Do you have pet insurance on your dog or cat? Pet insurance was not around when Zoe and K-8 were young. With all of the health issues that Zoe had, it might have been good to have it on her. When we got Addie, I thought about it but dealing with a new puppy in the house pushed it to the back of my mind.
I was wondering how many pet owners have pet insurance and more importantly, is it worth the cost? Any experiences that you could share regarding pet insurance, good or bad, would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
My mom doesn't have any fur me BUT I do know my MalGal Princess Holly's mom does fur them!
ReplyDeleteI will pass along your khwery!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
There are times that it would have been helpful to have insurance (Tasha's TPLO and cancer, Tia's cancer) but since some things are excluded based on breed, I figure that putting the monthly premium amount into a separate account works out better for most people.
ReplyDeleteHi girls!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have insurance on any of ours. We used to before the two little ones arrived and we carried theirs on from the breeder's free 6wks insurance for a while but it just got too expensive....we were around £80 a month....more than our car insurance, and that was for two cars!
Also, when you have an affix and you plan to breed (as we do) it becomes even pricier and by the time you pay your excess you begin to wonder why you're doing it!
My lot are pretty healthy (touch wood) and only ever visit the vet for their yearly boosters...BUT...you never know what's around the corner....our old dog was uninsured and while he was out for a walk one day with my Grandad who was elderly and quite deaf, the dog ran onto the road, got hit and the driver didn't stop. He had a broken pelvis and after numerous treatments and operations they decided to amputate his leg. It cost us thousands...but he shouldn't have been off leash near the road.
Also, I think certain unscrupulous vets, once they know your pets are insured, are too quick to insist on all sorts of treatments, many unnecessary. There was a programme on the other day about such practises. A dog, a cat and a rabbit (all in perfect health) were sent to 4 different vet's practises....you'd be amazed at some of the things they were diagnosed with...and the very expensive treatments that were recommended! Only one practise said they were healthy animals with nothing wrong, shocking!
Hope that helps :o)
N xx
With our first Sharpei we looked into insurance and the breed wasn't covered. I've talked about it since w/our vet for Bobo and Meja and he thinks it's better to put the premiums in savings because a lot of these insurance co's are unscrupulous and won't pay when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteBobo and Meja Mommy
You are better off to put a set amount away each month into savings (especially because your guys are young). That way you have a cushion should anything happen...that's what I do for Sophie. :)
ReplyDeleteWe got insurance for Dennis but have not had occasion to use it yet. We never had it for any of our other pets though. My wife did a bunch of research and went with PetPlan (gopetplan.com), which was pretty highly rated by its members. I can put you in touch with her if you want to pick her brain about it.
ReplyDeleteLuna is a 9 months old Golden, and we use Pets Best Insurance. It really helped a lot when she needed all of her 'puppy' stuff done. The insurance covered about 1/2 of her $500 spay/microchip bill. We also set some $$ aside every moth, just incase.. but we have been happy so far with the insurance.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.petsbest.com/
Hi girls,
ReplyDeleteThis is something that our mom's been contemplating too... so far neither of us have got insurance, but mom started thinking abt getting it cos I am getting older and Hershey's been to the vet like sooooooo many times already for her upset tummy and mom's spent a mini fortune on her.
I do not have insurance for Mason, I have thought about it on several occasions, but she is a healthy dog and gets regular check ups. If a time comes and something major has to happen which would cost a lot, then I will do every thing I can to get it done for her, money does not matter for the one I love. I think it is just like our insurance, I have it but have never used it.
ReplyDeleteHi, friends!
ReplyDeletePet insurance is something that does not exist here where I live.
What my mom does its to save some money every month for me just in case I need something.
Take care
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Hmmmm, it's interesting reading everyone's answers. We don't have it and I have been curious about it myself. :) Sounds like it may be good in some situations. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteAmber
Hi Addie & Lucie,
ReplyDeleteMy humans have pet insurance for me (and also for Lemon before) - this is an especially good idea for large breeds because all our vet bills are very expensive! Especially a giant breed like me, even a course of basic antibiotics is calculated based on weight and so it is not cheap!! And if I need any operations, it is VERY expensive, again because everything is calculated on weight. I weigh 70kg so it is like for a human being!! If there is any accident and I need major surgery on my legs, etc, it can be a very complicated and expensive procedure - and my humans want to make sure that they never have to worry about choosing the best medical treatment for me!
