Pet Insurance

[sparklyyy]

All right, so one more late-night post and then I'm going to bed.

I read an article in the newspaper not too long ago about how pet insurance is becoming increasingly more popular. I honestly didn't know that pet insurance existed until I read this article and I still don't know much about it. I was wondering if someone could fill me in and let me know if it's a good idea or not and where to even begin. If Zeke ever (heaven forbid) has any health problems later in life, I know I'll want to do everything I possibly can to help him. I can't predict where I'll be financially, though...

Just thought I'd ask!

Erin

 

[rabb1tmad]

I have it with Petplan in the UK for both of my rabbits. The excess is £45 but I have used it twice in the last few years so I got my moneys worth. On the positive side, if you are insured and the vets needs to do lots of tests then you won't need to worry about the cost of it as the insurance will cover it. The down side is the same as any other insurance, you may never ever use it! It's not cheap either, I pay around £7 a month per rabbit. I am thinking about finishing it and putting the same amount of money away in a savings account each month and just using that. But, once you get insurance it's hard to let go of it.

I don't know where you live but in the UK there are very few pet insurers who will actually insure rabbits. A lot of supermarkets offer pet insurancecheaper thananywhere else but theyonly insuredogs and cats.Petplan was the best cover I could find. Some vets will offer care plans where you pay a certain amount to them each month and everything is covered, that could be another option?

 

[JadeIcing]

If you put your location in your profile that may help us figure out what is available in your area.

 

[cb.jack.bl]

I think pet insurance is a good idea and can give you piece of mind that if something were to happen, you'd be able to better deal with it financially. My sister convinced me to look into pet insurance after her cat had a urinary tract blockage, twice within 6 weeks (both on weekends = emergencey $$), and on top of it wouldnt take the meds so she had to take him to the vet to get it admisitered...$2000 later she got insurance. I think she's paying about $20/month for decent, mid-range coverage...worth looking into. I've been interested in getting insurance for my buns, but havent been able to find a place in Ontario, or even Canada, that insures rabbits.

 

[lucylocket]

im with pet plan as well for lycy

 

[sparklyyy]

Oops! I suppose that it would have been helpful if I posted my location. I live in the United States. I'm currently in Philadlephia, Pennsylvania, but will most likely be moving to Los Angeles, California, by the end of the summer.

Erin

 

[chinmom]

This is GREAT insurance! For bunnies it's only $12/month, and they cover a lot of procedures. This topic was brought up on my chin forum yesterday, and I found out about that plan. From everything I've heard, it's great and well worth it!

 

[chinmom]

I just realized that it would probably be helpful if I posted the link!

http://www.petinsurance.com/genLanding.cfm?a=4EE0BCA0-802A-228A-FE0AE0A89929B813&b=4EE0BCB0-802A-228A-F95F1B91830217A6&c=4EE0BCBF-802A-228A-FF488EB08692A54A

~Annie

 

[~Bracon~]

Oh I thought pet plan only insured cats and dogs?

 

[rabb1tmad]

Petplan definitely insure rabbits. I've been with them for almost 3 years now;

http://www.petplan.co.uk/insurance/needquote.asp

 

[Haley]

Erin (sparky) would you mind posting your location in your profile (go to my account-profile-country/state)? Thanks!

I have VPI pet insurance for both Basil and Max. I have mixed feelings on it and Im trying to decide whether to continue.

I pay about 22 bucks a month altogether. They were a lifesaver when Max was ill, but there are so many limits and exceptions. I think they claim to pay up to 90% of your bill, which isnt reallytrue. They have caps for how much per year they will pay for each illness. So, say we're treating an abscess and it keeps coming back, they will only pay x amount per year for that. And x amt per year for x rays and such.

That being said, they probably paid me about $1200 for Max's sugeries and treatment. I spent well over$3500 so its just a portion, but its still a lot. Max might not be here today if I didnt have that help.

