PET insurnace - which is best ? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

gittelle · 08-10-2010, 07:37 AM

IT SEEMS LIKE A NECESSITY THESE DAYS!
With vet fee, medical tests, meds, and emergencies vet bills rack up quick.

What is the best pet insurance?
What has your experience been with your insurance?
Are there hidden loop holes? (i know some don't cover routine care and pre-existing conditions)

Thanks!

Rebecca, lil"Woody and baby Mia

BonBon · 08-10-2010, 07:41 AM

I like Embrace and PetPlan the best. Here's an interesting article on it.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...rifaj-dvm.html

Wylie's Mom · 08-10-2010, 07:43 AM

LOL, Bonny

- I was just going to post the same thing. Great minds...

I too got PetPlan for Pfeiffer. (Wylie and Marcel already have pre-existing conditions.

JERSEY BOY · 08-10-2010, 07:46 AM

I have VPI and this was my experience:
Jersey broke his leg last Nov. I was so lucky, the policy went into effect 10/17/09 and he broke his leg 11/09/09. The cost for surgery was 3123.59 VPI reimbursed $1671.00. it didn't pay the full amount but it sure did help. I pay around $37.00 per month which includes a wellness plan of $12.00. I may drop the wellness in OCT. I wanted to see if it was worth it for the year. The accident portion I will keep, I hope I do not ever have to use it again. I also got a plan for Brielle, her is more $$ about 42.00 per month because it will cover a portion of the spay, again I will keep the wellness for 1 year and decide from there.

Tinksmygirl · 08-10-2010, 09:10 AM

I really like the benefits and cost of Petplan. I was able to choose my deductable and copay and as long your pet doesn't have a prexisting condition it seems to cover almost everything. I chose a $200 deductable and $0 copay and I am paying $30 per month. I haven't had to use it yet, so I can't say anything yet about the claims process.

BonBon · 08-10-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

LOL, Bonny

- I was just going to post the same thing. Great minds...

I too got PetPlan for Pfeiffer. (Wylie and Marcel already have pre-existing conditions.

Yep!!

Breny · 08-10-2010, 09:14 AM

Life's Abundance now offers Pet Insurance and you can get a free quote. doens't hurt to try and see the rates, etc... Pet Health Insurance

daniellealberta · 08-10-2010, 11:00 AM

Spike has Petsecure, I'm not sure if it's just available in Canada. I used it a few months ago when I got his teeth properly cleaned and they reimbursed for about half of it, even though we only have a pretty basic plan. While they didn't pay quite as quickly as they said they would, it was still pretty quick, and I would recommend them.

gittelle · 08-10-2010, 06:55 PM

I went with trupanion pet insurance
you can choose a deductible, you are responsible for the inital vet visit, then they reimburse you for 90% of any further testing or meds
coverage is for illiness and accidental injury, no life time limits.
it's just over $1/per day per pet. can't beat that. My babies are irriplaceable!
thanks!

YorkieChick1 · 08-10-2010, 07:34 PM

I have Petplan, I think it is the best all around because it does not have a lifetime limit. Do not get VPI unless you live somewhere where veterinary care is fairly inexpensive because they go by the nationwide average of charges. I live near San Francisco, CA where vet care is very expensive and they never reinbursed enough.

bj1 · 08-10-2010, 07:43 PM

I have Trupanion. I think they are the best. They just updated or should I say change some of their policy and made it alot better. Like no limit for life. They pay 90% and you can chose a deductible or not. Everytime I send them a claim I always get a check within 5 days which is great.

Vinniedoggy · 08-11-2010, 04:48 AM

I recently checked out this site (Pet Insurance Review - comparison of VPI, ASPCA, etc.) to read reviews about various pet insurance plans. I've had VPI for 6+ years now for Vinnie, my older Yorkie. It's ok. Not great, but not horrible. They have slowed down with their claims processing over the years and they seem to include more exclusions each year. The premiums go up with age and the list of things not covered is too long for my taste. HOWEVER, they do pay out a pretty nice percentage and they partially cover a lot of routine things. Personally, I would prefer to see them beef up their coverage for accidents and illnesses and reduce coverage for things like well-checks, vaccines, and routine medicine. I can budget for the regular stuff; it's the accidents & illnesses that scare me!

