The Best Pet Health Insurance???

danimarie

danimarie

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I'm sure this has been asked a million times before, and for that, I am sorry. I did do a search of the forums and just didn't get an answer I was looking for.

I was wondering what kind of insurance you guys use and what you think of it?
I've read different online reviews and comparisons, but I definitely trust my cat friends here more than random online strangers...


I am going to insure all three, but Sophie right now needs insurance because she needs some diagnostic testing that obviously we can't afford.

I went to gopetplan.com and it seemed fairly reasonable, but if I can get better coverage cheaper, that's even better.

And I was hoping to hear some personal experiences about reimbursement time and how well the company treated your particular coverage.

Thanks!!!!!

 
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kody's mom

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I have PetPlan (the Bronze coverage) and I think it is great.

I debated and debated on the necessity of insurance, but after huge bills with my Sugar, who passed away last March from Dilated Cardiomyopathy, I decided I would give it a try for a year or so and then decide. We adopted Kody from the CAPS shelter in Houston, TX in May of 2008. Kody was 3 yrs. old in June of 2008, and the policy was only $130.00 for a year (received discounts for online enrollment and microchip). I have the $100.00 deductible as I really just wanted it in case of big problems.

In December I took Kody to the vet because of blood in his stools. I had been reading all the posts about the problem for a couple of months on several forums. My vet decide he needed a colonoscopy. They did a biopsy and really didn't find anything wrong. And surprisingly, Kody forgave me immediately the next day when I brought him home!

I received a check about 10 days later for 631.00 on my bill of 932.40. My policy excludes boarding so the night he spent was not covered, but 80% of everything else except the deductible was paid with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I believe this is a 100.00 deductible on this problem for the rest of the policy year, so should I have followup visits for this problem they cover 80% of the amount.

From what I read somewhere, I have not clarified this however for in the USA, the premium remains the same as long as you do not allow the policy to lapse. I find this alittle hard to believe. I hadn't heard this whenever I took out the policy, though. It makes sense to me that the rate would increase somewhat with certain age brackets, but we will see. But as none of the policies cover pre-existing conditions it is important to get your coverage early. I think it takes a month to kick in.

As I said, I cannot recommend them highly enough. My daughter has a Vizsla and I am going to get insurance on him for her.

I researched the different companies and coverages pretty thoroughly and decided this one was the best.

Kody's mom
 
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danimarie

danimarie

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Wow thanks SO much for taking the time to explain all of that!!! I think I'm definitely going to go with them...it seems best!!!
 
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severus gvidas

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Hello everyone,

We love our Pets Best policy, and I'll tell you why.Affordable premiums with the most money reimbursed at the end of the day.When I was researching, I found that similar coverage cost me more with the other companies, but that if I went with a lower premium, some companies were pretty stingy in their reimbursements.I could only get 40-50% of the bill back. My monthly bill is in the $35 range for the best coverage.

We lost a dog to cancer when he was seven, and I'm grateful that now I can just tell the vet to do whatever it takes and only have to pay for the 20% plus my deductible which is $75. Other companies will tell you that they pay 90%, but then they have a limit on basically every procedure so that they never really actually pay 90%. Check them out when you're looking and type the word review into a search with the company's name. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Also, all companies have limits as to how much they will pay, and I found that Pets Best had the highest limits of all the companies I checked.

skin wound care
 
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srrh

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Carolinalima once sent me an incredible message about Pets Best insurance, it is so informative and very helpful. I'm sure she won't mind if I quote it here:

The company I have is Pets Best Insurance, and I chose them for a couple of reasons...
The main reason was that this was pretty much the only company that allows me to request the payment to be made directly to the vet, instead of paying them and then getting reimbursed. Of course this will only work if the vet wants to work with you, but normally they will...
The other reasons were no annual limits, and lifetime guaranteed coverage.
No company will cover pre-existing conditions, but they will cover everything else.
The plans start at $19.00, but you do have a discount for multiple pets - my premium is $27.00/month for both my kitties.
They have a wellness option but I do not think it is worth it, unless your kitty is older than 10yr old... If you do have a senoir kitty, it might be something you want to look at - you will definitely save $$$, as they pay for dental cleanings, blood panels, etc. Those things are not really necessary for young cats, so I don't have it.
Yes, I am VERY happy with them. So far I had a trip to the e-vet, and another to the vet with Bugsy for emergencies, and they paid the claims quickly. The process was pretty painless as well - no discussion; just sent in the paperwork, and received the check in the mail. It took about 10 business days to get the payment, as this was Bugsys' first claims, and they needed to check his health records to verify this was not a pre-existing condition.
They will cover emergencies within 3 days from signing up, and illnesses 14 days from signing up.
This is what they cover (I have the cheapest plan, so look for the first "column".
Basic Coverages
Veterinarian Visits 80% 80% 80%
After-hours Emergency Visits 80% 80% 80%
Specialist Visits 80% 80% 80%
Lab and Diagnostic Tests 80% 80% 80%
Prescription Medicines 80% 80% 80%
Treatments, including injections 80% 80% 80%
Surgery 80% 80% 80%
Hospitalization 80% 80% 80%
Out-Patient Care 80% 80% 80%

