Gun Dog Forum

Who has it? What do you guys think about it?
I also saw some of the pet stores doing shots and checkups for free or low cost. Should I do that or stay with my vet?

you need to have a relationship with your vet in case you need them for something. with one dog I would go with my vet. But be aware they might be selling you things you probably don't need. Some do not know good conditioning on a hunting dog................Cj

All insurance companies and casinos are built on the same model.
The bottom lines is: The "house" never loses.
So who IS paying these ever escalating exorbitant expenses? (Duuh....!)
I remember when you could go to your Vet and gets shots and an examination without enrolling for the payment plan. Gee....I wonder what changed? (Double duuh...!)
It's 2018. Did you realistically think you were getting something for nothing? Wow..........

What are you talking about????? I'm asking about buying pet insurance to protect myself from costly vet bills. Broken bones, torn acl, cancer, thorn in the eye etc.

He is saying that the insurance is what is driving up the prices the vets charge. Ever wonder why hospital will accept $30.00 for an xray on a human. The vet with an old second hand xray machine is charging $200.00. These vet bills are ridiculous.

We have multiple dogs so insurance was out of the question; we have been lucky in that the dogs don’t have health problems until they are elderly and we’ve somehow avoided accidents for years. However, a good chunk of ‘vet money’ is part of our household emergency fund. The dogs’ annual checkups and vaccs are just over $100 each so not a budget buster.

If we had just one dog and were starting with a pup, I would ask my vet for advice about which companies he accepted, and covered the most and paid out without hassle; then do the math to make a decision.

I would not cheap out for the lost cost vaccs clinics etc unless I was going through some hard times. You need to have a good relationship with a regular vet. IME it’s good to have someone who ‘knows’ your dog from a medical standpoint, and you from a financial/personal standpoint. When you need a vet after hours, on a holiday, or for a very expensive procedure, how much help will be the clinic-on-wheels at TSC? If you think regular vets are expensive, wait till you see the bill from an emergency clinic.

FWIW, my vet has a small basic practice so while his fees are not exactly cheap all the time, they aren’t outrageous. He will and has referred us to other more specialized practices if needed. Some of our friends are more comfortable with a more expensive mega clinic; it’s just personal preference either way.

Most pet insurance doesn't pay the vet, you do. You then file a claim and the insurance reimburses the stated percentage of the bill(s).


I believe there are other plans where the much of your premium goes to discount routine items like vaccines, wellness visits, and tick control.

My policy has a $275 deductible and pays 80% thereafter. I carry it as insurance that I'll never need it

Thank you for clarifying my post oldbeek. Yes...that is what I was trying to say. Sorry if I was unclear. Let me try this way.
You rarely get something for nothing these days. Most times, if you do, you got what you paid for. You just haven't figured it out yet.
A friend paid $4800 for chemo (Gordon setter). His dog lasted another 6 months. Who am I to judge? Perhaps $4800 for 6 months was worth it to him. ???
People pay absolutely exorbitant prices for meds for their ailing dogs. Who am I to judge? (Most find out what the drugs are and go to the pharmacy for HUGE savings.) Hmmm...?
People have mechanical structures built ($$$$) for a double amputee dog. Who am I to judge?
It's simple really. If you run a business as a sole proprietor (and no staff) you could say you have a two way business - you + customer(s). If you hire someone, you technically have a three entity business. Do you think this person will work for free? If not, where does his salary come from?
We had a two way structure - Vet + customer. Now we have a 3 way process - Vet - insurance - customer. Oh.....you thought the insurance was (virtually) free! ....I see.
Not too many of us can save the replacement cost of our homes with contents. I get that aspect of insurance.
And how about vehicles? So let's say you have a minor fender bender. Find out what the insurance is billed versus the ACTUAL cost. Who is paying for this "variance"? Hmmm.....? Now we can include pets to this process. ....just wonderful.

Urban_Redneck wrote:Most pet insurance doesn't pay the vet, you do. You then file a claim and the insurance reimburses the stated percentage of the bill(s).


I believe there are other plans where the much of your premium goes to discount routine items like vaccines, wellness visits, and tick control.

My policy has a $275 deductible and pays 80% thereafter. I carry it as insurance that I'll never need it

You need to pin down the last piece of that coverage. I would want to know the limits of liability for the coverage. It is unrealistic to think there is no upper limit to the coverage. There usually is.You might also want to get a list of procedures that are NOT covered. That stuff is in the fine print that they never show you...until you file a claim for it.

Also, is that $275 deductible per year or per occurrence?

RayG

oldbeek wrote:He is saying that the insurance is what is driving up the prices the vets charge. Ever wonder why hospital will accept $30.00 for an xray on a human. The vet with an old second hand xray machine is charging $200.00. These vet bills are ridiculous.