For my second Yorkie, I recently purchased a policy through Trupanion. A friend had some good experiences with them and they seem to get good overall reviews. Their premiums supposedly do not increase with age, you get to pick your per-incident deductible, and they stick to covering accidents & illnesses (not routine check-ups). They do exclude pre-existing conditions (so Alex's allergy care will be completely excluded). I have not yet filed a claim through them, so cannot comment on their customer service.

gittelle · 08-14-2010, 03:31 PM

Vets are getting rich! They have to go to more school than human medical doctors because animals can't talk. But WHY??? do we have to pay??
When lil'Woody got nutured it was $400, they told me he needs all kinds of special meds and extra percautions becuase he is so small. What was I going to do, say NO? Then risk the chance of something going wrong and knowing I didn't take the avaiable choices.
Even tho the pet insurance doesnt cover routine care I will NEVeR BE PUT in a position to choose not to save my dog. some people go broke saving their pets, and thats why i got the insurance cause I love my little dogs much! I want the best for them!

dottiesyrky · 08-14-2010, 03:48 PM

I did a lot of research and Trupanion seemed the best. It covers hereditary diseases, if not preexisting, and the premium does not increase with age.

guliverandmaya · 08-23-2010, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dottiesyrky

I did a lot of research and Trupanion seemed the best. It covers hereditary diseases, if not preexisting, and the premium does not increase with age.

Hi - I am also in their web-site and they have $0 deductible! amazing. Do you know if they cover dental and/or routine health care?

08-10-2010, 07:37 AM	#1
gittelle Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: monterey, ca Posts: 50	PET insurnace - which is best ? IT SEEMS LIKE A NECESSITY THESE DAYS! With vet fee, medical tests, meds, and emergencies vet bills rack up quick. What is the best pet insurance? What has your experience been with your insurance? Are there hidden loop holes? (i know some don't cover routine care and pre-existing conditions) Thanks! Rebecca, lil"Woody and baby Mia

08-10-2010, 07:41 AM	#2
BonBon Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: With my yorkies Posts: 10,350	I like Embrace and PetPlan the best. Here's an interesting article on it. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...rifaj-dvm.html __________________ He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -- Author Unknown

08-10-2010, 07:43 AM	#3
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	LOL, Bonny - I was just going to post the same thing. Great minds... I too got PetPlan for Pfeiffer. (Wylie and Marcel already have pre-existing conditions. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

08-10-2010, 07:46 AM	#4
JERSEY BOY Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: sparta nj usa Posts: 3,800 Blog Entries: 1	I have VPI and this was my experience: Jersey broke his leg last Nov. I was so lucky, the policy went into effect 10/17/09 and he broke his leg 11/09/09. The cost for surgery was 3123.59 VPI reimbursed $1671.00. it didn't pay the full amount but it sure did help. I pay around $37.00 per month which includes a wellness plan of $12.00. I may drop the wellness in OCT. I wanted to see if it was worth it for the year. The accident portion I will keep, I hope I do not ever have to use it again. I also got a plan for Brielle, her is more $$ about 42.00 per month because it will cover a portion of the spay, again I will keep the wellness for 1 year and decide from there. __________________ Laurie, Jersey Boy and Miss Brielle

08-10-2010, 09:14 AM	#7
Breny My Tiny Treasures Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: . Posts: 11,790 Blog Entries: 3	Life's Abundance now offers Pet Insurance and you can get a free quote. doens't hurt to try and see the rates, etc... Pet Health Insurance __________________ http://Brenysbabies.com

08-10-2010, 09:10 AM	#5
Tinksmygirl YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Magnolia, DE Posts: 435	I really like the benefits and cost of Petplan. I was able to choose my deductable and copay and as long your pet doesn't have a prexisting condition it seems to cover almost everything. I chose a $200 deductable and $0 copay and I am paying $30 per month. I haven't had to use it yet, so I can't say anything yet about the claims process.

