Embrace vs. PetPlan... so confused. Help?

[Furbaby Friend]

Hey all,

Soooo I was researching insurance plans today and I don't have a knack for it in the first place... I'm a bit confused as to which insurance I should go with PetPlan or Embrace (I'm open to others if someone else has a suggestion)?

I NEED to make sure I go with the right one because PetPlan cannot do monthly or quarterly payments in NY, so I'd have to do an annual payment... which means I'm stuck with them for a year.

I'm extremely worried I'm going to select the wrong one for my baby and after reading the plans myself, calling the companies, and reading reviews online. I'm no closer to my goal.

Any clarity/help/experiences/etc. would be much appreciated!

P.S. Any recommended deductible/percentage combination suggestions are appreciated. I can crunch the numbers afterward to see if they would work for me personally, but I'm open to initial suggestions. Thanks!

[Susan78]

I think both insurance plans are pretty good. I bought the PetPlan Silver policy $12,000 $50.00 deductible . I have not had to use it yet and hopefully I don't but it is a peace of mind thing. Yes I had to pay for the whole year but I thought they offered other ways to pay. Maybe I am thinking of another insurance I was looking at. I picked PetPlan because the reviews were pretty good. Embrace is good too. Hope this helps.

[RDB911]

Here's a great article from the YT library

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

[RileyDC]

There is a post dated September 30th titled: "I fired Petplan".....

I have Trupanion, which I got back in July. Havent' had to use it, yet and hope I never have to but they got great reviews. You can choose your deductible..... I pay $32.68 a month. I choose a -0- deductible and they will reimburse 90% for sickness and/or injury.

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by Susan78

I think both insurance plans are pretty good. I bought the PetPlan Silver policy $12,000 $50.00 deductible . I have not had to use it yet and hopefully I don't but it is a peace of mind thing. Yes I had to pay for the whole year but I thought they offered other ways to pay. Maybe I am thinking of another insurance I was looking at. I picked PetPlan because the reviews were pretty good. Embrace is good too. Hope this helps.

Yes, they usually offer other payment options, but NY state does NOT allow them to do quarterly or monthly payments currently. They are looking to change it, but that is not how it is now. So I'm in for a year if I opt in... that makes me nervous.

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by RDB911

Here's a great article from the YT library

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

I've read that article already (always go to the stickies/admin stuff first) and it was a good starting point, but what I'm concerned about now is not the coverage itself (as they are both pretty good, but I can see advantages to both). It is making the coverage valid that I'm concerned about. e.g. EXACTLY what I need on the first vet visit paperwork.

I've read the thread about "Fired PetPlan" already and I'm concerned about rejection for my policy before it even starts. Like special requirements for things like LP notes, etc. I also have trouble understanding legal babble and so yes they'll probably send me a book with the contract, but will I understand it???

I've also heard PetPlan customer service is poor, so I was looking for opinions good and bad. Maybe even people who have tried a bunch of plans and their preferences. Really anything to help me out more than the websites and the phone calls to the companies and my other research has.

I was leaning toward PetPlan and now I'm confused @_@

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by RileyDC

There is a post dated September 30th titled: "I fired Petplan".....

I have Trupanion, which I got back in July. Havent' had to use it, yet and hope I never have to but they got great reviews. You can choose your deductible..... I pay $32.68 a month. I choose a -0- deductible and they will reimburse 90% for sickness and/or injury.

I haven't looked into Trupanion. Perhaps I will have to consider them. However, I'd like to hear from someone who has had to actually claim from any of these places. Good and bad reviews.

Thank you all for your input by the way!

[RileyDC]

Originally Posted by Furbaby Friend

I haven't looked into Trupanion. Perhaps I will have to consider them. However, I'd like to hear from someone who has had to actually claim from any of these places. Good and bad reviews.

Thank you all for your input by the way!

You are welcome!!
Here is the post. There are 5 pages of comments, etc.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...d-petplan.html

Good Luck! I remember having to do research back in July when I brought my little one home. It is all soooo confusing!!

[vwill]

I have PetPlan and have filed 3 claims which they paid quickly. I haven't had a bad experience with PetPlan so far and my rates did not go up after the claims.

