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06-05-2008, 04:08 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 2
| Pet Insurance I would like to request any advice on insurance. Can anyone provide me any suggestions? Thanks
__________________ Gina Alcala |
Welcome Guest! | |
06-05-2008, 07:37 PM | #2 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado
Posts: 74
| I've done a lot of research on it. Are you questioning whether to get it or which company? Whether to get pet insurance comes down to your finances. Hospital emergencies can cost thousands of dollars. So ask yourself these questions. Are you a person who would spend whatever it takes to treat your dog if the condition was treatable rather than put it down? If you're on this group that's most likely a Yes :-) Would you have to pay for an unexpected $3000 bill (or more) with a credit card because you don't have money in the savings? Then pet insurance may be a benefit to you. For my purposes I was looking for long-term, major accident and illness coverage. Know that coverage for routine care is too costly. Meaning you'll pay more for the coverage than you would for the care yourself. What to look for: Reasonable and Customary Charges I ruled out any company (such as VPI) that pays claims based on a Schedule of Benefits, which is basically a list of how much they pay maximum for a condition, test, etc. Typically these are much lower than actual vet charges. So the insurer says that they pay 80%, but only up to the schedule of benefits amount. I looked for companies paying out claims based on "reasonable and customary charges" just like your own health plan works. Reviews I looked at reviews and ruled out companies that had really poor ratings. Ideal Coverage I looked for companies ideally that covered genetic and hereditary conditions, alternative therapies, and offered a multiple pet discount (since I have two). None of them will cover pre-existing conditions, so enroll while they are still healthy. Know that when you enroll, they'll get all your vet records and exclude any pre-existing conditions or potentially pre-existing conditions. Long-term illness, lifetime coverage I was looking for coverage that would cover major illnesses as long as I continued coverage. Some companies only cover an illness during that plan year - the insurance renews each year (with a higher premium) and previous year's illnesses are now considered pre-existing conditions. I wanted a company that would continue to cover a condition that would be a life-long illness. Coverage Limits Since I was looking for major accident or illness coverage, I wanted a high per incident limit or high yearly limit. Business I thought it was important to find a reputable company that's been in business a long time and had a good insurance underwriter. I chose Pet Plan USA Bronze (Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats from Petplan USA), $45 a month for two pets, $200 deductible and 100% coverage - I pay nothing after the $200. With this company you can customize it and choose your deductible and coinsurance. Sorry if this is too much information. I have a spreadsheet I put together comparing various plans. Send me a private message if you would like a copy of it. I did it a year ago, but there are new companies all the time.
__________________ Marla, Sampson & Daisy |
06-05-2008, 08:47 PM | #3 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 2
| Thank you so very Much I would like to say that due to my finances, I was laid off and had no choice but to let the insurance lapse for my babies, I was paying a bit under $100 for both my yorkies. They had VPI, I only used the insurance once for my lil girl, when she was sprayed. They only reimbursed a small portion of the overall cost. Since she was so small and we waited until she was about 9 months because our Vet said she was so small, she asked that we wait until she was close to five pounds, we never obtained that weight and she finally performed the surgery at 3.5 lbs. Please send me the spreadsheet. Thank you
__________________ Gina Alcala |
06-05-2008, 09:59 PM | #4 | |
♥YORKIERESCUE.com♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Menifee, CA
Posts: 8,708
| Quote:
__________________ Jo Ann Abby, Bella , Phoebe & Violette.... | |
06-05-2008, 10:08 PM | #5 |
..... and BLAIR'S too ...... Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 3,190
| Hi ... I also looked into doing this and after I have done my research we will use PetPlan when we move to the US .... it is not a lot to spend each month and just in case something comes up she will be taken care of ..... I have Insurance on us ..... so why would I not do it with Maya ..... she is a Familymember and with her being so tiny I have to be on top of that ...... And to Marla .... GREAT POST .... covered everything !!!!
__________________ I LOVE MY LIFE AS A MOMMY AND A WIFE |
06-07-2008, 07:10 AM | #6 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Colorado
Posts: 74
| Sorry, I'm having a little trouble with attachments. I can't attach an Excel file or PDF, so I attached a JPG. I don't know if it's readable. If you want the Excel spreadsheet, you'll need to send me your email address privately. I also want to point out that there are two different Pet Plan companies. There is Pet Plan of Canada and Pet Plan USA, which is Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats from Petplan USA. It is the USA one that I researched and chose. As far as claims, I haven't had to file any yet. They did exclude anything related to IDB for Daisy. Before I enrolled she'd been having a lot of digestive trouble as I switched to homemade food and was figuring it out. She doesn't have IDB, but because her file indicated that was a possibility, they won't cover any like that if it comes up again.
__________________ Marla, Sampson & Daisy |
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