[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Pet Medical Insurance (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/29/2004 10:57:32 AM EDT
|
I tried it - it SUCKED. They wouldn't pay for anything. What's your experience? Quick Google search: www.petshealthplan.com PetCareInsurance.com diabellalovescats.com/insure.htm - www.petsonthenet.co.nz/petinsurance.htm www.petassure.com/ |
... Yes, I purchased a health insurance policy for each of these little fellas for one year. My rational was that was when something would most likely go wrong. It includes all vaccinations, spay & neutering, de-worming and all in-office procedures and visits. I love the little devils after all!
|
What kind of dogs are those? ETA: Never heard of health insurance for a pet 
|
|
Well, I thought I wished I had had pet insurance when my dog got sick. But hearing about denied coverage, it seams like it wouldn't have mattered. and you assholes with the "bullet" advice, is that your suggestion for treating your other family members illness', as well?? because my dogs life is far more valuable to me than yours is. 
|
|
|
Been thinking about getting it. Would like to know from those of you who have it and made claims, what companies you have had problems with and why. Would also be interested in any positive claim experiences and with what companies. Like many folks, I use certain markers to gain a feel for a person's character. . One, is the way they deal with animals; especially dogs, cats, and other critters we normally designate as "pets". Our culture and upbringing says all animals are to be treated humanely, and certain animals are given the status of "companion". When I run across individuals who express an indifference to or callousness toward them, they have provided me with an unintended glimpse into their soul. I treat them with caution. |
| This time last year, my Husky got into some antifreeze and had to go to the emergency vet. Bills totaled over $1500. I wished I had insurance at the time. But of all the dogs I've had over the years and all the vet bills I've paid, most visits wouldn't have been covered anyway so I figure I'm better off eating the large vet bill and figure I've evened out with what I would have paid for pet insurance. |
| I have it on on my cat and my dog - not on the reptiles though. To me, its truly worth it. Having been in a situation where a cat was set on fire with a Molotov cocktail, and then lingered in the hospital for 3 days, I know how quickly emergency vet care can add up. We were looking at a $5000 vet bill when all was said and done, and the cat didn't survive. |
I don't agree. I'm not some cold heartless asshole, but I've done it. Didn't like it, but I've done it. Where I come from (rural Ark) that is (or was) an accepted way of euthanasia or "putting down" an animal. Nowadays, I would pony up the money to have a pet "put down" by a vet if required. |
If one of my cats or dogs has something wrong with it that my neighbor (a retired vet) can't fix, I spend right around $0.35 and replace the pet. |
My last dog developed hip problems to the tune of $3200.00 in vet care. I laid out the cash to the vet and was reinburst $2700.00. They pay 40% of routine care, shots, etc.. Thats fucking retarded?  BTW I used http://www.petinsurance.com/ |
I'm very sorry to hear that. To some people, pets are not disposable items that can be easily replaced when they wear out. Its unfortunate that you haven't been able to experience that. |
|
Resident vet checking in: I've had very limited experience with a single company. The experience was not good. I had to file the paperwork THREE TIMES to get any kind of reimbursement for my clients. I didn't make any mistakes, they just kept asking for "more clarification". In essence, I had to write out an ever-lengthening summary of what I did and why I did it... for an orthopedic X-ray on a Great Dane with a congenital leg deformity. I spent three extra hours doing nothing but paperwork for this one case. Nobody but me could fill it out. From my perspective, that's three hours that I could not spend with my family, and I got no pay to support them for the time I lost. From my client's perspective, they got bumrushed by an unscrupulous insurance company who did everything in their power not to pay for a legitimate diagnostic procedure. It was covered, a fact that was spelled out in the insurance company's own paperwork. Bitter about this one? You bet I am. So when people come into the office and ask, I tell them about my one experience, and let them make up their minds. I feel better now. Maybe talking about your feelings does help. But maybe going to the range is better. -Hobbit |
Give it up, which company was it? 
|
Very good observation Londo. |
That is a duplicate of our experience. I'll try and look up what POS company it was. In time, the Vets will have to do what the Doctors do - charge the patient (or the owner, in this case) the cost of filling out the paperwork. So Hobbit, let's say 3 hours * $60 per hour = $180. Sound about right? Or low? |
Apparently you haven't heard, pets are "just property" to many on this board.  S.O. |
I hope you made a formal complaint to the company explaining why you will no longer accept their coverage and why and that you will inform clients as such. S.O. |
| We have VPI. I'm not sure what company Hobbit dealt with, but in our case, the vet signs off on the forms, but we file the claims and we get the money...not the vet. I'm fairly happy with them as far as one of our dogs go. In the past four years we've spent close to $8,000 on health care for him and we've gotten a lot of that back through the insurance. A few of the issues we've had with him that have been covered are: infected and impacted teeth when we adopted him, shots, neutering, pancreatitis with a 3 day hospital stay, yearly teeth cleaning, and arthritis. The other dog has a collapsed trachea (somewhat common in Yorkies), but treatment for that is not covered at all. The collapsed trachea can lead to lots of other problems that they will cover. Its sorta like human insurance refusing to cover birth control, but they will cover childbirth. |
Our experience is the same as yours. We have VPI and they don't pay squat. Of course we haven't used it on anything big but still... Now we're afraid to get rid of it because by doing so could jinx our dog. With my luck, the minute we cancel it something will happen to him and we'll be in for a shitload of money. We decided to get insurance after we dropped $900 on an Emergency Room trip with him a few years ago. Since then we have only used it for shots and routine checkups. |
I have seen many very stupid people ruin their financial well being over trying to keep a sick/injured pet alive. This would include ruining their children's lives. Your post would be a typical example of placing more value on a pet's life than a human life. A dog and a kid are drowning and you can save only one. You, obviously, would choose to save the dog. I say that rational people would save the child. |
|
IMHO it sucks, there is entirely too much paperwork and so many different if, and, or, buts, you have to meet in order to get your money back. I have a few freinds that have also had the same experiences. My wife and I who are owners of both large and small breeds just decided to put a small amount cash back each month in a savings account to cover any unexpected problems. It just seems to work better for us in this manner. Also there have been some discussion on this topic with one of our local consumer reporters based here in Atlanta - Clark Howard - and the bulk of reseach that has been done by him and his staff pretty much comes to the conclusion that it is a waste of money. I believe there is some information on his website clarkhoward.com regarding the matter. Just my .02 
|
Sir, if the above case were happening I would save the kid. If you or the dog were drowning, knowing what a pompous ass you are I would save the dog. S.O. |
That is really sad guys. Really. SGatr15 |
Some might say you're truly sad as well, yet we really dont hold it against you.  S.O. |