08-10-2010, 11:00 AM	#8
daniellealberta Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 186	Spike has Petsecure, I'm not sure if it's just available in Canada. I used it a few months ago when I got his teeth properly cleaned and they reimbursed for about half of it, even though we only have a pretty basic plan. While they didn't pay quite as quickly as they said they would, it was still pretty quick, and I would recommend them. __________________ Lose weight with the ViSalus 90 Day Challenge! http://danielleburns.myvi.net

08-10-2010, 06:55 PM	#9
gittelle Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: monterey, ca Posts: 50	a lot of research I went with trupanion pet insurance you can choose a deductible, you are responsible for the inital vet visit, then they reimburse you for 90% of any further testing or meds coverage is for illiness and accidental injury, no life time limits. it's just over $1/per day per pet. can't beat that. My babies are irriplaceable! thanks!

08-10-2010, 07:34 PM	#10
YorkieChick1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,249	I have Petplan, I think it is the best all around because it does not have a lifetime limit. Do not get VPI unless you live somewhere where veterinary care is fairly inexpensive because they go by the nationwide average of charges. I live near San Francisco, CA where vet care is very expensive and they never reinbursed enough. __________________ Nanci 's her furbabies!! Brooke,Binky,Bunny,Buster & BooBoo And My Chichis: Baby & Bitsy There's nothing that brightens my day more than a puppy kiss!

08-10-2010, 07:43 PM	#11
bj1 Owned By BJ and Lil Ann Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA Posts: 990	I have Trupanion. I think they are the best. They just updated or should I say change some of their policy and made it alot better. Like no limit for life. They pay 90% and you can chose a deductible or not. Everytime I send them a claim I always get a check within 5 days which is great.

08-11-2010, 04:48 AM	#12
Vinniedoggy YT Addict Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 280	I recently checked out this site (Pet Insurance Review - comparison of VPI, ASPCA, etc.) to read reviews about various pet insurance plans. I've had VPI for 6+ years now for Vinnie, my older Yorkie. It's ok. Not great, but not horrible. They have slowed down with their claims processing over the years and they seem to include more exclusions each year. The premiums go up with age and the list of things not covered is too long for my taste. HOWEVER, they do pay out a pretty nice percentage and they partially cover a lot of routine things. Personally, I would prefer to see them beef up their coverage for accidents and illnesses and reduce coverage for things like well-checks, vaccines, and routine medicine. I can budget for the regular stuff; it's the accidents & illnesses that scare me! For my second Yorkie, I recently purchased a policy through Trupanion. A friend had some good experiences with them and they seem to get good overall reviews. Their premiums supposedly do not increase with age, you get to pick your per-incident deductible, and they stick to covering accidents & illnesses (not routine check-ups). They do exclude pre-existing conditions (so Alex's allergy care will be completely excluded). I have not yet filed a claim through them, so cannot comment on their customer service. __________________ Andrea, Mom to Vinnie, Alex, and Guru

08-14-2010, 03:31 PM	#13
gittelle Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: monterey, ca Posts: 50	Vets are getting rich! They have to go to more school than human medical doctors because animals can't talk. But WHY??? do we have to pay?? When lil'Woody got nutured it was $400, they told me he needs all kinds of special meds and extra percautions becuase he is so small. What was I going to do, say NO? Then risk the chance of something going wrong and knowing I didn't take the avaiable choices. Even tho the pet insurance doesnt cover routine care I will NEVeR BE PUT in a position to choose not to save my dog. some people go broke saving their pets, and thats why i got the insurance cause I love my little dogs much! I want the best for them!

08-14-2010, 03:48 PM	#14
dottiesyrky Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA Posts: 2,505	Insurance I did a lot of research and Trupanion seemed the best. It covers hereditary diseases, if not preexisting, and the premium does not increase with age.