Pet Insurance Experience's Please - Page 1

I know this has been asked a lot because I searched them and did read a lot of them. However, I'm going to ask it again and see what turns up.

I have never purchased animal insurance before and am hoping I can get some insight from y'all before I call any of them.

FWIW, I do not want to pay anything other than a normal deductible if at all possible, if there's a problem I want it fixed. I have read about Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Pet Plan, and my wife's work offers VPI through MetLife.

Can any of you please let me know your experiences with these companies.

I appreciate any and all feedback.

Michael

Pet plan is the most simple.  Monthly payment of around $35 covers $20, 000 for the year with a $200 ded. and full reimbursement.  They do no itemize specific illnesses like a lot of insurance companies  Make sure you document EVERYTHING with your dog...If they get lymes or heartworm for example...they will ask for proof of purchase on the tick and heartworm preventative.  I have used my insurance several times for working injuries and accidents...never had an issue.  They always had a check to me within 2 weeks and were very easy to work with.  Hope this helps.

Thank you J, that does give me a starting place.

Healthy Paws is the best, hands down, if you want my input. I've experimented with several, and currently have 6 dogs insured. Healthy Paws is the only one that doesn't try to weasel out of paying for things on the basis of "intact" and so on. Yes, Trupanion states that if your intact dog gets hit by a car, they will not pay out, because if the dog were neutered, he wouldn't have been as likely to be wandering the streets, apparently...They also will not pay for any injury resulting from another dog if your dog is intact, because neutered dogs don't get in fights, apparently. I have a couple w/Healthy Paws and plan on switching everyone over. Also, they have an annual deductible, like real insurance, as opposed to a "per incident" deductible. I have a $75 deductible and 90% coverage. I pay about $40/month for my younger dogs, around $60/mo for my older dogs. 

 

My work benefits offers VPI plan as well. It is cheaper than other insurances on the monthly premium over the group plan and having multiple dogs (the good part). I have 4 dogs with them for several years, but didnt have a need to use them until last winter. My Schnoodle got diagnosed with diabetes and then went blind. They only cover so much for every diagnosis, besides having a deductible. His cataract surgery would have exceeded this by a couple thousand $$ and did not include the cost of the lifelong aftercare (eye drops and check ups). I found it very difficult to get a clear answer from them as how much they actual cover. One has to pay upfront and gets reimbursed later, so basically one can pay a lot of money assuming they get it back just to find out that the insurance wont cover but so much.

Therefor I dont recommend VPI and I will switch my dogs over to another once their plans run out this year, or start laying away a monthly premium into a special pet account.

I agree with Jen and also use Healthy Paws for the same reasons.

Both of my dogs are insured with petplan.
Petplan has several levels of coverage and deductible's available to choose from.
I've had nothing but positive experience's with them. Cisco had back surgery last year to the tune of $6,000.00. Pet plan was easy to work with and sent  me my reimbursement check within 2 weeks of my claim submittal. Most of my SAR dog teammates are also insured with them and have had nothing but good things to say about them. Pet plan also cover's some hereditary diseases (most companies don't)....no questions asked.

If anyone has any questions about my experiences with them, I'd be happy to talk to them.

Cheri

Speaking of reimbursement time, Healthy Paws generally reimburses in under a week. Once it's approved, checks arrive in just a couple days. I think when my Chi spent a long weekend in emergency for some type of poisoning or spider bite (blood clotting issues requiring transfusions), I had the check 3 or 4 days after I picked him up. That was a $3200 ordeal and it was cheerfully paid with no third degree. They emailed to check on him a few days later and paid for the follow-up clotting tests through Cornell as well.  If you email them the claim forms, you might get an approval and "check's in the mail" email that same day or the next day so long as you have provided the medical history. The first claim takes longer, but not too long. 

trupon will find any reason not to pay

like you have to argue with them every time you need something, but again they capped another mans dog all 4 canines paid for it but again he had to fight them they said his dog was a guard dog so at first they refused lol

do not tell them what your dog is used for just say it is a pet with any company

the one jenni has sounds much better, i insure the dogs also not the cats but next time it will be healthy paws

Trupanion has more of mine right now than Healthy Paws, and there's one simple reason for that. Healthy Paws requires a vet visit if the dog is over a certain age (can't remember the age) and for a couple of my young dogs that don't live with me (I keep at least one pup from almost every litter back so I can monitor them, but I put them into foster homes so I can do it without being a dog hoarder, lol) it was easier to just use Trupanion since they don't require a health check within 10 or 30 days like Healthy Paws. I could do the whole process online without bothering anybody.