I guess now that I really think about it is is worth it.

 

[cb.jack.bl]

Does anyone in Canada have insurance for their buns? If so, where? I can't find any companies that insure pets other than cats and dogs...

 

[Offspring2099]

Just as Haley, VPI paid us about 35% of total, they claim that they will play up to 90%. Better than nothing. Sometimes they reject your claims based on horrible evidence/reasoning. But for $12 a month, its all good.

 

[chinmom]

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to get insurance on Georgie...I can get it on the chinchillas too, but the problem is that almost all of the critters that have vet bills are rescues that come in. So I usually don't have the 14 days or whatever to get them on my plan.

For those who found that VPI had limits on amount they'd pay for procedures/illnesses, could you expand on that a little? Just curious what the cap on it is...

Thanks!
~Annie

 

[Pipp]

cb.jack.bl wrote:

Does anyone in Canada have insurance for their buns? If so, where? I can't find any companies that insure pets other than cats and dogs...

I've got a call into my vet about this. I know I've seen a sign in his office, and he specializes in rabbits, so they will know. (I missed them today though).



sas

 

[LuvaBun]

I am with Petplan also, and I have to say that I have found them wonderful. I have had a few claims into them and they has been no problem in them paying out. I pay about £17 per month for both bunnies, and the excess is about £45.

Perry's bills came to nearly £700. When he passed, with the cheque they sent a message saying how sorry they were, and hoped that Pernod and I were doing OK.

SAS - That would be a great help when (if?) John and I get to Canada. I will definately insure Pernod and Shadow.

Jan

 

[Offspring2099]

chinmom wrote:

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to get insurance on Georgie...I can get it on the chinchillas too, but the problem is that almost all of the critters that have vet bills are rescues that come in. So I usually don't have the 14 days or whatever to get them on my plan.

For those who found that VPI had limits on amount they'd pay for procedures/illnesses, could you expand on that a little? Just curious what the cap on it is...

Thanks!
~Annie

I can get a hold of a sheet with a break down of all the procedures/illnesses, or you can call them and see if they will send you a pdf or fax.

Anyways, VPI does this (this also could be with other pet insurance., I don't know).
They break down different sickness, and don't take this literally, this is just and example.
They would break about 50-70 categories, like GI stasis, respiratory, abscess, blah1, blah2,.........

So lets say your rabbit, god forbid, gets a GI stasis. Rabbit is treated. You pay. File a form and get a refund. So now they subtract your refund from GI stats annual allowed allowance. So if your rabbit gets stasis again this year and you run out of allowance, you have to pay the whole thing yourself and get no refund.

Thats pretty much it. When things go really wrong, they help a lot, but for little things, I don't know if its worth doing paper work for $20.

 

[naturestee]

There's also Care Credit, which is like a credit card for veterinary bills and other health care. If you follow their payment plan there's supposed to be no interest. Not all vets take it, so check before you consider using it as a back-up.

http://www.carecredit.com/

I personally do not have insurance for my animals. Except for Fey's injury in November 2005, I haven't had much for non-routine vet expenses. A little here, a little there, once $100 but everything else was under $30 each. I always keep a fair bit of extra cash in the bank for emergencies, plus more I can get within a few business days. Plus Care Credit, and I know my credit score is good so I shouldn't have trouble getting that.

But if it's easier for you to pay a fee every month than have a larger amount handy at all times, insurance is probably a good idea. Emergency vet bills are crazy expensive. It literally cost me $100 just to walk in the door with Fey!

 

[ratmom]

Does vpi pay for spay and neuters also? I had them in the past for my rats and they never paid one dime to me so I cancelled it. In my case I think it was them not knowing anything about rats so they never approved anything. After I cancelled it I got a letter in the mail saying a angry employee stole a bunch of credit card numbers, good thing they didn't use mine.

 

[Haley]

nope it doesnt cover spays/neuters or routine checkups/visits.