncertain terms and at a very high volume that being treated in an unethical and dishonest manner not only has ended our need for any of their services, but I would be contacting both local and sate agencies regarding their business practices.

I refused to pay ANY charges other than what I asked for, requested for and receive all our pets records as well as all the attending vets information...I had some letters to write


I did receive a call later that day from the original vet-business owner with an apology and an explanation.

Apology was accepted - the explanation was not...

~he's actually a nice guy, I could tell it hurt him when I asked if he could please recommend a vet in the area... as good as he use to be.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Krip 2]

Thanks everyone who posted.

It sounds even worse than I supected, I understand the way insurance companies work

A quick read of the language thet used "up to" etc. and the very fine print someone pointed out, the inurance is a annual contract.

We had a average of 3 dogs for the last 20 yr's with out the "help"of a insurance company, (self insured)

We take care of our HBF just like a smart jumper takes care of their gear. If something goes sideways we know about it immediatly.

Thanks once again every one accept the OP.

R.

[tmccann 1]

My sister uses Petplan, and loves it. It's the opposite of what most folks above has discussed - it doesn't cover regular maintenance stuff, just emergencies. In my sister's case, her (very small) puppy ate a bunch of things she shouldn't have - acorns, household items, etc. The acorns alone would have been a couple thousand dollars at least, but was covered, so she just paid her annual deductible. By the time the next one happened, she had already paid the deductible...

[MikeJD 0]

Other problem you might have is a premium hike for your dogs, if they are already getting on in years. The insurance company will likely sting you for the very reason you now want to take out a policy - because your pets are at increased risk of needing treatment, and the insurers haven't had the benefit of raking in your money while your dogs were young and healthy.

I've paid out a lot more to insurers over the years than I've ever claimed back. In general I only take out policies now where it's a legal requirement (e.g. for driving, or as a condition of a mortgage), or I really couldn't afford to pay for something myself. Otherwise I'd much rather put the money away. If I need it, then it's there to spend - if I don't, then it's still mine.