Pet Insurance? Good Idea or Waste of Cash? - Page 1

Having recently put down my 10 year old GSD (liver cancer) and then last night(!) my 18 year old cat (brain tumor/seziure disorder)...and having a huge out of pocket cost, I started to wonder about pet insurance for my next pet.

 Anyone have insurance on their pets and if so, are there reputable companies that provide a reasonable policy?

I see one called VPI which looks like a huge company, but I realize bigger may not always be better.

What are your opinions on pet insurance...this dog will be more a family pet then a hard core sport dog.

Worth the peace of mind, if for only the third party liability here in the UK. Certainly insuring the first couple of years of a dogs life can be important, before it's brain catches up with it's body!

Of course then once insured it helps should a problem arise in later life.

Having said that and after having many dogs insured over the years I've never needed to claim but as stated above, the peace of mind is worth it, I think.

I have never had pet insurance as it would cost a fortune to insure a whole kennel, and if I insured just one or two it would be my luck it would always be the uninsured dog that had an illness or injury.

That said, many of my friends and clients with only a few dogs swear by it. I think it is especially good for puppies (who eat everything). My friend's Jeck Noricum grandson AS AN ADULT ate a paif of large leather gloves and became blocked (BTW hes' now 13 years old and still insured!). The insurance (VPI) paid the majority of the bill.  Anoter had a big emergency bill for a snake bit dog and were reinbursed for most of the costs. I don't know about the other companies, but if I only had a few pets I would check out the different companies and I would get it....

 I am so sorry to hear of your loss, especially of two pets so close together. Talk about a double-wammy.

Jackie (Grunenfeld) 

Not worth it - especially VPI!!!!!!  The exclude most EVERYTHING your dog will face, except an accident or torsion.  They do have a cancer rider, but the payback is not much.

 Re. puppies - I got the full blown (top of the line) AKC insurance as the annual cost is the same as a spay - which I'll be having done to my female and the spays are covered.

 -Calvin

Hi there Heartbroken.

I'm sorry to hear about your 10 year old GSD and your 18 year old cat. To my full condolence to you and your family.

Heartbroken:

I'm so sorry for your recent losses.  I currently insure my two GSDs with VPI.  In the past, I would have recommended them.  They were wonderful with my little terrier who had multiple myeloma and a splenectomy. 

This year, I have had issue after issue on ROUTINE claims being approved.  Keep in mind - I pay extra per month for this "service".  I've had to call them repeatedly on a claim for teeth cleaning that should have been covered but was denied as well as reimbursement for Heartgard that was denied.  In the end, the claims were paid but it took me calling them and then waiting and waiting and waiting for the reimbursement.  Their claim turnaround time use to be really good - 10 days or so.  Now, they're running 6-8 weeks behind.  Then, when you receive the EOMB and find out the claim was denied you get to wait yet again for your check once they review the claim unless you raise enough ruckus to get the claim "expedited".

I asked one of the reps what had changed recently because they use to be a pleasure to deal with and now they're a pain.  I was told that they've added a substantial amount of new employees (customer service reps and claims people).  I told them that maybe bigger wasn't better because they're doing nothing but alienating their policy holders if they have to spend their valuable time tracking down claims.  I'm sure it fell on deaf ears but I felt better getting it off my chest.

Good luck to you.  At this point, I'm not so sure I'll renew with them next year or not.