Additional Limited Coverage – once per lifetime
Up to Up to Up to
Behavioral Conditions $200 $300 $400
Pregnancies (See excluded breeds) $300 $400 $500
Hereditary Conditions $500 $1,000 $2,500
Burial or Cremation $200 $300 $400

Additional Limited Coverage – annual
Acupuncture & Holistic Therapy $150 $250 $500

The limit for mine is $2,500 per incident; $42,500 per life of the pet. I pay $100 deductible, + 20% of the remaining bill. They pay for the other 80%.

Later on, when they get older, I might upgrade them to a higher plan, considering the higher risks of serious diseases. For now, $2,500 per incident is plenty IMO- the majority of accidents/diseases will cost less than that amount, and since it is per incident.... There is also no annual limmit...

Another company that has raving reviews is Petplan - this is the one the humane society promotes as being the best.
I might change to them soon, as they appear to cover dental costs (extraction and gingivitis),and my policy doesn't. For now I am happy with mine though...
Click to expand...
If you found this information helpful, please thank Carolinalima for taking the time to write it all out!
 
carolina

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Originally Posted by Severus Gvidas

Hello everyone,

We love our Pets Best policy, and I'll tell you why.Affordable premiums with the most money reimbursed at the end of the day.When I was researching, I found that similar coverage cost me more with the other companies, but that if I went with a lower premium, some companies were pretty stingy in their reimbursements.I could only get 40-50% of the bill back. My monthly bill is in the $35 range for the best coverage.

We lost a dog to cancer when he was seven, and I'm grateful that now I can just tell the vet to do whatever it takes and only have to pay for the 20% plus my deductible which is $75. Other companies will tell you that they pay 90%, but then they have a limit on basically every procedure so that they never really actually pay 90%. Check them out when you're looking and type the word review into a search with the company's name. You'll be surprised at what you find.

Also, all companies have limits as to how much they will pay, and I found that Pets Best had the highest limits of all the companies I checked.

skin wound care
Click to expand...
I have Pets Best as well, and I have nothing but good things to say about them... I have the mid-range plan; I pay $45.53 for BOTH Lucky and Bugsy, and they cover everything, just not pre-existing conditions.
They cover all tests, surgeries, visits, treatments, prescriptions, specialists, boarding, and even euthasia, holistic vets, i.e. acupuncture, and help to find the pet if lost... I pay $75 co-payment (per incident), plus 20% of the bill. There is no annual limit, but there is a $7,500 incident limmit. I believe the lifetime limmit per pet on my plan is $42,000.
You can arrange with your vet to have them pay them directly, so you don't need to pay the bill out of your pocket - Pets Best is one of the very few companies (the only one I found) that will do this...
Check the pre-exisiting conditions; if a vet has seen your cat for the same condition she needs to have testing for, they will not cover anything - not the testing, nor the treatment... Unless she has been treated and cured of the condition before (UTI is ok, even if he is prone to it) Coverage for ilness starts 14 days after you get the policy.
I have used the insurance a couple of times with Bugsy, and have had no problems whatsoever. If I adopt Hope, she will be insured as well.
 
carolina

carolina

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The only update that I have to this thread is that I have added Hope to it, and since finance have been a little tight, I am on the lowest Plan... I pay $44 for all three kitties, with $100 deductible, and 20% co-pay. My lifetime limit remains $42,500 per cat.
I since have taken Lucky to the vet because of a cough/URI, and the reimbursement check was in the mailbox in about a week or so - I always fax my claims in, so the process is faster.
I am still VERY happy with them...
 
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