Please excuse me while I vault politely onto my soapbox. I've been a vet tech for 20+ years, but have always had to work a second job because the clinics couldn't afford to pay me what I am worth. 20+ years experience, MANAGEMENT title, and credentialed, yet can't afford to pay my bills? It's because people don't want to pay for their pets' care. We have the same overhead costs as your doctor/hospital. . . .you just don't see it because your insurance picks up most of the tab. And no I disagree. . . .your hospital is certainly NOT charging you $30 for a radiograph! That's just the part that your insurance doesn't cover. You just don't see the rest. . . and I guarantee it's a larger fee than what your vet charges.

You definitely get what you pay for. With a vet visit, you get the expertise that comes with years of schooling, training, and continued education. THAT's what you're paying for. (We don't do a good enough job as an industry of showing "worth vs. cost".) The vaccines are necessary, but incidental when it comes to the COST of care. You don't get any of that expertise (and therefore the ability to help you make decisions based on your geographical location, pet's age, or health) when you go to vaccine clinics. Your vet SHOULD be recommending vaccines based on what diseases your dog will be exposed to, not based on $$$$$. If you believe your vet is trying to take you for a ride, get a second opinion. I do agree, though, that the big box store vets that sell you their vaccine plan are a ripoff. Not EVERY vaccine is right for EVERY dog, as they would have you believe.

As far as insurances goes, there's such a variety, and not all are equal. Some cater to tragedy, some to older pets, some just to wellness/preventative maintenance. What you're looking for will determine which one is best for you. As far as I'm concerned, the jury's still out as to if ANY are actually worth it, but the people that I see using it (which is not a large number) are happy.

Sorry. . . .I just feel really strongly about the thinking the vet charges too much thing. It feels like we're living in 2018, but people still think we're living back in the old James Herriot days where no one had to pay besides with a loaf of bread, and the vet was available for everyone's beck and call at all hours. Goods and expert services cost.

Thinking that all vets are out for money is like your vet thinking that all hunters abuse and overwork their dogs. It happens, but not as often as you'd think. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

I have accident only. Then I found out it doesn't cover a blown cruciate.

I will never get pet insurance again. Save your money and you will likely win in the end, that's what the insurance companies are doing ya know.

I used to have pet insurance. Got all my money back, ($1300.00) as the dog had an encounter with a deer and they paid for all of it. Cancelled because they wanted a full dog history every time you put in a claim - too much work.
If a person has trouble coming up with a couple thousand dollars for a unexpected, serious dog injury, but can afford a $100.00 a month , then I think insurance is a wise way to go.

Fozzie's Mom wrote:

oldbeek wrote:He is saying that the insurance is what is driving up the prices the vets charge. Ever wonder why hospital will accept $30.00 for an xray on a human. The vet with an old second hand xray machine is charging $200.00. These vet bills are ridiculous.

Please excuse me while I vault politely onto my soapbox. I've been a vet tech for 20+ years, but have always had to work a second job because the clinics couldn't afford to pay me what I am worth. 20+ years experience, MANAGEMENT title, and credentialed, yet can't afford to pay my bills? It's because people don't want to pay for their pets' care. We have the same overhead costs as your doctor/hospital. . . .you just don't see it because your insurance picks up most of the tab. And no I disagree. . . .your hospital is certainly NOT charging you $30 for a radiograph! That's just the part that your insurance doesn't cover. You just don't see the rest. . . and I guarantee it's a larger fee than what your vet charges.

You definitely get what you pay for. With a vet visit, you get the expertise that comes with years of schooling, training, and continued education. THAT's what you're paying for. (We don't do a good enough job as an industry of showing "worth vs. cost".) The vaccines are necessary, but incidental when it comes to the COST of care. You don't get any of that expertise (and therefore the ability to help you make decisions based on your geographical location, pet's age, or health) when you go to vaccine clinics. Your vet SHOULD be recommending vaccines based on what diseases your dog will be exposed to, not based on $$$$$. If you believe your vet is trying to take you for a ride, get a second opinion. I do agree, though, that the big box store vets that sell you their vaccine plan are a ripoff. Not EVERY vaccine is right for EVERY dog, as they would have you believe.

As far as insurances goes, there's such a variety, and not all are equal. Some cater to tragedy, some to older pets, some just to wellness/preventative maintenance. What you're looking for will determine which one is best for you. As far as I'm concerned, the jury's still out as to if ANY are actually worth it, but the people that I see using it (which is not a large number) are happy.

Sorry. . . .I just feel really strongly about the thinking the vet charges too much thing. It feels like we're living in 2018, but people still think we're living back in the old James Herriot days where no one had to pay besides with a loaf of bread, and the vet was available for everyone's beck and call at all hours. Goods and expert services cost.

