Pet Insurance?

Hi Everyone,

So this latest emergency with Plushy is making me wonder if I should consider pet insurance. I sort of just assumed that insurance wasn't worth it b/c my cats were always healthy... Now that this came up, I am wondering how much I would have saved if I had just had the insurance.

Who out there has pet insurance? What are your reasons for having it/not having it? What company do you go through and, if you don't mind, what are the costs involved?

My main concern is I'd be paying all this $$ for insurance and then they'd come back and say "preexisting condition" or "not covered because of this tiny formality that we put in 2pt font on your papers" -- well much like human health insurance companies do, haha.

Please tell me about your experiences so I can make a decision. I figured I should probably do so now before my kitties get too much older.

Originally Posted by sweetthang07

Hi Everyone,

So this latest emergency with Plushy is making me wonder if I should consider pet insurance. I sort of just assumed that insurance wasn't worth it b/c my cats were always healthy... Now that this came up, I am wondering how much I would have saved if I had just had the insurance.

Who out there has pet insurance? What are your reasons for having it/not having it? What company do you go through and, if you don't mind, what are the costs involved?

My main concern is I'd be paying all this $$ for insurance and then they'd come back and say "preexisting condition" or "not covered because of this tiny formality that we put in 2pt font on your papers" -- well much like human health insurance companies do, haha.

Please tell me about your experiences so I can make a decision. I figured I should probably do so now before my kitties get too much older.

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I have pet insurance for Bugsy, Hope and Lucky, and HIGHLY recommend it. I have spent thousands on Bugsy's care, in between his stomatities, emergencies, and many, many vet trips, testing, etc
I have a good plan - it covers up to $7,500 per incident. Mu copay is $150 per incident, plus I pay 20% of the bill. Does not cover dental, nor annual exams, parasites, vaccines, etc. Aside from that, it covers it all - all tests, specialists, prescriptions, surgery, cancer, MRI, cat scan, you name it, they cover. You do not need to get approval - your vet treats the pet, you submit the claim paid for, and they reimburse you - they have direct deposit, and pay directly to my checking account.
The claim form comes filled out off the computer, and there are only a couple of lines for your vet to fill in. Very straight forward. I have never had a problem with it, they pay very fast, and I used a LOT.
As far as the problem you are having with your baby, if he is diagnosed with IBD, that will be pre-existing condition.... However, if the issues is deemed cured with the surgery - blockage and removal of the inflamed tissue, you are fine. As long as it was resolved, it is not considered pre-existing.
For my plan, I pay $85 a month for my 3 babies. $7500 per incident, I believe $100,000 per lifetime of the pet limit.
There are lower plans, $2500/incident - I upgraded mine as Bugsy has a lot of problems and surgery was in his future.
Even with the mountain of vet bill I accumulated especially with Bugsy's diarrhea and dental issues (the later not covered and a pretty penny) and Gracie who can not be covered due to HT, insurance has given me the capability of taking care of them - there would be no way I could have done it without it....
I have Pets Best - nothing but wonderful experiences with them!

Pre-existing conditions are not covered by pet insurance, so yes, you need to keep that in mind.

Pets Best is now underwritten by Aetna, a human health insurance company. As someone who has Aetna insurance (DH's company uses them)... I wouldn't sign on with them willingly. If they handle their pet insurance as they do their human insurance, expect them to be picky and not want to cover things they can get out of. Ours likes to back out of covering imaging even though they're supposed to after our deductible.

Existing customers may not have problems since they'd be honored with what they signed on with.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Pets Best is now underwritten by Aetna, a human health insurance company. As someone who has Aetna insurance (DH's company uses them)... I wouldn't sign on with them willingly. If they handle their pet insurance as they do their human insurance, expect them to be picky and not want to cover things they can get out of. Ours likes to back out of covering imaging even though they're supposed to after our deductible.

Existing customers may not have problems since they'd be honored with what they signed on with.

