Pet Insurance

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GSPONPOINT32
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Pet Insurance

Post by GSPONPOINT32 » Fri Sep 16, 2016 10:46 am

Does anyone use pet insurance? I've never considered it but now that my new partner will be extremely active I am worried about bones and snakes.

Best I found with very good reviews taken into consideration was around $500 per year with a $250 deductible and 80% coverage.

I guess I'm worried about a venomous snake bite or leg fracture.

Honestly I would rather put 5k in an account. My wife thinks the insurance is a good idea.

Anyone have good or bad experience or a strong opinion?

I read the entire contract and everything I need is covered. It's a clear cut contract with minimal lawyer speak.

Brian



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Sharon
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Re: Pet Insurance

Post by Sharon » Fri Sep 16, 2016 1:32 pm

I've used 2 companies( Pets + Us, and Pet Plan) ,and just quit from the last company.
The decision is in the details ,which probably I didn't read carefully enough.

"$500 per year with a $250 deductible and 80% coverage." your quote ( Perhaps this company is better than what I tried.)


What I found:

You send in everything they ask for on the form and then they always want something more.
They don't contact you if something is missing.
You eventually call to see what the hold up is and then you find out what is missing... 6 weeks have gone by.

It is good for a huge emergency, assuming one can't save for a big emergency.
My dog was attacked by a deer and I got $1300. back when I had only paid out $400.in monthly fees.

For more minor things , at $250. you get no money back. Claims aren't saved up until you get to $250. and it even then has to be for the same problem.

** I'm just saving for emergencies now. :)
" We are more than our gender, skin color, class, sexuality or age; we are unlimited potential, and can not be defined by one label." quote A. Bartlett

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greg jacobs
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Re: Pet Insurance

Post by greg jacobs » Fri Sep 16, 2016 3:47 pm

At 500 a year 250 deductible and 80%. I guess it wouldn't have come even close to paying off in the last 40 years. But that last $2000 and still running bill had me thinking about it.

GSPONPOINT32
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Pet Insurance

Post by GSPONPOINT32 » Sat Sep 17, 2016 1:10 pm

Yea I'm just worried about 5k+ at this point. Anti venom treatment being at the top of the list. I can deal with bones such. I might contact them about a personalized policy.


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JONOV
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Re: Pet Insurance

Post by JONOV » Tue Sep 20, 2016 2:03 pm

greg jacobs wrote:At 500 a year 250 deductible and 80%. I guess it wouldn't have come even close to paying off in the last 40 years. But that last $2000 and still running bill had me thinking about it.
I don't mean to be pedantic, but no insurance is supposed to come close to paying off...Its a for profit product. If you looked at your auto insurance, homeowners, etc, over the last 40 years, and all of your neighbors, most people would come out ahead investing the money and saving it. Now, a few people have their house burn down, and most might get in a car accident or two over the course of a lifetime (some more, some less,) but the idea is that the insurance saves you from ruin.

My fiance and I looked at it and we decided not to get it. I can self insure for most issues. If he does happen to get bitten by a water moccasin or rattlesnake (gulp) I would maybe look at putting part of it on a credit card if I didn't want to tap into something less liquid and paying it off over a few months.

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Urban_Redneck
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Re: Pet Insurance

Post by Urban_Redneck » Fri Sep 23, 2016 6:18 am

Two statements were made to me, "These are working dogs, running over ground full of holes, scattered with rocks, barbed wire, abandoned implements, broken glass, and porcupines, your dog will get hurt". "When the choice is between a number that will adversely affect the family and putting the dog down, you'll be glad you have it."

YMMV

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Sharon
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Re: Pet Insurance

Post by Sharon » Fri Sep 23, 2016 1:29 pm

That's a very true statement. Once you let that dog off the leash a multitude of things can happen. Do read the fine print as some companies don't insure hunting dogs.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Good post Jonov. Welcome to the forum. :)
" We are more than our gender, skin color, class, sexuality or age; we are unlimited potential, and can not be defined by one label." quote A. Bartlett

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channeledbymodem
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Re: Pet Insurance

Post by channeledbymodem » Sat Sep 24, 2016 2:16 pm

Sharon wrote:I've used 2 companies( Pets + Us, and Pet Plan) ,and just quit from the last company.
The decision is in the details ,which probably I didn't read carefully enough.

"$500 per year with a $250 deductible and 80% coverage." your quote ( Perhaps this company is better than what I tried.)

What I found:

You send in everything they ask for on the form and then they always want something more.
They don't contact you if something is missing.
You eventually call to see what the hold up is and then you find out what is missing... 6 weeks have gone by.
I've had Pet Plan for eight years and pretty much broken even. My policy has a $200 per incident deductible and after that it pays 100% unless you go to a specialist and then they pay 80%. For a small mutt the premiums start out at around $350 a year and then go up pretty dramatically after the dog is 7 or 8. I've had big bills at the end of my dogs' lives and Pet Plan has paid them all so that's why I say I more or less broke even. Along the way they paid for minor accidents, like a cut paw which in this hella expensive city cost me $500.

I have the money in the bank but for me it's better psychologically to know that whatever happens and no matter what vet I need to use, after the first $200 I'm taken care of. I don't think they offer 100% reimbursement in all markets. Other companies typically offer 80 or 90%.

I think Pet Plan is a very good company and I've used three different ones. You are right that they require persistent follow up because they won't necessarily let you know what is holding up your claim. First you must be sure to include all of your vet's notes between the last claim and the current one. They won't move without them. Second, you have to call them a week after the initial submission, fax them what they need, and follow up again the next day . If you ride them they will turn around a claim within two weeks. They don't nickel and dime you over coverage but they are sticklers for procedure.

One good thing about Pet Plan: if you email them with a question/problem, a customer service rep gets back to you quickly and in their signature is all of their individual contact info. You can use that person as a "case manager" to help you with follow up for as long as they're with the company. Pet Plan is very responsible that way.

Just my two cents.

GSPONPOINT32
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Pet Insurance

Post by GSPONPOINT32 » Sat Sep 24, 2016 4:51 pm

Thanks for the replies! Still contemplating this insurance decision.


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