Trupanion insurance
 

Hi;
When I signed up for Trupanion for my then 1 yr old adopted dog it looked very good.
However I put in a claim for an eye problem that recently developed at around 2 yrs and they are giving me a hard time as I do not have medical records prior to adoption. I had him to the Vet for comprehensive exam/tests soon after adoption and he was fine (certainly no eye issues), then I had his dental and any required shots. Surely adopted pets rarely have documented prior health history? They accepted him for insurance as an adopted pet and now it seems hard to get the claim processed??
I had to call in order to find out what was the status of the claim, they did not ask me for things they needed until I called.
Perhaps it is just taking time?
Has anyone had any experience of claims with Trupanion?
Thank you.

I don't have experience, but I'll tell ya, this is exactly why I don't even bother with pet health insurance. Inurance companies suck:thumbdown How the heck would you possibly have previous records for an adopted dog? Sounds like they're just trying to weasle out of paying for something.

I just plan for regular vet visits in advance and have a small savings account set up just for emergencies with the pets or unexpected vet visits that we replenish if needed.

No offence to anyone who likes using insurance, but I look at it this way - put the money you are paying for a monthly premium in a good savings account instead, not only will that money accumulate and be there for needed vet visits, it's collecting some interest instead of lining the pockets of insurance company owners who won't do what they're supposed to for your money. Anyway, lol, that's my rant. I feel bad for you, I'd be on the phone with a manager giving someone an earfull if it was me;)

I think someone else posted about that same company raising her monthly premium significantly. Can't remember exactly, but even if it was a different co., still shady if you ask me.

Good luck, hopefully they'll pay it for you.

Insurance
 

Hi:
Thanks for your input. I agree it is a tough choice, and your idea to put the funds in an emergency pet account is a great idea.
I just know that Yorkies can be expensive especially if they break legs, and mine is a JUMPER!!!! Wanted to limit my liability. LOL.
Perhaps I am being a little hasty to expect payment in a few weeks. We shall hope and see!

I have Trupanion and I had to submit 2 claims this week for an allergic reaction and ear infections and the other to a reaction to the Tresaderm ear drops they gave me. He is now on an antibiotic for 14-days.

One claim was faxed by my Vet's office early Mon. morning, with all his medical records. He has never been anywhere else.....and the other I faxed myself early Wed. morning. They sent emails saying they were received and I just checked online and the status says: OPEN...
Their website says a decision is usually made within 24-hours of receipt of the claim form.

Anyway, I can't really be of any help regarding any reviews of them, at the moment, but hopefully, by next week I will see if and what they will reimburse..... It should be 90% as I have a - 0 - Deductible.

I think that depending on how these claims go will determine whether or not I will continue with them.
It is definitely a though to just put that monthly payment into an account for vet bills, etc.
I am Seriously thinking of that, now!!

Please Keep this thread updated as to what they end up doing, inasmuch as I will definitely be checking it. :D

I do not know about Trupanion. I started out with them but switched to Petplan within the first month as I liked their coverage better as they do not excluded hereditary issues and cover alternative treatment. I was lucky I switched because within 3 months Buster was diagnosed with LP in both back legs. They paid for his surgery, xrays etc per my coverage limits 70% because I saw an Orthopedic specialist my normal coverage is 80%. So on that claim alone they paid about $4000.00 and I had only made 2 or 3 quarterly payments. I am sorry about your case it sounds rotten that they would accept your money and then come up with excuses why the could not pay. It is smart to have savings anyways as you do have to pay up front and then be reimbursed. Good luck with your claim. Best Wishes.

Sorry about the delay.

We have Petplan and have always had fast processing of our claims and they took what (limited) medical records we had when we adopted Riley.

As for the savings account, we've paid about $750 in premiums since we've had the girls. They've reimbursed us over $2500- so we're definitely ahead with insurance. My oldest dog is 2.5.

I have Trupanion. Thankfully I haven't had to file anything yet. I will be watching this thread hopefully it will all work out. The reason I went with them is because I like there coverage, and there is no lifetime limit, and they do cover congenital and hereditary defects.

