A plea for you to consider health insurance for your cat...

kmd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
71
Purraise
27
I simply want to tell briefly what has happened with our cats that may be beneficial.

We bought health insurance for our two cats, there were three levels of coverage. For many years we had the lowest level of coverage and never needed it. The company indicated that if we were going to upgrade, we had to before they turned age 10. We upgraded both to the mid level. I think in an 8 or 9 year period, our oldest cat had one vet stay that qualified for coverage.

My concern was always having an expensive medical procedure and needing help. We were paying probably $230-$240 a year for each cat.

Our little boy cat was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at age 9 and died by age 10, his cardiologist bill was $2200 in one year, of that, 70% was covered.

Our older cat, had hypherthyroidism last year and had an $1100 treatment, again, 70 percent was covered. This year, she has had issues that while we can't pinpoint, it seems to be large or small cell carcinoma or inflammatory bowel disease. She is being treated for both and doing well. Ultrasound, and other medical treatments have been in the neighborhood of $1500 total. She is on chemo and predisone now.

I am not here to endorse any particular health insurance product, I do not want to recommend a company.

I simply want to say that some of the stories on these pages are heartbreaking, and they almost always include, "and the vet needs....$_______" and the cat owner isn't sure where the money will come from.

Most insurance is bought at time where isn't a need - but in our cases - it sure is great that amidst all of the decisions and worry - when a big ticket medical item is quoted, it is one less thing to worry about to say, "yes... when can we start..."
 

nbrazil

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 2, 2013
Messages
367
Purraise
48
Location
Atlanta, GA
Totally agree with this - I do not see any excuse NOT to get insurance with a kitten. My 90% coverage policy was about $20 a month, but by paying for 12 months, it turned out to be $157. Twenty dollars is way less than a tank of gas these days, a couple of pizzas...

There is always that thought of it being wasted if the cat is healthy... piece of mind is not wasted money. I just did the math in my head, it is less than cat food and litter.

Just do it!
 

stephenq

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 19, 2003
Messages
5,672
Purraise
944
Location
East Coast, USA
There is an amazing website that is a use reviewed clearing house for pet insurance. I used it and that's how I settled on my plan. We did not get insurance until they're were about 8 years old. I decided to hedge my bets and save 8 years of premiums.

Www.petinsurancereview.com

If you go there you'll see some of the well known companies have bad reviews and lessor known ones do great. I've personably been very happy with my company. With one of my cats I got $5000 back on $6000 worth of treatments for heart disease.
 

cprcheetah

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2013
Messages
1,887
Purraise
149
Location
Bountiful, UTah
It is always good to be prepared.  I work for a vet and can't tell you how many people have had to either give up their pet or euthanize because they were unable to afford treatment.  Insurance is such a good idea.  We have a client who puts away $50 per paycheck in a savings account for her cats.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

kmd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
71
Purraise
27
Considering how bad the health of our cat Georgie suddenly became in September and October, and she is on chemo and predisone now, has gained weight and doing much better than she was then... I just want to mention again, in her case, when high dollar prescriptions or treatments are brought up, if you have the health insurance, it a lot less worry to be able to say, "yes let's start that..."

I have one of the companies that I have to pay the bill, then it reimburses me, and yes it is a little slow. But they have been fair about everything.

I do think there is a company out there that I read about that pays the vet at the time of need, I was a little turned off by their only means of payment to them for premiums was credit card only, and opted not to go with them. But they get some great reviews...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

kmd

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
71
Purraise
27
Just an update, our cat has gained a little over 2 pounds since October when the prognosis looked so dismal. At that time, We were sure she wouldn't last through the end of the year. She is still on Luerkean (chemo pill every other day) and predisone ( 2 ml every other day) and is doing fantastic. Sometimes she has a bit of slower day the day after that medication, but right now, every day seems like a gift. The health insurance is terrific, as he has to have monthly cbc and the meds are about $165.00 per month. I still find the insurance companies claims cumbersome and slow, and calling their toll free number gets you 20 minutes on hold.

I changed our 3 year old tortie to another company to try that company.

Our vet since she had never seen a cat rebound so well from a small cell carcinoma diagnosis, and said the health insurance made the difference...
 
Top