So far, they feel that it is worth it. Especially in my first year as a puppy, I was going to the vet every month! Just the basic consultation fee was the same as the premium they pay - so if I went to the vet just once, they would get their money back! Now, I don't go to the vet so often but if I do, my treatments are always so expensive (even for simple things) that they recover the money very quickly. So they think it is a good idea - especially for very big dogs!
If you decide to get pet insurance, make sure you check all the details and read the "small print" very carefully because different companies have different policies. Some of them will not insure you after you pass a certain age - which is so stupid because the time you get sick is when you are old not when you are young and healthy! So try to pick a policy which will insure you for life.
In some countries, there are many pet insurance companies and a lot of choice - and you can choose a basic policy (eg. just Accidents & Major Surgeries) or Full Cover (this is what I have) which will not only pay traditional vet bills but also for homeopathic treatment (eg. dog acupuncture), funeral/cremation costs, advertising costs if I go missing and also "3rd-party liability" costs if I cause damage to another person or dog.
Hope this helps!
Slobbers,
Honey the Great Dane
Hey there! Yes, mom has insurance for us. She uses VPIv - Veterinary Pet Insurance and loves it. Totally worth the cost. It has definitely paid off for mom. Please feel free to e-mail me at hollyshouse5 @ yahoo.com if your mom wants to ask my mom some questions. She will be happy to help!!
ReplyDeleteHolly
When I lived in Chicago, I had insurance for my cat, Ikkyu, and it was a constant battle to get anything out of the company. I discussed it with my vet when we moved to France and she wasn't that encouraging. It's pretty expensive here and our vet is very reasonably-priced. As far as I know, the place where it's most widespread is the UK. For the US, It's probably best t listen to the recommendations of your blogger friends, just like you're doing!
ReplyDelete#1
We have checked in to VPI for our pack. To get it to cover four dogs (with the multi dog discounts) we were looking at approx $130 a month for the top of the line coverage (excluding cancer treatment). In addition to the monthly premium - the small print says each office visit has a $50.00 co-pay. Many times we go in for a office visit we are only paying around that much.
ReplyDeleteAfter crunching the numbers (looking at the amount we paid to the vet last year) and anticipating this years costs, we decided we were better off putting that money into savings (because that is essentially what you are doing by paying your monthly premium).
We set up a specific DOG account attached to our primary account - then set up an allotment - a specific amount from each pay check. Now we have the same type of protection - except we don't have to file any claim forms and if we dont use the money, we keep it.
Hope this helped!
I'm not 'insured'...so can't help you there. LS said she just put aside every month for my contingency fund.
ReplyDeleteMom says that we don't have pet insurance! She feels fortunate that she has two healthy and happy dogs!
ReplyDeleteLove ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch
My Mum doesn't have it fur us because we all have to be insured seperately and it costs more than individual visits fur us.
ReplyDeleteBig licks to you
Suzuki
xxx
I have pet insurance for Ludo. We're with Petplan too. they're more expensive but one of the only ones to do a whole of life policy, i.e. if he has a problem one year many insurers wont pay out for the same problem in the next. They'll also pay part towards prescription diets etc, which as shelties have sensitive tums I thought was good.
ReplyDeleteI have pet insurance - it wasn't an option for us - we had to get it - as a working dog when I was being handed over to my family from Irish Guide Dogs - they were told they had to ensure I was covered.
ReplyDeleteThey are very glad however that they immediately got the insurance because I have had to have three eye operations over the past 18 months and the costs to them would have been huge.
Having pet insurance has been very good for us - I also have had twice minor run-ins with glass on footpaths - and vet bills are very expensive here so having the insurance has been well worth it.
Hi,
ReplyDeletePet insurance are not available here in the Philippines. But, my mom puts away a certain amount each month in a separate account which she can use in case of emergency.
Love,
Charlie
Hi there Fort Worth sisters Addie and Lucy,
ReplyDeleteWe don't have pet insurance now but we know of one, next to PetSmart is Banfield the Pet Hospital, they offer Optinum Wellness Plans, please tell your mom to check it out to see if it works for you, here's the link:
http://banfield.petsmart.com/.
I have 2 Awards saved for you, please pick it up, love ya lot.
Hi Staci!