Hope it all works out! Keeping our paws crossed!

To RileyDC. Thanks for your reply. I don't know about the 24 hours. LOL. Mine has been a few weeks, but I think the claim is now being considered at last.
I got TP as it seemed to have the best deal, and I have the same conditions as you.
Sorry to hear about your poor little dog, hope he gets well soon. Good Luck with the claim. I will also base my future continuation with PL on the claim results.

Buster Brown: Sorry to hear about Buster, these Yorkies do have LP problems sometimes and that is one reason I got insurance while mine was young. Hope Buster is doing well now and not jumping. I looked at Petplan and thought TP gave better coverage but we shall see! Sounds like you did OK with the claim, and that is what it is all about.

LDMomma. Glad you had good claim experience with pet plan. Also it is good they did not ask for info on an adopted dog. Which is as it should be.


LuvT. You have TP for the same reasons as I, but we can only hope they come through if needed!

I will let you all know what happens and thank you for your inputs.

Thanks!!!!
Good Luck with your claim.
I'll keep you posted, for sure. :)

Thanks he is doing fine and I try my best to keep the furry tornado from not jumping too much..like trying to catch the wind! I hope everything works out and your dog is feeling better.

I really hope it works out!

Thank you all for your interest and help! And good luck with all your pooches and insurance!
I just heard that my claim has been approved, but did not include the Vet exam. Grrrrr!
I wonder what I will have to pay for an Eye Vet consult if he needs it for the cataract?????
Well I suppose this insurance is for catastrophic coverage???
Keep in touch about your claims also please.
All this is so familiar with HMO coverage for humans. LOL.

I am glad you found out and it was approved. Yes, Trupanion requires you pay for the initial vet vist and then they cover everything else. It stinks, but I remember that in their requirements before signing up. You may end up paying the consult visit but after that they should cover everything else.

Yes, Trupanion is catastrophic insurance. That is partly why I chose this one. I can plan for dentals and preventative care but its the super expensive that always has me nervous. You can go with other companies that include dentals and preventative care but the monthly premiums were higher then I wanted to spend. They also seemed to have more loop holes and had lower caps for lifetime coverage.

Glad to hear everything worked out:)

Yaaaay!! That is Great News!!!
Glad to hear that!! :thumbup:
Yeah..... I remember reading that about the Examination Fee. And, my vet just went up to $70 for examination fee... I have put out $140 in 1-week in just that. UUGGHH!!!!
Hope everything else on both my invoices are covered.

Hi all:
Thanks!
Hoping all your little ones don't get sick, but if they do the insurance comes thru.
Have a great weekend and love to all and your babes.
:-))

I almost bought the Trupanion and it seemed ok but I decided on PetPlan Insurance. I put two claims in so far and they have been wonderful. Claims went through fast and I got reimbursed fast. Hope all works out for you with the Trupanion.

Hi Susan
As my claim has now been approved at TP I will keep it for now. Perhaps now I am passed the pre-adoption records things will be easier next time??? If not I will definitely change to another insurance company. Thanks for your input. It seems from some posts above that Petplan is good at paying out. Good Luck with your pet, hope you do not need insurance!

I know with Petplan they did not ask for Buster records prior to his first insurance submission and then I had to send them all his records and then they processed his claim. So maybe it was just a little more complicated for you because you did not have the same kind of documentation since you adopted. Best wishes and here's hoping all our pets are healthy and happy!

Hi BB:
I agree the problem was probably because it was the first claim. Hope so. LOL.
Kind wishes to you all, and long may our pets remain healthy. Yeh!!!

Petplan
 

Tessa all of a sudden has every allergy there is...my gut in August told me to get pet insurance, so I went with Petplan and have gotten reimbursed within 2 weeks or sooner...getting ready to send in another claim for the ears...

