Pet health insurance

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Jaybird627
Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
edited June 2014 in Bonded by Breast Cancer
Pet health insurance
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  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2008

    I wasn't sure where to post this???

    I have a new puppy and I've received info on pet health insurance plans but since I've never purchased a plan for any of my three previous dogs I was wondering if 1) they're really worth the cost and 2) which company might be the best? Any thoughts are appreciated!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited March 2008

    Hi Janis!  So what kind of puppy did you get?  I sure love my animals.  I dont have any pet insurance so no advice from me other than whenever I think of the Vet I think of $$$$$!  Its those unexected emergencies that will hit your pocket book. 

    I have one goofy dog and 2 cats.  So if I had pet insurance I would be in the poor house. 

    Nickster

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  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2008

    She's a black lab/border collie/spaniel and looks mostly like a border collie. I've heard that the pet insurance can make sense but just like life insurance you pay and pay and pay and sometimes you pay more into it than what you get out, KWIM?

    My 15 1/2 old cocker had cancer 3 years ago (just before I did) but she was fine with only surgery (and a good diet!) and didn't have chemo so no real high vet expense. But she's had issues, too, which have cost a lot so that's why I'm thinking insurance this time around.

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  • denise1962
    denise1962 Member Posts: 193
    edited March 2008

    Hi Jaybird,

    I have a 9 year old taco dog who has had pancretitis twice now. The first one hit about 3 years ago and did not have pet insurance. The bill was 850.00. The last attack was one month ago and that bill was 700.00, but this time I had pet insurance and they reimbursed 50%. They did raise my rate 10.00 a month.

    But for me it is worth it to have the insurance.

    Or you could do a puppy fund say 35.00 per month to have in case anything happens. I use VPI insurance.

    Denise

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  • NaughtybyNature
    NaughtybyNature Member Posts: 1,448
    edited March 2008

    Jaybird627: does your job (sorry I forget if your work for a co.) provide a choice of pet insurance?  You might want to check on that.  My last co. had that choice.

    I don't have health ins. for Arthur.... (can't afford one more bill right now). 

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  • Jaybird627
    Jaybird627 Member Posts: 2,144
    edited March 2008

    No, I don't think my company offers that but I'll inquire about it just in case. I'm still thinking it's a good idea since she's so young and most of the mid-range policies cover, to some degree, spaying and yearly check-ups and heartworm tests, etc.

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  • Isabella4
    Isabella4 Member Posts: 2,166
    edited April 2008

    Jaybird.

    Over here in UK its now advisable to get insurance, our vets sure know how to charge, I have a lot of dogs, so its just not economical for me to run lots of insurances, I just hope I have enough knowledge to self treat, I can get all my vaccinations, antibiotics and wormers without a vet, and what the antibiotics don't clear up in 3/4 days I whip off to the vet to get ripped off. (There are some rather tasty vets around these daysWink)

    Not too long ago our vets were very fair on prices, but now they've all build animal hospitals, and have to pay for them somehow, hence  a massive hike in fees.

    I won't leave any of my dogs in these super hospitals to have some ditsy little vet nurse looking after them at night, I can do that myself thankyou! I have a good relationship with my vet, he knows I self treat, and won't leave my dogs in his hospital, and we get on fine, he is there for me when I have a big problem, and charges me a lot less than others....as long as I pay him cash !!!

    I breed dogs, and ALWAYS advise new owners to get the puppy insured. Over here its about £150 a year, about $300 I would think, but get your dog a cut leg, and its a lot more than that.....so you'd get it back easily. We have no spay and check-up included in our policies (well, hadn't last time I looked) its just  accidents and illness.

    You can buy pet insurance at just about every major store and supermarket here, Wallmart do a very good one!

    Enjoy your new puppy.

    Isabella. 

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  • livesstrong
    livesstrong Member Posts: 1,799
    edited April 2008

    Jaybird,

    I took out pet insurance and paid about 10.00 a week for 2 dogs.  But when I had to have surgery on my bloodhounds lower eyelids ( they were inverted) the company wouldn't cover it because they said it was cosmetic!!!!  Meanwhile my vet told me if I had not done it the poor guy probably would have gone blind eventually!!!  I got so po'd I cancelled it.

    A co-worker of mine also enrolled and about month later her dog got cancer.  They tried to say it was a pre-existing condition and weren't going to pay for the dogs chemo.  The poor girl had to prove it wasn't.  The whole time the dog was going thru chemo she fought with them. The poor dog passed away and she still was fighting to get the bills covered long after he was gone. She dropped it as well.

    We both swore we would never purchase it again. 

    Valerie 

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