ReplyDeleteI see you have lots of advice here already, and I will echo some of it. We asked around about this when Clover was a puppy and decided that our best option, and most economical (in our situation) is to put aside a set amount of money each month (we do it for each pay period, so twice a month) into a "Clover fund." We use this for all trips to the vet, and it has come in handy for unexpected vet visits (ear infections, etc.) I like this way because it doesn't hurt to put "too much" money in, as it is still yours at the end of the day. When you pay for insurance, if you don't use it, you "lose" that money. I know that is pretty basic, but that is why we decided to set aside money every month in a special fund instead of paying for insurance.
Hope you are able to come up with a solution that suits you and the girls! :)
Jess, Clover's mom
We don't. Great picture, though! :)
ReplyDeleteTail wags,
Storms
it is not worth the cost for us. often times the company will pay so much towards an injury, and nothing for general coverage or ongoing illness(or if so the price goes up thereby making it not worth our while) When Guinness had his accident, the insurance to cover him worked out to the same.
ReplyDeleteNo insurance for me either, my Mom uses the monthly savings plan and so far, I haven't needed anything and I hope I don't!
ReplyDeleteKisses,
Stella
Hi dear Staci...
ReplyDeleteYes...I got insurance for Paco & Milo...but has not had occasion to use it yet....
In Italy there are lots of pet's insurance and the cost aren't too expensive....
I got one single insurance for eachother my fur babies....
and also we got another that is included with house insurance!!
I think that is very important got it because could help us with medical cost and (more important for me) in the incident that could be produced by Paco and Milo to another dogs or people...
You must pay attention a lot on the very very very small words at the end of the insurance because sometimes there are lots of wrong thing for the owner....
Please...let us know what are you think to do!!!
Good luck!!!
Kisses and licks!!!
My Old Girl has been thinking about this for me, too, so I'm so glad you brought it up! I really like the idea of having a savings account instead; that makes more sense to me. We'll see what Old Girl thinks. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe've never had pet insurance. We've looked into it, but it just seems like it's not worth the cost, though of course vet bills are expensive.
ReplyDeleteSee ya!
Joey
We considered pet insurance, however we found not only was it expensive, but it rarely covered the issues e were concerned with.
ReplyDeleteWe have a separate bank account that we put money into. In the event we need it for health care for the kritters, the money is there.
And, unlike insurance-if we never need to draw on the money - we have money put aside to do what we wish with.
It takes discipline to put the money away, but we feel it is worth the effort.
(((hugs))) your friends
Oskar, Schatzi & Xena
We don't have insurance but it sure would have been nice when I was young and had a seizure and had to stay in the hospital for a week on fluids..
ReplyDeleteBig Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie
We have VPI pet insurance. Didn't have it before the boyz. Wanted to make sure they were covered. With double cataract surgery & multiple ACL surgeries in our past with Little Clover, Cinnamon, & Shanna, we wanted to have coverage with Cosmos & Juneau. We do get some money back for wellness when they get their yearly shots & some towards heartworm & flea prevention (just a little).
ReplyDeleteTake care,
Marlene
Love the photo! And (hehe) we've been totally contemplating it, so it's been very helpful reading these comments. Our vet has been honest about which ones are good and which not. So far, we haven't dug in, but I think we will go for it very soon, with help from your post. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteHugs and Licks,
xo Sammie
Hi everybody,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to you know that i did a post today about the of my guessing game. You guys guess first, then Clover and then Khyra. Mommy will be sending out the prizes bext week.
{{{huggies}}}.....Mona
L&A
ReplyDeleteDon't have insurance. I did go thru a great deal of medical issues and bills with my last dog so contemplated when I adopted Norwood. In fact in the first 6 mos he had mange and a lymes disease-he was so quick I couldn't get insurance. Best advise is talk to your vet. My vet told me about his dealings with each insurance group and some make him constantly resubmit info for a claim. I opted not to purchase. My other advise is to really understand your dog's medical conditions and vet care. Each incident does not require a full battery of tests to diagnose or treat. Study about emergency conditions and what is standard treatment. I find when dealing with vets they always throw all the tests at you and it may not always be needed. Especially with long term or chronic diseases.
I see you received a great response. Interesting topic.
Norwood
We do not have insurance though it has crossed the crazy old bats mind at times.
ReplyDeleteNessa's insurance gets together with house insurance, otherwise I don't have it. But I agree with comments before: put some cash aside every now and then and it would be much better...I really hope that Addie and Lucie will not need it for vet...
ReplyDeleteKisses and hugs,
Bojana and Nessa
What a beautiful day we had today.. We didn't make it to the lake though... how sad...
ReplyDeleteBig Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie