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04-23-2014, 09:55 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Tucson,AZ
Posts: 244
| Vet Insurance, good thing? With Sig we had VPI Insurance most of her life, till premium went unreasonable for value received. We had maybe $2500 in claims over lifetime but premium went up every few years as she got older. We canceld at $56 when she was 13. Her largest claim was at about 4 years old of about $1500 for a root canal, which insurance paid about $600. So is it worth it? Here's my thoughts, if you are a poor budgeter, can't save money, tight budget, probably a good idea as the $30 to $60 monthly will help get your bill more manageable if emergency does happen. But if you can budget well or have good bank account, I would forgo insurance as most policies will never come close to the premium cost. Simply put $30 per month into a rainy day fund, it will add up fast and always be there if you don't use it. |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-23-2014, 02:40 PM | #2 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 211
| What happens if something goes wrong 4 months into the rainy day fund? At $30 a month, you've saved $120 which isn't enough for anything. If I've paid $50 a month for 4 months I've spent $200. and can be covered for $2, 3, 4, thousand dollars plus... Even at $600 a year, I feel insurance is well worth it - even if I never use it.
__________________ Mom to Enzo RIP Chloe 2000-2013 Last edited by Llutz; 04-23-2014 at 02:43 PM. Reason: spelling error |
04-23-2014, 04:40 PM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Tucson,AZ
Posts: 244
| I don't know about other plans, but VPI never paid that much compared to premium. It had a Office visit plan addition that it took me several months to cancel that covered shots, spay, neuter and such that paid less then what it would have cost out of pocket. Yes if you had a major emergency, it helped, especially if it was the first year of policy. But after a few years you would be in a downhill return on money. Plus if you have too many claims they can raise your rates as they do for aging. When Sig got older and would have more likelihood of need, the Cost of policy went up dramatically although we had not used it. We paid aprox $5500-$6000 in premiums and received about $2500 in benefits. Who knows what her last years (14 Years old) premium would have been. Not saying buy or not buy, just look at cost versus benefit. |
04-23-2014, 05:04 PM | #4 |
And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 17,928
| That is because VPI has a benefits schedule (and cheaper premiums). Their payout is not very good. I'd expect to pay $75+ per month for an old pup, but the payout is much better with other companies.
__________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶 |
04-23-2014, 09:14 PM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 211
| I have Trupanion for Enzo - I pay $48.56 a month and so far, touch wood I have not had to use it..but I sure sleep better at night knowing it's there should he ever need it and I don't have to think twice about care should he need it. It's like house or car insurance, we all pay it in the hopes we never need it, but if & when we do...it's there
__________________ Mom to Enzo RIP Chloe 2000-2013 |
04-23-2014, 10:40 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toluca Lake, CA
Posts: 5,491
| I had Pet Plan for just two months and Buster was diagnosed with a Luxating Patella. They paid 80% of the $4000.00 bill. For me I feel safer having insurance.
__________________ CarolynBuster Brown "The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything." |
04-24-2014, 12:01 AM | #7 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Tucson,AZ
Posts: 244
| Well I'm glad I started this thread, after reading some comments above I did some searching. There are a lot more companies now and Coverage/limitations/reimbursement are much better. Found several that will cover hereditary/no limit and pretty much everything for less then $40 per month. So I guess I'll look into it again when we get her. |
04-24-2014, 05:53 AM | #8 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago
Posts: 58
| I had VPI for Jake, and they are very slow at paying. I switched to PetPlan for Kiri with 100% reimbursement. My premium is $65/month, but the peace of mind is so great. She has already had trouble with pancreatitis, and PetPlan paid very quickly.
__________________ Sandy Kiri (b. 2010) , Buster (b. 2011) and Jake (1997-2014) |
04-24-2014, 06:29 AM | #9 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCA
Posts: 1,895
| I have PetPlan for Zoey. I think they are very slow at paying. Takes one month to be reimbursed but each year I have had vets costs the were higher than my premium so it worked out for me.
__________________ RIP my darling little Gina |
04-24-2014, 07:03 AM | #10 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | I had PetPlan for Pfeiffer when she was a puppy, and I think they paid out about 2k worth of vet costs. I now have Healthy Paws for all 3. Wylie was just diagnosed w/ disc disease, so if he would need back surgery...hello $$$$...but it would be covered bc it wasn't pre existing.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
04-24-2014, 07:06 AM | #11 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCA
Posts: 1,895
| Poor baby. My Gina had back problems and it was painful for her and for us to see. Hope all goes well with his surgery.
__________________ RIP my darling little Gina |
04-24-2014, 07:19 AM | #12 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Tucson,AZ
Posts: 244
| That's the thing, kinda like Medicare, you have to choose wisely, as preexisting will lock you in as your pup gets older. So far Healthy Paws sounds best as it seems to be rated higher, PetPlan is close secound |
04-24-2014, 09:28 PM | #13 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: California & Washington states
Posts: 118
| I have Healthy Paws and I really like this insurance. I did a substantial research into companies before signing up, and I am extremely satisfied with my decision. I got my Milana from backyard breeder so I knew that she could have issues. She gets frequent ear infections (maybe allergic reactions?) and in the past had GI issues until I figured out the right food. Healthy Paws covers all the meds and tests - you just have to pay for vet visit fee. At this point, I am probably paying more in premiums than I get back but at the same time it gives me a peace of mind if something goes terribly wrong I will have an opportunity to provide the best medical care to my dog. |
04-25-2014, 07:08 AM | #14 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Colorado
Posts: 171
| This is why I joined this forum. After having a son and getting mommy brain I get very forgetful so since this is my first puppy since having my son I forget things like pet insurance that isn't so wide spread heard of. I'm now in persuit of a great insurance plan for Darla. I have checked into Healthy Paws and PetPlan. Healthy Paws states that it excludes wellness care like vaccines. Well Darla's still a baby so of course she still needs lots of wellness care in the next year or so. Thus, I've stumbled on to ASPCA's insurance. Has anyone heard of it or used it. I'm sure we're all familiar with ASPCA but the fact that they have pet insurance is news to me. I always like to support the ASPCA in anyway I can. |
04-25-2014, 07:25 AM | #15 |
YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Exton, PA USA
Posts: 343
| Im still deciding btwn healthy paws and pet plan.......with 3 dogs to insure it can get pricey |
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