Petplan
 

Hi Tessa:
Sorry about your pet's allergies, hope she gets over it soon. Thank goodness for insurance eh? At least you don't have the worry of expense on top of the poor little one's suffering.
I really did a lot of research before I chose TP over PP (the 2 main ones I liked), and I particularly liked the fee not being increased with age, and coverage of hereditary conditions for TP. Lets hope I did not make a big mistake as now my baby has a (probably expensive - if he needs cataract surgery in the future) pre-existing condition!!!
Ah well I can only hope it will be easier next time with TP.
Have a great Mothers' Day all.

I got 2 emails, last night at 11:01pm! Both of my claims have been approved...... They are reimbursing 90% for everything except the examination fee and nail trim! Weeew Heeew!!!!
:D

That's great!

I've been following this thread - I submitted my first claim a week ago. I made sure I submitted everything required when I faxed in the claim, including Maddox's full medical history (I've had him since he was a baby and he's only been to the one vet, so a full history was easy to get).

Trupanion's website says claims are usually processed within 24 hours after they receive the pet's full medical history, but after a week I still hadn't heard anything. I just called and was told that the first claim usually took about two weeks to process because they usually had to contact the vet. I explained that I had sent in all of his records, along with a note explaining that he had not seen any other vets. The rep said she was sorry, but since it is a first claim it will still take probably another week before I hear whether or not it was approved. Grrr! Don't advertise 24 hour claim service if you're not going to stand behind it! :thumbdown

I saw that same thing!!!!
It may be less, for you, as it was, for me.
I had emailed them on Saturday asking for a status and quoting that 24-hr. thing on their website.
They responded with:
Hello Theresa, Since this is Riley's first claim they tend to take about two weeks. Your claim along with Riley's medical history will be reviewed, once processed you will be emailed. However, feel free to contact us with anymore questions. Thank you, Rachel

This a.m. would be 1-week from the faxing of the first Claim..... and tomorrow morning would be 1-week from the faxing of the second Claim.
So it only took 1-week, for mine.

I am assuming any future ones would fall under the 24-hour thing.... ?!?!

Good Luck! And please post when they finally make a decision.
:D

Thanks! I'll definitely let you know.

I just can't imagine what they have to look at that takes this much time. Maddox's only medical history is his neuter and his annual exams/vaccinations. And he's only 2 years old. How much time can it possibly take to review that? Oh well, I guess we'll find out. :p

WTG Riley DC!!! So they came thru'.
You are right they should not say 24 hours if it is really 2 weeks. Still if we know it will be approved in the end it is bearable. I guess everywhere is cutting down staff and perhaps they are just busy - or the Vets do not reply promptly????
No insurance company seems happy to pay out when the time comes. LOL!
Thanks all, it will be interesting to see if all claims mentioned here are met.

Yep!! :thumbup:
Now it will be interesting to see how long
until we receive the the check(s)?
I wish they were able to do Direct Deposit.
I would assume they cut them as soon as it is approved.
My claim status on their website says: PAID and that is dated yesterday.
:)

Well, I may have to submit a 3rd Claim.
I don't think the Clavamox that the Vet gave Riley for his ear infection is working. He is still shaking his head and scratching a little... [Tonight will be 1-week that he has been on it..... ]
and I looked into his ears when i went home at lunch and i can see a teeny weeny bit of waxy....crustyish build-up.....

He goes back in for a re-check... they may have to give him something other than the Clavamox.... unless that is normal, with maybe, allergies, or whatever. I have No idea... I have No experience with pups and ear infections.... My schipperke, whom I had for 13-years only had 1, early in his life...that cleared up immediately.

UGGHH!!!!

RileyDC
 

Hello Again:
Sorry your poor little one still has ear problems and that the drug is not working. Sounds like ear mites as they leave a whitish deposit in the ears I believe. Not that I know much about it either. LOL. When I adopted my pup he had foxtails in his ears as well, that were removed during his dental. They did not see them under normal (awake) exam, but when he was 'out' they saw them. He had lived in a country area before adoption.
Good Luck with the next visit, perhaps he will be better by then.