Pet Insurance
I would like to get some pet insurance for Chase. I am just now starting to check into it because honestly, I wasn't aware that you could get pet insurance now.
Where can I find good insurance for Chase?
Any suggestions or advice? Does it work the same as health insurance for me?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gail Phillips on
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I have the VPI insurance.Basically you pay the vet bill and then send in the bill to VPI for reimbursement.There are different levels of coverage and deductibles.You can pay the premiums monthly or in one lump sum.The premiums depend on the age of the dog.The older the dog the higher the premium.It can be expensive but then vet bills are expensive too. I feel if I can reduce the bill by at least half it is worth it.
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Permalink Reply by Kaitlyn & Chase on
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I have been looking at VPI, it looks like they cover quite a bit. I am more afraid of getting involved with pet insurance and when the crap hits the fan they are not helpful.
I know Corgis are known to have back problems, hip dysplasia, and sometimes PRA or DM. I am just worried that if Chase were to be unlucky enough to develop something like that the insurance wouldn't help.
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Permalink Reply by rae on
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One thing to keep in mind with VPI (and other companies) also is the deductible. Usually there is an annual deductible that they require you to meet before coverage.
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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
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Dog pet insurance is very different than human. With pets you have to pay up front, submit a claim, then hope the company will pay for it. Pet insurance companies can be a pain in the butt to deal with and iwll often deny claims the first time. After polling clients at my old job I found that Petplan was the clear favorite, no monetary caps for each incident like VPI and they will cover a lot of the genetic problems, they are also cheaper than many insurance companies and tend to pay at a higher rate with less hassle.
By and large most clients wished they'd just put that premium into an emergency account instead of paying it to an insurance company. I've asked A LOT of clients and most agree that its best to just put $25-$50 into a savings account monthly and not throw your money away. The premiums that cover shots, yearly exams, etc. are definitely ripping you off so go with more of emergency type coverage if you do end up with insurance. I'm thinking of getting Petplan for Kirby because I also think he has hip dysplasia and he is a very accident prone dog.
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Permalink Reply by Gabi Walker on
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I don't know if they'll cover a preexisting. Google around for a vet discount program maybe; those usually don't care about preexisting and congenital..
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I don't think any insurance cover pre-existing but they do cover genetic/congenital as long as it wasn't diagnosed before the time the insurance kicked in.
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I replied with a sample bill here:
http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/pet-insurance-5?xg_source=activity
We use VPI, it does not work like people insurance. Be prepared to pay upfront and have some savings. Be prepared to not have everything covered.
Set aside a separate account or money for pet expenses in case.
Look into care credit also.
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I keep one credit card with a corgi picture on it (of course) to use in case of medical emergencies.That way I don't worry about how much the bill is going to run me.Then I send in my bill to VPI. My previous corgi had to have two ACL surgeries within a year.The VPI insurance covered half the expense. I feel 1/2 the bill is better than paying the whole thing.Vet bills are expensive and it would take a while to save $5000 .Medical emergencies do happen and we are never ready for them.The insurance gives you peace of mind. I think more people would opt for surgury if they knew it wouldn't be as expensive. I see a lot of dogs at the rescue I volunteer at come in with medical issues because the person coulnd't afford to pay the vet bill.Having insurance could have let them keep their dog .And how many times have you heard about someone that had the dog put to sleep because the vet bill would be too much?
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A credit card with a Corgi on it is a great idea. Maybe a picture of Chase on a card for a separate account.
I like to think ahead. As I have said before, some people think I am crazy worrying about things like this when he is only 6 months old but I would rather be prepared and never need to use the account than be rushing to the emergency room thinking "how am I ever going to pay for this?"
I am an overprotective mom and a worry wart. Chase is my baby so I think about all the possibilities, good and bad.So it sounds like you have both an emergency account and pet insurance. That sounds like a good idea. Do you have a more basic insurance plan because you have the emergency account or do you still have the Major medical plan?
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I have just the basic insurance for emergencies. All the bells & whistles does cost a lot and I usually have the money for regular vet exams etc. Its those big dollar emergencies that it comes in handy. It seems like the insurance reimburses more for orthopedic issues .When my corgi had her surgeries for her ACL it paid 1/2 back.When she had a minor surgery to remove a cyst from her foot it only covered about 1/4.But I think something is better than nothing and an emergency will usually reimburse you enough to cover the premium you paid that year.
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Permalink Reply by Cindi & Twinkie on
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Ooh, there was just an article by the Associated Press last weekend that appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about this! The gist of it was that you would be better off starting a savings account for the money you WOULD have paid in premiums. The thinking is that most insurances don't pay for normal vet care and if you have a young, healthy pet, you could ultimately save the money needed for emergencies. I wish I could find the article for you. It also said that most companies do not cover illnesses common to a specific breed. You would want to check that it would cover ACL and DM issues in Corgis. Good luck investigating this!
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Thank you so much for the link! It was very informative and helpful. I have thought about just setting some money aside in an untouchable account for emergencies. I wanted to see if it would be better to do that or just get pet insurance.
I think it may be a good idea to check into doing a little of both. Pet insurance to help cover some things and a "Chase" account for big vet bills that may be unexpected.
I am a bit of an overprotective mom and a worry wart. He is only 6 months old right now, so hopefully if I start saving now I will have a good chunk of money saved by the time he gets older. There could also be unexpected emergenies, but I would like to save as much as I can for when he and his bones get old. :)
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