Thinking about VPI Insurance, just wondering...... - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Dolyn · 09-08-2007, 09:01 AM

Can anyone give me their expreiences with VPI insurance? My husband and I are picking up our puppy in 21 days. (As you can see, I'm counting down the days!!!) I've read some posts on here about some types of insurance, but just wondering about VPI in particular. Thank you for your input.

21 days and counting.....
OH and we decided on naming him Titan!!!!! I can't wait!

Yorkiekids · 09-08-2007, 09:20 AM

I don't know anything about the insurance, but I love his name.

Patti · 09-08-2007, 10:08 AM

I have VPI in Pixie and Cali my Yorkies but not on my older pom. I highly recommend it. Be sure to get it as soon as you get him as any condition he is treated for prior to effective date will be ridered out. I pay about 23.00 month for each one without the routine benefit. For instance Pixie had 2 visits to the emergency vet in July. Totaling 650.00. I just received 2 checks from VPI totaling 403.00. They also paid close to 2,000 so far on Cali's medical bills. Now on Maya I have spent 3,000 since April for her ongoing condition and 1400 of it just the last 3 days and had to pay all of it. I like knowing that if one of my babies get sick I won't have to declare bankruptcy to get them better. 23 a month is affordable. 1400 in 3 deays isn't.

Gracie2006 · 09-08-2007, 10:24 AM

I have VPI but have not used it, YET. Gracie was just diagnosed with LP. The bills will soon start. I had no way of knowing that Gracie would have this problem when I got her at 8 weeks. I decided then I would get the insurance for a few years. I am glad I did.

zoeybear · 09-08-2007, 10:29 AM

Someone told me that the policy "expires" every year. That you cant "renew" it, you have to get a new policy each year, then they call anything prior a pre-existing and wont cover it. Is that true? I guess if something major happens, you would still get the benefits for the year until your policy expires and that could save a lot. Does anyone know if this is true??

snoopy42 · 09-08-2007, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

I have VPI but have not used it, YET. Gracie was just diagnosed with LP. The bills will soon start. I had no way of knowing that Gracie would have this problem when I got her at 8 weeks. I decided then I would get the insurance for a few years. I am glad I did.

VPI does not cover LP. At least that is what I was told when I spoke with a customer service rep two weeks ago. They do not cover illnesses that are common to the breed.

yorkieK9trainer · 09-08-2007, 11:52 AM

I would research other insurance companies.

Magneticgal · 09-08-2007, 12:50 PM

I recommend just putting $25.00 or so a month into a special savings account JUST FOR THIS PURPOSE, instead of buying the insurance. Face it, insurance companies exist to make $$$$$. If you are disciplined enough to do it on your own, this is a much better way to go. I did have VPI for a short time with Lex, but it is a reimbursement deal. You still have to pay upfront for all of their care, then wait weeks to get reimbursed a portion of the expenses. I would rather be the one making the $$$ instead of the ins company!! Just my 2 cents worth.

Patti · 09-08-2007, 01:21 PM

The policy is renewed each year but they do not preexist from one year to the next. Only the original riders are on Cali's policy. It is just a matter of comfort level for me. Having had very sick yorkies I gamble on getting more than I paid in others I know have it and have never used it. But all I know is 2 visits to the er vet this week on my uninsured dog cost me over 1300 so far and we'refar from over.

Dolyn · 09-08-2007, 02:43 PM

Like I said I'm new to this, but what is LP? And does anyone know of any other insurance companies that are good for Yorkies? Thanks for everyones input. It really helps.

simonandhallie · 09-08-2007, 03:44 PM

I've had VPI for 4 years and love them. I was told that they will cover LP for Simon should he ever need surgery. I got him insurance when I first got him so it was not pre-existing. They have really been very efficient with their payments to me and I have no complaints in the past 4 years.

sgab80 · 09-08-2007, 04:51 PM

I have had it on Lillybelle for 2yrs. It does renew each year, but you just sign the renewel, nothing really changes. You pay your vet bill, fax the form to them and they send the reimbursement check. Im so glad I have it.

Gracie2006 · 09-08-2007, 05:17 PM

It does cover LP. Here is the benefit schedule for the standard plan. The premium plan adds vaccines and spay/neuter. FYI, LP is luxating patella (called "elbow" in the plan)
http://www.petinsurance.com/download...Sched-2005.pdf

BRPrincess · 09-08-2007, 09:48 PM

They have been good to me so far. When we got Princess we didnt have it and she got really, really, deathly sick. We ended up paying $9,000 + for her care. Its good to have it to be safe. But, like someone else sadi you still are paying out of pocket expenses, then getting reimbursed. I like the safety net personally

09-08-2007, 09:01 AM	#1
Dolyn Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23	Thinking about VPI Insurance, just wondering...... Can anyone give me their expreiences with VPI insurance? My husband and I are picking up our puppy in 21 days. (As you can see, I'm counting down the days!!!) I've read some posts on here about some types of insurance, but just wondering about VPI in particular. Thank you for your input. 21 days and counting..... OH and we decided on naming him Titan!!!!! I can't wait!

09-08-2007, 09:20 AM	#2
Yorkiekids Piper & Sebastian Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: florida Posts: 14,495	I don't know anything about the insurance, but I love his name. __________________ Susan, Piper ,Harley & Suiki

09-08-2007, 10:08 AM	#3
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I have VPI in Pixie and Cali my Yorkies but not on my older pom. I highly recommend it. Be sure to get it as soon as you get him as any condition he is treated for prior to effective date will be ridered out. I pay about 23.00 month for each one without the routine benefit. For instance Pixie had 2 visits to the emergency vet in July. Totaling 650.00. I just received 2 checks from VPI totaling 403.00. They also paid close to 2,000 so far on Cali's medical bills. Now on Maya I have spent 3,000 since April for her ongoing condition and 1400 of it just the last 3 days and had to pay all of it. I like knowing that if one of my babies get sick I won't have to declare bankruptcy to get them better. 23 a month is affordable. 1400 in 3 deays isn't. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

09-08-2007, 10:24 AM	#4
Gracie2006 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sequim, Wa Posts: 4,541	I have VPI but have not used it, YET. Gracie was just diagnosed with LP. The bills will soon start. I had no way of knowing that Gracie would have this problem when I got her at 8 weeks. I decided then I would get the insurance for a few years. I am glad I did. __________________ Gracie loves Bailey. Holly loves Tucker. Proud member of the YT Gracie Girls.

09-08-2007, 10:29 AM	#5
zoeybear Misssing Baby Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: California Posts: 4,186	Someone told me that the policy "expires" every year. That you cant "renew" it, you have to get a new policy each year, then they call anything prior a pre-existing and wont cover it. Is that true? I guess if something major happens, you would still get the benefits for the year until your policy expires and that could save a lot. Does anyone know if this is true?? __________________ We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam

09-08-2007, 11:52 AM	#7
yorkieK9trainer YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North eastern Illinois Suburbs Posts: 1,669	I would research other insurance companies. __________________ "Big things come in small packages" http://www.myspace.com/yorkiek9trainer

09-08-2007, 12:50 PM	#8
Magneticgal Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canton,Ohio Posts: 514	I recommend just putting $25.00 or so a month into a special savings account JUST FOR THIS PURPOSE, instead of buying the insurance. Face it, insurance companies exist to make $$$$$. If you are disciplined enough to do it on your own, this is a much better way to go. I did have VPI for a short time with Lex, but it is a reimbursement deal. You still have to pay upfront for all of their care, then wait weeks to get reimbursed a portion of the expenses. I would rather be the one making the $$$ instead of the ins company!! Just my 2 cents worth. __________________ Kris , RIP Lexie , Bella Zoey

09-08-2007, 01:21 PM	#9
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	The policy is renewed each year but they do not preexist from one year to the next. Only the original riders are on Cali's policy. It is just a matter of comfort level for me. Having had very sick yorkies I gamble on getting more than I paid in others I know have it and have never used it. But all I know is 2 visits to the er vet this week on my uninsured dog cost me over 1300 so far and we'refar from over. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

09-08-2007, 02:43 PM	#10
Dolyn Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 23	Like I said I'm new to this, but what is LP? And does anyone know of any other insurance companies that are good for Yorkies? Thanks for everyones input. It really helps.

09-08-2007, 03:44 PM	#11
simonandhallie *I Love My Monkeys!* Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Falling Waters, WV Posts: 11,166	I've had VPI for 4 years and love them. I was told that they will cover LP for Simon should he ever need surgery. I got him insurance when I first got him so it was not pre-existing. They have really been very efficient with their payments to me and I have no complaints in the past 4 years.

09-08-2007, 04:51 PM	#12
sgab80 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 214	I have had it on Lillybelle for 2yrs. It does renew each year, but you just sign the renewel, nothing really changes. You pay your vet bill, fax the form to them and they send the reimbursement check. Im so glad I have it.

09-08-2007, 05:17 PM	#13
Gracie2006 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sequim, Wa Posts: 4,541	It does cover LP. Here is the benefit schedule for the standard plan. The premium plan adds vaccines and spay/neuter. FYI, LP is luxating patella (called "elbow" in the plan) http://www.petinsurance.com/download...Sched-2005.pdf __________________ Gracie loves Bailey. Holly loves Tucker. Proud member of the YT Gracie Girls.

09-08-2007, 09:48 PM	#14
BRPrincess Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Blowing Rock, NC Posts: 153	I like them... They have been good to me so far. When we got Princess we didnt have it and she got really, really, deathly sick. We ended up paying $9,000 + for her care. Its good to have it to be safe. But, like someone else sadi you still are paying out of pocket expenses, then getting reimbursed. I like the safety net personally __________________ Jenny, Princess and Lucy Beach