Someone did mention LP coverage and how to ensure that was never excluded. When each of mine had their first vet exam, my vet did check their knees and made note in their records that their knees were fine. I made sure to submit the release to my vet to send all vet records to PetPlan. I know that release is really important so they can send for the vet records.

It is very confusing though I agree! I have heard really good things about Embrace too. Good luck!!

[Furbaby Friend]

Originally Posted by vwill

I have PetPlan and have filed 3 claims which they paid quickly. I haven't had a bad experience with PetPlan so far and my rates did not go up after the claims.

Someone did mention LP coverage and how to ensure that was never excluded. When each of mine had their first vet exam, my vet did check their knees and made note in their records that their knees were fine. I made sure to submit the release to my vet to send all vet records to PetPlan. I know that release is really important so they can send for the vet records.

It is very confusing though I agree! I have heard really good things about Embrace too. Good luck!!

Thank you for your input! It is much appreciated.

Do you think if I asked them they would tell me what to have the vet send exactly after the initial exam? Or would I have to comb through the written policy myself (HA! What a joke that would be)?

[BonBon]

I was with Embrace for over a year and feel they're a good company. However, they don't cover the cost of medications unless it's administered by the doctor at his office.

My oldest recently began taking Rimadyl for arthritis and Anipryl for Canine Cognitive Disorder. The Rimadyl cost me almost $40 for 15 pills and the Anipryl is even worse. Once I realized how expensive veterinary meds can be, I switched to Trupanion since they do pay for medicines and they have no per claim, annual or lifetime payout maximums. If your pet has a condition requiring long term meds (epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, etc.), you should consider a company that will help you pay for these medicines.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Furbaby Friend

Thank you for your input! It is much appreciated.

Do you think if I asked them they would tell me what to have the vet send exactly after the initial exam? Or would I have to comb through the written policy myself (HA! What a joke that would be)?

I have PetPlan, and haven't yet had any problems. When I was starting PetPlan, I called and spoke to customer service and asked what I should ask for during Pfeiffer's first exam. They told me the vet had to write in her records that her patellas were not luxating (the rep gave me the exact sentence that the vet should put in the records).

Others here have had some fairly recent problems with PetPlan - ie, some issues were noted as 'pre-existing', even though they were puppies (???)...weird.

Bonny (BonBon) has really looked into the various plans, and has great insight to some of the issues. {btw, Bonny, question...for the new meds you're giving...how did you get around the pre-existing condition stuff? Or, did he have Trupanion prior to the addition of the meds? Is Trupanion more flexible about pre-existing? If yes, I may need to look into that for Wy and Marcel}

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I have PetPlan, and haven't yet had any problems. When I was starting PetPlan, I called and spoke to customer service and asked what I should ask for during Pfeiffer's first exam. They told me the vet had to write in her records that her patellas were not luxating (the rep gave me the exact sentence that the vet should put in the records).

Others here have had some fairly recent problems with PetPlan - ie, some issues were noted as 'pre-existing', even though they were puppies (???)...weird.

Bonny (BonBon) has really looked into the various plans, and has great insight to some of the issues. {btw, Bonny, question...for the new meds you're giving...how did you get around the pre-existing condition stuff? Or, did he have Trupanion prior to the addition of the meds? Is Trupanion more flexible about pre-existing? If yes, I may need to look into that for Wy and Marcel}

Ann, Alexander isn't insured. By the time I learned there was such a thing as pet insurance, he was past the age most companies would cover him and already had some health problems.

Trupanion is just as strict about pre-existing conditions as Embrace or Petplan. That's why I had to leave Chelsea's coverage with Embrace when I moved the rest of my gang over to Trupanion. I'm blessed that the others have all been healthy pups so far.

[Susan78]

Today I called PetPlan and asked if my 7 month old Kinder was covered for LP. I talked to a Mike and he said I am ok and I do not need to send Kinder's puppy records stating she has no pre existing things like LP. I bought this this past July and he said I am on the old contract and not to worry. Apparently they must of did some changes.

[sotellcher]

Can any vet do this or do you have to go to a certain one? My puppy is 11 wkd tomorrow and I am thinking seriously getting some type of insurance on her like petplan. Any help would be appreciated in directing me on the how to get started. Thanks!