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[…]Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats » Blog Archive » Looking For Pet Insurance[…]

[…]Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats » Blog Archive » Looking For Pet Insurance[…]

[…]Itchmo: News For Dogs & Cats » Blog Archive » Looking For Pet Insurance[…]

@Mo: We got a lot of ex-VPI customers calling us these days. One person pointed out that ten years ago VPI did a great job and was very responsive but that nowadays they drag the chain on everything. We heard of one person today who waited 69 days for her claim to be assessed. Keep reading Laura’s blog for news of when we’ll be in your state!

I wouldn’t be surprised if the $95 x-ray charge was simply typically $95…which is why the insurance pays that amount, not the other way around. It’s unlikely that all the vets the poster spoke to just happened to adjust their rates to match the insurance company. Diagnostics such as xrays are pretty straightforward - you could call a nearby city and see what they charge.

Regarding the post that states pet insurance is worthless: I’ve paid close to $40,000 in vet bills in less than 15 years, and 8 of those years I had insurance coverage which paid for a total of about $10-$15,000. I’d never consider asking my vet to allow me to make payments on those kinds of bills. With the insurance I’m able to make the best use of all the resources available to my cats…not only my vet’s skills (and she is THE BEST), but the fantastic specialists she’s referred me to when her specialty wasn’t enough. (I will spend the rest of my life paying off that $40K, in case it might appear that I’m wealthy or something…no such luck.)

In terms of VPI, I have to say their customer service is hands-down the WORST. I’ve spoken with several other companies over the phone and without exception, they’ve all been polite, pleasant and helpful. I dread calling VPI for anything because (1) there’s almost always a very long hold-time, and (2) their service reps don’t seem to give a hoot. One girl told me that all heart disease was considered congenital so I didn’t submit claims for my cat for 2-3 years when he developed heart disease. One day I gave it a try, and the heart disease was covered (his wasn’t congenital)…I lost out on thousands of dollars in claims paid. They’re going to have to revamp their customer service to stay competitive.

I want to look into Embrace but it’s not available in my state. I saw a post from Laura in another forum that indicated it’ll soon be available in the Northwest, so I’ll be checking back.

I was shocked when my cat had a urinary blockage and every vet I called charged $95 exactly for the first x-ray. not 92 or 93 but 95. The vets had medical insurance booklets on display.

That said, we get a lot more medical treatment for the money than we did in 1950. I felt my cats got better medical care then I got from my own doctors. That is a problem because the vets have such high standards they won’t lower them and it becomes all or nothing. If you dont have the bucks it is home remedies.

I would love catastrophic coverage for my pets. Accidents, emergency surgery and hospitalization.

The pet insurance sites are confusing to me. Even though I can’t buy insurance now due to financial setbacks, I would like to see a few simple clear examples of coverage. Like a chart that shows range of catastrophic premiums by state for cats and dogs of different ages, or breeds. A simple disclaimer like: we do not cover the following, and our reimbursements typically cover 30 percent of cost would give you something to go on.

I don’t get life insurance quotes either because they want you to fill in an application and wait to be contacted by a rep. I can’t buy right now so I do not want to go there

Since the vets have already pegged their charges to the insurance payouts, I think everyone getting a kitten or puppy ought to consider buying in.

Why couldn’t pet insurers set up a catastrophic for old cats? Couldnt they set it up to pay out no more than a healthy young cat would get and exclude age related surgeries or extra hospital days? Old creatures have more complications, but at least it would get a broken bone set in a cast. My himi was 8 when she was rescued a few years ago. Old cats would thank you

Now that I see IAMs is buying into VPI that is out. IAMs food poisoned my babies.

@kaefamily: Yours is a very good question! In the case of many purebred dogs the age is known precisely. But for a mixed breed that might have come out of a shelter we usually ask that the veterinarian take a best guess looking at teeth and overall condition of the pet (although I understand that new techniques involving retinal imaging can narrow the age band considerably). So for a dog estimated at between 5 and 7 then take the average - six years old.

@Mikken: I agree, titers do not provide immunity. But at least armed with the information on antibody levels you & your vet can make an educated guess about your pet’s needs.

@Bj - You are right. Unfortunately we are not able to offer illness insurance to new dogs over age 6 (purebreed) or age 8 (mixed breed). However any dog that enters prior to these age limits will continue to receive full coverage for the duration as long as they’re with us, no matter how old they are.

@Mikken: Our philosophy on vaccinations is open-minded. We do not insist on them yearly but we do like to see “core” vaccinations started as puppies/kittens. Personally I’d rather see a pet receive his initial vaccination then a regular titer to determine whether he needs a vaccine top up. I think the AAHA Vaccination Guidelines for dogs(http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_Guidelines_Canine06.html)and ) and the AAFP Guidelines for cats (http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/2006_Vaccination_Guidelines_JAVMA.pdf) make a lot of sense and it seems that many veterinarians are coming to the same conclusion - it’s easy to over-vaccinate, less *can* be healthy too.