Thinking that all vets are out for money is like your vet thinking that all hunters abuse and overwork their dogs. It happens, but not as often as you'd think. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

We had a client come in and tell Doc that if he really loved animals, he would “do all this stuff for free” :roll:

shags. . . .I hear that ALL the time!! I'm already making peanuts, and you want me to give this stuff away?!

check and see how much it cost then take that and put it in the bank. if you just have reg. things like shots check ups and nothing major goes wrong your money ahead. just my op. weighing the odds

You should only insure for what you can't afford. That's why we have health care insurance. A serious problem can run you huge amounts. Dog care can run definite money ..but if you can afford it, you're ahead not to insure it.

As an aside, much as I don't like to pay vet bills (and I've paid a great many), I think those who complain -- beyond usual griping -- are irrational. Compared to human health care and for what you get back from your dog, it's a bargain .

RayGubernat wrote:

Urban_Redneck wrote:Most pet insurance doesn't pay the vet, you do. You then file a claim and the insurance reimburses the stated percentage of the bill(s).


I believe there are other plans where the much of your premium goes to discount routine items like vaccines, wellness visits, and tick control.

My policy has a $275 deductible and pays 80% thereafter. I carry it as insurance that I'll never need it

You need to pin down the last piece of that coverage. I would want to know the limits of liability for the coverage. It is unrealistic to think there is no upper limit to the coverage. There usually is.You might also want to get a list of procedures that are NOT covered. That stuff is in the fine print that they never show you...until you file a claim for it.

Also, is that $275 deductible per year or per occurrence?

RayG

$275 per occurrence, a $300 bill to remove quills is $25 back to me. Same year, a $1500 bill to repair a broken bone is $1225 back to me. No cap. There is no limit. Neuter/spay/reproductive and wellness visits are not covered. It's akin to what used to be known as a "major medical" plan.

Fozzie's Mom wrote:

oldbeek wrote:He is saying that the insurance is what is driving up the prices the vets charge. Ever wonder why hospital will accept $30.00 for an xray on a human. The vet with an old second hand xray machine is charging $200.00. These vet bills are ridiculous.

Please excuse me while I vault politely onto my soapbox. I've been a vet tech for 20+ years, but have always had to work a second job because the clinics couldn't afford to pay me what I am worth. 20+ years experience, MANAGEMENT title, and credentialed, yet can't afford to pay my bills? It's because people don't want to pay for their pets' care. We have the same overhead costs as your doctor/hospital. . . .you just don't see it because your insurance picks up most of the tab. And no I disagree. . . .your hospital is certainly NOT charging you $30 for a radiograph! That's just the part that your insurance doesn't cover. You just don't see the rest. . . and I guarantee it's a larger fee than what your vet charges.

You definitely get what you pay for. With a vet visit, you get the expertise that comes with years of schooling, training, and continued education. THAT's what you're paying for. (We don't do a good enough job as an industry of showing "worth vs. cost".) The vaccines are necessary, but incidental when it comes to the COST of care. You don't get any of that expertise (and therefore the ability to help you make decisions based on your geographical location, pet's age, or health) when you go to vaccine clinics. Your vet SHOULD be recommending vaccines based on what diseases your dog will be exposed to, not based on $$$$$. If you believe your vet is trying to take you for a ride, get a second opinion. I do agree, though, that the big box store vets that sell you their vaccine plan are a ripoff. Not EVERY vaccine is right for EVERY dog, as they would have you believe.

As far as insurances goes, there's such a variety, and not all are equal. Some cater to tragedy, some to older pets, some just to wellness/preventative maintenance. What you're looking for will determine which one is best for you. As far as I'm concerned, the jury's still out as to if ANY are actually worth it, but the people that I see using it (which is not a large number) are happy.

Sorry. . . .I just feel really strongly about the thinking the vet charges too much thing. It feels like we're living in 2018, but people still think we're living back in the old James Herriot days where no one had to pay besides with a loaf of bread, and the vet was available for everyone's beck and call at all hours. Goods and expert services cost.

Thinking that all vets are out for money is like your vet thinking that all hunters abuse and overwork their dogs. It happens, but not as often as you'd think. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

I beg to differ. I read all my Medical bills. I am old and get a lot of work done on my body, so I see a lot of them. Radiology center charges 120.00 for an x-ray. My primary pays 25.00 and my secondary pays 6.00. I pay nothing. That is 31.00 total for an x-ray. Total 12 shot x-ray of teeth. Total is $108.00. Where does vet get180.00 as reasonable? I recently had a vet that had low cost shot clinic at his office every other Sat. morning. He cared about his low income customers.

Urban_Redneck wrote:

RayGubernat wrote:

Urban_Redneck wrote:Most pet insurance doesn't pay the vet, you do. You then file a claim and the insurance reimburses the stated percentage of the bill(s).


