| Posted By |
Message |
Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
|
pet health insurance?
I am very familiar with horse medical and mortality insurance, but it is much, much different than small animal insurance.
Does anyone here have insurance for their pets (I have kittens)? If so, can you tell me what it covers and approximately what it costs? Do vets have to accept it or are you reimbursed? Does it cover routine things like exams and shots, or does it only cover illnesses and injuries?
|
Posted 11/4/08 12:21 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
zoe282
We have our miracle!
Member since 8/08 3634 total posts
Name:
Jen
|
Re: pet health insurance?
I have VPI pet insurance which I believe is one of the main ones. I think mine is like $32/month. There is a $50 deductible and it covers a bunch. It covers some shots and things like that. It's very good when things go wrong though. My dog ate a chicken bone and i had to have her x rayed and it covered all of that. I have mine b/c I just never wanted to have a time where she needed serious medical attention and I couldn't do it cause I couldn't afford it. So that was the main reason I got it.
|
| Posted 11/4/08 12:23 PM |
| |
|
Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
|
Re: pet health insurance?
after having two cats pass ( I think too early) I did the math.
For both cats it would have been $80 per month.
Their lifetime medical expenses were approximatley $3800 combined. The cost of insurance for 12 years would be $11,520.
Both cats were hospitalized and fixed. it doesn't pay.
|
| Posted 11/4/08 3:55 PM |
| |
|
Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
Name:
|
Re: pet health insurance?
Posted by Blu-ize
after having two cats pass ( I think too early) I did the math.
For both cats it would have been $80 per month.
Their lifetime medical expenses were approximatley $3800 combined. The cost of insurance for 12 years would be $11,520.
Both cats were hospitalized and fixed. it doesn't pay.
We did the same type of math. The policy exclusion list is long.
VPI has a base plan for 'emergencies/sickness' and then plans where you can add on checkups/shots, or cancer or other sicknesses.
My cat had to get some anal gland issues taken care of (infection) and none of it was covered for various reasons. They considered anal gland infection as a 'maintenance' issue, not a sickness. If thats the case, why can't they consider anything 'maintenance'?
I also had to fight with VPI on another case where they considered bloodwork a diagnosis, not a test. 
By the time it takes to fill out the papers, submitting, and going thru appealing them twice for every single claim, it's not worth the 30 dollar check I got back.
We've been lucky that we've had no major bills, outside of the anal gland infection and a stint of dehydration. We're taking the risk that anything we'd need to pay for would be less than paying for the policy.
Maybe if I had a puppy that was chewing on everything and running around like a loon, I'd consider it lightly. But not for my cat.
Message edited 11/4/2008 4:48:31 PM.
|
| Posted 11/4/08 4:46 PM |
| |
|
wo0shply
LIF Adult
Member since 11/08 2702 total posts
Name:
Tass
|
Re: pet health insurance?
we also have VPI for buddy. I have to say I'm so glad we got it for him, it has paid for itself every year, my dog has many health issues. I recommend it because you never know what will happen
|
| Posted 11/7/08 9:41 PM |
| |
|
LadyPrincess
Live Life with No Regrets
Member since 5/05 2298 total posts
Name:
Chris
|
Re: pet health insurance?
Jack has ASPCA insurance. It works well. I like that part of my mthly pymnt goes back to the ASPCA to help other animals.
|
| Posted 11/24/08 2:08 PM |
| |
|
mikeandjess
LIF Adult
Member since 10/07 2278 total posts
Name:
|
Re: pet health insurance?
I have VPI for ollie. Here's a list of whats covered
what's covered?
|
| Posted 11/24/08 2:16 PM |
| |
|