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I was afraid of this too, when they changed to Aetna, but yes, I have not only signed a new pet since they transfer to Aetna, but also used them plenty since the change.
Again, they have been nothing but fantastic. They are absolutely not picky about what they cover or not - on the contrary - everything is very black and white. Customer service is outstanding - have not changed a thing. It is very much PetsBest, not Aetna.
The only thing that has changed, so far, is the deductible has gone higher, but with it, the coverage has gone higher too (the plans changed/were revised at the time Aetna "merged" with them). Again, this was a revision of the plans, at the time of the merge, and it happened once.
I think older members here have an idea the kind of issues I have been though with Bugsy... I have never, ever had a problem with any claims - not with him, not with Lucky or Hope. Not in the office, nor with ER, not with tests, consults or prescriptions - UTIs, URIs, Diarrhea, fevers, undiagnosed conditions... You name it, I have used it... Worked every time.
To the OP, one good place to ask for insurance referrals, might be your vet... Satisfied patients usually tell them about their experiences, and they fill in plenty of forms too. They also talk to insurances giving more information when necessary - so they might know what companies give them more trouble and the ones who are easier to work with.

I fall under have to many cats for insurance to ever even out lmao.
But seriously I have seen it work out VERY well for my dads dog few years back. Had alot of work done(surgery on both knees) and long stays ats a very pricey vet hostpital. It more then paid for its total cost for all the years they had it.

Thanks for the input everyone! I think I will highly consider it. Since I only have Giraffe now and he's healthy as a horse, I think it's a good time to get it. He did have a leg amputated and I often worry about his future with arthritis and things. Would this sort of thing be "pre existing condition" because they could blame any arthritis on having one less leg or would he have had to been diagnosed with arthritis itself to be considered such? I am sure this depends on the company, but just wondering if anyone would know. I think I'll call around Monday to see what I can find out. With everything Plushy was through, it came to be very expensive. I luckily had the money but I'm not sure I always will... I would hate to put off visiting the vet because of price.

Originally Posted by sweetthang07

Thanks for the input everyone! I think I will highly consider it. Since I only have Giraffe now and he's healthy as a horse, I think it's a good time to get it. He did have a leg amputated and I often worry about his future with arthritis and things. Would this sort of thing be "pre existing condition" because they could blame any arthritis on having one less leg or would he have had to been diagnosed with arthritis itself to be considered such? I am sure this depends on the company, but just wondering if anyone would know. I think I'll call around Monday to see what I can find out. With everything Plushy was through, it came to be very expensive. I luckily had the money but I'm not sure I always will... I would hate to put off visiting the vet because of price.

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I really don't think so - I would not mention anything about arthritis, just ask if he will be covered, and if there will be a problem. Since the condition was deemed cured due to the amputation, you should not have a problem...
And yes, I would totally call now while he is healthy, you don't want to have him get sick to then get insurance..... that's when it is too late (everything else is covered but that incident, then if it becomes chronic you are out of luck).

We have maintained health insurance on our two cats for 10 years now. My worry was having some major problem and facing a $3500 situation. For years, we diligently paid $223.00 a year on each cat and didn't need it. Had a $100 deductible.
Georgie the tortoiseshell has used hers once in 10 years after she had a 3 or 4 night stay at the vets.
Elmo the tuxedo (see other post on Congestive Heart Failure) developed a heart mumur last year that saw $600 plus in charges. This year, the heart mumur developed into congestive heart failure @$1500 plus.
24PetWatch has three levels of care. We are in the mid range callded QuickCare Gold 70 ... meaning it pays 70% of bill over the $100 deductible. If you are going to upgrade to a better level - you have to do it before they turn age ten.
You pay the vet bill, the vet fills out a claim form, faxes it and a detailed bill to the insurance company - you are paid the funds you are due by check.
I think you can go online and get a quote for your cat for the different levels of care. After this situation with congestive heart failure - I wouldn't be caught without it. You have do a physical each year for the cat and report the findings to the insurance company.

Originally Posted by kmd

You have do a physical each year for the cat and report the findings to the insurance company.

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I don't... never had...

Shelter care health insurance. They have 3 different prices and you get discounts the more cats you add on.