I believe there are other plans where the much of your premium goes to discount routine items like vaccines, wellness visits, and tick control.

My policy has a $275 deductible and pays 80% thereafter. I carry it as insurance that I'll never need it

You need to pin down the last piece of that coverage. I would want to know the limits of liability for the coverage. It is unrealistic to think there is no upper limit to the coverage. There usually is.You might also want to get a list of procedures that are NOT covered. That stuff is in the fine print that they never show you...until you file a claim for it.

Also, is that $275 deductible per year or per occurrence?

RayG

$275 per occurrence, a $300 bill to remove quills is $25 back to me. Same year, a $1500 bill to repair a broken bone is $1225 back to me. No cap. There is no limit. Neuter/spay/reproductive and wellness visits are not covered. It's akin to what used to be known as a "major medical" plan.

What’s the name of the insurance you have? I can see that sing beneficial at that price. Also, what is the yearly premium?

TruPanion

My premium is $46.92/month $250 deductible, 90% paid

The first year it was $36.09/ month

oldbeek wrote:Total 12 shot x-ray of teeth. Total is $108.00. Where does vet get180.00 as reasonable?

$155 for four shots of my teeth at the dentist.

oldbeek wrote:

Fozzie's Mom wrote:

oldbeek wrote:He is saying that the insurance is what is driving up the prices the vets charge. Ever wonder why hospital will accept $30.00 for an xray on a human. The vet with an old second hand xray machine is charging $200.00. These vet bills are ridiculous.

Please excuse me while I vault politely onto my soapbox. I've been a vet tech for 20+ years, but have always had to work a second job because the clinics couldn't afford to pay me what I am worth. 20+ years experience, MANAGEMENT title, and credentialed, yet can't afford to pay my bills? It's because people don't want to pay for their pets' care. We have the same overhead costs as your doctor/hospital. . . .you just don't see it because your insurance picks up most of the tab. And no I disagree. . . .your hospital is certainly NOT charging you $30 for a radiograph! That's just the part that your insurance doesn't cover. You just don't see the rest. . . and I guarantee it's a larger fee than what your vet charges.

You definitely get what you pay for. With a vet visit, you get the expertise that comes with years of schooling, training, and continued education. THAT's what you're paying for. (We don't do a good enough job as an industry of showing "worth vs. cost".) The vaccines are necessary, but incidental when it comes to the COST of care. You don't get any of that expertise (and therefore the ability to help you make decisions based on your geographical location, pet's age, or health) when you go to vaccine clinics. Your vet SHOULD be recommending vaccines based on what diseases your dog will be exposed to, not based on $$$$$. If you believe your vet is trying to take you for a ride, get a second opinion. I do agree, though, that the big box store vets that sell you their vaccine plan are a ripoff. Not EVERY vaccine is right for EVERY dog, as they would have you believe.

As far as insurances goes, there's such a variety, and not all are equal. Some cater to tragedy, some to older pets, some just to wellness/preventative maintenance. What you're looking for will determine which one is best for you. As far as I'm concerned, the jury's still out as to if ANY are actually worth it, but the people that I see using it (which is not a large number) are happy.

Sorry. . . .I just feel really strongly about the thinking the vet charges too much thing. It feels like we're living in 2018, but people still think we're living back in the old James Herriot days where no one had to pay besides with a loaf of bread, and the vet was available for everyone's beck and call at all hours. Goods and expert services cost.

Thinking that all vets are out for money is like your vet thinking that all hunters abuse and overwork their dogs. It happens, but not as often as you'd think. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

I beg to differ. I read all my Medical bills. I am old and get a lot of work done on my body, so I see a lot of them. Radiology center charges 120.00 for an x-ray. My primary pays 25.00 and my secondary pays 6.00. I pay nothing. That is 31.00 total for an x-ray. Total 12 shot x-ray of teeth. Total is $108.00. Where does vet get180.00 as reasonable? I recently had a vet that had low cost shot clinic at his office every other Sat. morning. He cared about his low income customers.

I'm with a company that sells surgical equipment and supplies to vets so to give my own perspective on some of this. Both your vet and hospital have to buy an x-ray machine for X amount of dollars, chances are if your hospital is busy they'll buy multiple machines and get a discount on those machines. Then your doctor probably runs at least two to three times as many X-rays as your vet does, so the hospital is able to pay the initial price down quicker than your doctor to start making a profit on the machine. Both still have to pay the overhead of a clinic, staff, and servicing the machine. Its a simplified version I know, but there are differences that lead to cost differences between the two. Plus your insurance is contracted with that clinic to charge a certain price and in return sends business to your doctor, the vet doesn't get that kind of assurance. I do know some vets overcharge and some people like that, and some vets don't.