Pet health insurance, worth it or worthless? - Page 1

I'm looking to get health insurance for my new shep.I've Never had it before. Can anyone offer any information on the pros and cons? How many of you have it. Is it worth it in the long run or do you wind up evening out in the same ballpark with or without? Lastly who can recommend a good company, there's so many out there. I guess you breeders must use it, Which I am not. I also have a 7 lb Shee-poo but it seems smalller dogs smaller problems less money. Is it worth it for smaller dogs? Why do so many pets get cancer now (people too for that matter) Is it our enviorment or was it always here. Before it was diagnosed most deaths were just deaths.Human lifespan has definitely risen, but didn't pets live longer in the old days?

if everyone starts buying pet health insurance the pet health care system will become just like the human health care system ...........do you want that?

 

I just spent $572 in 4 days. 4 different visits.3 with  x-rays each day, office visit plus left with meds.
I'm wondering if pet ins. could have saved me some money.  I'm still looking at more visits too.  Then on top of that there are the regular visits you make.  I checked  out pet ins. a little and I think it covers a small portion of routine visits.  There are alot of things that are not covered (hereditary) I believe.
I'm going to look into it further as it seems with all my animals, if they can get something or something will happen, it will happen to mine.

I know the pain.  I have spent $444.73 in just routine office visits and his series of required shots and two Interceptor pills (because of his changing weight; I bought Frontline Plus online).    I looked over the Pet Insurance.   I agreement with your assessment of the coverage. 

I had pet insurance on a puppy and a kitten, each for about a year. The insurance didn't pay much or anything for most routine things - office visits, health checks, shots. The pup had diarrhea and the insurance paid for some of the office visit and prescription medication. That's it.

In my experience, most dogs and cats don't get seriously ill in their first year of life. That's what the pet insurance companies are gambling on to make a profit. You pay the premiums and they pay out very little. Dogs and cats get medical problems later in life, when the premiums for pet insurance are practically unaffordable for most of us.

You are better off putting aside a few thousand dollars in a savings account when you buy the puppy. Even at today's paltry returns, when the animal needs emergency vet care or has a serious illness, you'll have the money to pay for the care.

The thing with pet insurance (or at least the one I am familiar with) is that the best idea is to start off with coverage when your animal is just young. Anything pre-existing before you start your plan will not be covered. IE: you sign up with a dog that was diagnosed with hip dysplasia previously. Anything to do with hip dysplasia will not be covered. So, if you start with a young dog, anything that comes up in its lifetime will be covered. I work in a clinic and you would not believe the things clients have had pop up and how many times I have heard, ''I sure wish I would have kept on my pet insurance!''. No one plans for accidents, but that is why we have insurance.

I have VPI pet insurance for 2 of my dogs.  One has many healthissues some are not covered as they were preexisting coonditions( I didn't insure her until she was 4)  My male I got right away so everything is covered.  But on the female she had an ER visit that cost 400.00 cost me 80 insurance covered everything else.  She also had to have an MRI cost 1700 insurance coverd like 900 better than nothing.  for my male I have only used it for well care and the reimbursemment is  small.  So if you can afford it it can be peace of mind, I wouldn't go broke for it.

Lyn

I have VPI as well.  I've complained for the last few years that they don't pay well on claims but still haven't parted ways with them.  Just too afraid to be without I guess.  I never had an issue with them paying for my terrier mix between her multiple myeloma and her splenectomy.  In fact I was quite surprised at how well they paid for a 12 year old dog.

I'm finding with my GSDs - they don't pay well at all and as stated above have a disclaimer/provision for "pre existing conditions".  My male has UAP (ununited anconeal process) so they won't cover anything with his elbow dysplasia.  He's had the insurance since he was 7 months old.  He's now 5 and goes to the vet minimally (knock on wood).  They've actually made money on me to the tune of about $180 per year because I rarely submit a claim for him.

My female is another story.  She's my $1,000,000 dog with her allergies.  We come out a little bit ahead in that I'm reimbursed more from VPI for her allergies than I pay in premiums.  Not much though.  She's had the insurance since she was 1 year old.

Every little bit helps but it does make me wonder will they be there to help if something major comes up?  I do have a slush fund of sorts set up to offset in case of any emergencies.  Personally, for me I'd rather pay $14 and $18 monthly and have the peace of mind.  Heck - I can spend that eating out.  LOL!

I just spent $1,300 and still do not know what is wrong, so right about now I am wishing I had insurance on him. My daughter has it on her femlae and they pay like clock work!

It is worthless if you never end up needing it but I work at a vet and have seen it make the difference between treatments and not and the type of treatment.  I have also seen it help a grieving family who ended up loosing their dog but at least were not STILL having to pay huge treatment bill.