[daekini]

I'm considering pet insurance for the pup I'm waiting to pick up. Just wondering what your experience is, and if you don't have it, why not?<br><br>
I'm leaning toward a "pet health savings" plan - set up by me of course <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> where some cash is deposited in a separate account each month "just in case". But maybe I'd pay less in the long run with pet insurance.<br><br>
I looked into PetCare but I'm not sure if it is worth it or not. The pup I'm getting has a 5 year guarantee against hip displasia, PRA, and any other genetic diseases. He's and Australian Cattle Dog, a breed known for it's good general health... but also known for having a tendency to get into trouble, and accidents! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/duck.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Duck">:<br><br>
I didn't consider it for my cats, but now I'm wondering about that, too.<br><br>
What's your opinion? Thanks!

 

[daekini]

Duh! Just saw this thread <a href="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=630028&highlight=insurance" target="_blank">Avengingophelia's pet insurance thread</a>!<br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/duh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="duh">

 

[polyhymnia]

I have Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) for my cat. It has already paid for itself in the first year. I do not know if it will continue to pay for itself but for now we will keep it.

 

[Scribe]

In case you don't want to go back to the other thread, I also have VPI, and it has also paid for itself (several times over, actually) with Leo. As of now the rest of the crew isn't insured, but they probably will be soon.

 

[domesticzookeeper]

I don't, mostly because because we don't do any of the routine maintenance stuff that insurance covers, and though I know it would be a real lifesaver during an emergency, I can't afford to insure 6 pets on my budget. I have an emergency fund instead.

 

[Scribe]

FWIW, the insurance I have doesn't over routine stuff, and the plans I looked at that did cover it weren't worth the extra cost when compared to the costs of vaccinations and annual exams themselves. My insurance is just for non-routine care. But it paid for itself in a non-emergency situation (dental cleaning and teeth extraction, plus ultrasound following hearing a heart murmur).

 

[polyhymnia]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>domesticzookeeper</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7905176"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I don't, mostly because because we don't do any of the routine maintenance stuff that insurance covers, and though I know it would be a real lifesaver during an emergency, I can't afford to insure 6 pets on my budget. I have an emergency fund instead.</div>
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FWIW, my insurance doesn't cover routine stuff - I just got the basic emergency coverage. I priced out the add-on for routine stuff and it just isn't worth it. I am thinking about adding on the routine coverage for next year only, and having his teeth cleaned under the insurance but I need to find out first what the vet's "September Dental Special" is - it might be a better deal.

 

[QueenOfThePride]

I don't have pet insurance, but at a recent emergency visit with my dog, I got set up with <a href="http://www.carecredit.com" target="_blank">www.carecredit.com</a> It is just a credit card that you can only use for vet bills and human medical stuff. If you pay it off within a certain amount of time, there is no interest. I've never had a credit card before, so this will be good to boost my credit score.

 

[mesa]

I love the idea of pet insurance, but I don't like that I would have to pay up front and get reimbursed for a portion of the expenses. My whole reasoning for getting it would be to relieve some of the stress that an emergency vet visit can cause, and it just didn't do that for me. I had VPI through my work (I got a discount and payroll deduction, yay!! lol)<br><br>
So when I quit my job, I just started an emergency fund. I gave it to my FIL and he is in charge....cause, ya know, I might be tempted to dip into it if I was reaaaaalllllly broke, hahaha.

 

[domesticzookeeper]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>crayolaab</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7905236"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">FWIW, my insurance doesn't cover routine stuff - I just got the basic emergency coverage. I priced out the add-on for routine stuff and it just isn't worth it. I am thinking about adding on the routine coverage for next year only, and having his teeth cleaned under the insurance but I need to find out first what the vet's "September Dental Special" is - it might be a better deal.</div>
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Well that could be cool. I remember checking out VPI, but I didn't remember a way to avoid the routine costs...

 

[Scribe]

My attitude about this subject is very, very colored by personal experience. Almost two years ago, out of the blue, our dog, Chance, got gastric tortion. After three horrible days and three horrible surgeries, he died. Our vet bills were about $6,000. And that's when my current cycle of CC debt began.

 

[polyhymnia]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>domesticzookeeper</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7908463"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Well that could be cool. I remember checking out VPI, but I didn't remember a way to avoid the routine costs...</div>
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It's an add-on package, and it only covers up to specific limits on specific things (ie vaccinations, routine check, etc). We do very few vaccines and they cover at such low rates (things are expensive here), so for us it is cheaper just to pay out of pocket for most things. There is one plan if I am remembering correctly that does cover dental and that's the one I'm considering for next year.<br><br>
Regarding needing the money right away - VPI are really prompt, I put the bill on my credit card when Tom had his emergency and submitted the claim right away - I had the check from VPI before my credit card bill was due. I don't know if this is always the case or not though.

 

[daekini]

Okay, I'm going to do it. VPI seems the way to go. It looks like I'd only save $10 by adding the "routine care" with vaccinations option - even with neutering included in the cost - so I'll just skip that. I'm trying to decide between the standard and the superior plan.<br><br>
Thorn will be starting agility when he's 1 year old, I think I may just do the standard plan until then, and upgrade to superior when he starts being more athletic and chances of accidents are higher.<br><br>
Then again, your typical cowdog pup can get into an awful lot of trouble! He might have an accident during puppyhood. HMMMMmmm. What to do...?

 

[canadianchick]

I have VPI for Zander and had it on my other Borzoi many years ago. It pays for itself in one visit and it's cheap enough. I like it cause it's peace of mind.

 

[Quindin]

We have pet insurance and frankly, I was adamant that I would not buy a puppy if we could not afford proper insurance! My parents are very sweet people, but the way they view pets was completely different (they have since changed their view): they almost never took the dogs to the vet, and if the treatment cost too much that pretty much meant the dog would die <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/gloomy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Gloomy">: It was very hard for me to watch, so I vowed never to have a dog unless I could afford to take him to the vet whenever he needed and do all I could to save him.<br><br>
Our insurance requires a small co-pay (which usually is the same price of simple and quick vet visits), but everything else is covered 100% for the life of our puppy.

 

[daekini]

what company? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Is it only available in the uk?

 

[Quindin]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>daekini</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7955014"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">what company? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Is it only available in the uk?</div>
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It is Animal Friends - they also gives all the profits to animal charities such as RSPCA (that made my choice easier <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"> )<br><br>
I am not sure whether it is available anywhere else

 

[Brown Lioness]

Ive actually been researching pet insurance companies and i havent liked my findings very much, so far. I dont like the whole "we'll reimburese you" thing and then when they do its not for enough.<br><br>
Sigh, but i really, really do want to get pet insurace before we get a puppy.<br><br>
Decisions, decisions.

 

[Quindin]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Brown Lioness</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7955858"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Ive actually been researching pet insurance companies and i havent liked my findings very much, so far. I dont like the whole "we'll reimburese you" thing and then when they do its not for enough.<br><br>
Sigh, but i really, really do want to get pet insurace before we get a puppy.<br><br>
Decisions, decisions.</div>
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Do ask your local vets whether they have some agreement with the different pet insurances. Mine does so I don't need to worry about paying now and getting reimbursed later. Not all vets do that though.

 

[UberMama]

No, we do not. I'd say on average, we spend $1,000 a year between regular visits and emergency visits on our cats.<br><br>
My parents could have used pet insurance though. Their doxie jumped off of their bed (totally unlike him). He blew discs in his back and it ended up costing my parents 7k with all of the surgeries and such (not to mention the heart ache of almost losing him). (He's now paralyzed from the waist down but doing wonderfully)