Insurance for Rottie.

[Max'smom]

Any good insurances out there to protect my baby boy healthwise? Looking for insurance for him.

[minnegren]

Hey,
I recommend ASPCAs insurance which I have good experience from. I used to have VPI pet and I wouldnt recommend it, my friend used to have them too and switched as well to aspca. And some of your money goes to a good coze too.
What I experienced with VPI was first my dog had to have an acl surgery and I had just had my insurance for 10 and a half month so they wouldnt cover it, because you had have been with them for a year before they covered anything. The lady told me that I could wait for a month and a half and go ahead with a surgery then?!?!? I was like WHAT?!?!? And have my dog suffer and be in pain til then, no thanks so I paid it all myself, my dogs well being comes before anything else!!!!
Years later my dog got cancer then they tried telling me it was related to an eye infection that she had had 5 years earlier, I never heard of an eye infection being related to osteocarcoma!!!
Anyways thats my experience with VPI.

[julsquincy]

When I got my Rottie as a pup, I signed up for insurance right away and paid on it for about a year. When he was diagnosed with hip dysplasia, I found out what all the 'fine print' meant. It didn't cover a penny; not even for the diagnostic Xrays. I would have been better off putting the $40.00 a month or whatever it was in a savings account as well as budgeting a little extra; like you do for a kid and a college education. IMO, Pet Insurance is worthless. The insurance companies make certain they know all the breed predispositions and 'insure', you are not covered. Unless you feel your dog is at a high risk for getting hit by a car or exposed to an accidental injury, then yes get insurance.

BTW, I'm usually not this cynical; I have auto, homeowners and medical insurance coverage. My suggestion is setup a savings account you can 'insure' you will only access for the dog. That's my plan next time around.

[mikimm]

I've had a different experience. We have VPI for our dogs. We initially got it after a rescue dog had a couple months of illness that was finally diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. We'd just lost another one to the same cancer, and another to lymphosarcoma. So I did some research on various vet insurances, and talked to the vet staff about it too. They suggested VPI.

It didn't cover our old gal who was already older than 10. But we put it on a rescue that was just 6 months old. He eventually needed a TPLO and it covered more than 50% of the surgical cost including xrays, diagnosis, and surgical follow-up. We had the well pet care rider and the cancer rider. It paid a portion of prescribed flea control (Advantage or Frontline) plus annual physical exam and immunizations. Later, when he developed lymphosarcoma, it covered more than half of that diagnostic process as well as the hospital care he needed as he had an invasive form and was really sick really fast.

With our current pack of dogs, who are all covered by VPI, it's already paid for itself. The Great Dane seems to get injured easily and has had numerous bouts of cellulitis in his front feet. It also paid about half of his neutering surgery, the complications he developed after that surgery, and the racoon roundworms he came to us with, and his chronic irritable bowel condition. And he's only 3 yrs old. It's really going to help out in a few years when he's a geriatric Dane.

It's paid more than 1/2 of both of Sofie's TPLO surgeries. As well as diagnosis and treatment of her current arthritis in the front carpals.

When we rescued Lady at 3-4 months of age, she had to have surgical repair of an avulsion of the heel and achilles tendon. Much of the after-care and casting over the next several months was covered. Also, Lady swallowed Gorilla Glue about a year and half ago. She had to have emergency surgery and hospital treatment right away (in the evening of course at the emergency vet). More than half that horrendous expense (close to $4000.00) was covered. She continues to have reflux and vomiting sometimes, and it covers her medicine for that.

Soooo.....I think it's worth it. My rescue dogs have all needed way too much medical care in their lives. All of the ones that lived long enough ended up with chronic problems in their later years. We hope that our new puppy won't need to use it like the others have. But it's there in case. It's a little more than $300 a year. Even one terrible accident or major illness and it's paid for itself over the little guy's lifetime.

[Jaboomba]

Hi Max'sMom

Here is my side of pet insurance. We have a 13 year old Shellie (well almost 12yrs & 8 months) and we have done our part to help put her kids through college!! Haha
Our last visit for Shellie (2 weeks ago) was for a split nail and an infection in that area. Since our vet was concerned about the a fatty tumor near the nail we did a biopsy. (Everything turned out okay).. Total cost for that visit was $217. So Shellie's total vet costs so far for 2008 is almost $2500. (includes almost $1800 Atopica which is VERY expensive!! We have gotten Shellie off Atopica recently becuase we change to a premium grain free food!! Thanks to this forum!!)... No insurance on her.

On the other hand we decided to get insurance on our puppy Sandie (who is 1yr old this month). The coverage we go with insurance on the puppy for atleast the first year since it would basically pay for itself. We paid 1 yr in advance for $300. The coverage provided an 80%/20% split. (Of course they do not cover hip dysplasia issues if they do happen) So far they have covered all shots, neutering or spaying, and she developed a yeast infection from the poor food we were initial feeding her.. (We are no grain free!! Thanks again to this board!!).. We have saved about received refund checks totaling $410. The big issue is that Sandie is having her knee scoped to see if the has a slightly torn ACL... If that is the case and it need to be repaired the cost would be approximately $3200 at the University of Florida.. We will only be responsible for the 20%. So we are lucky there.

My advice it to do a ton of research then decide. My profession is a Financial Planner so I am a firm believer in saving the money and get a return on it, but my wife insisted we get the insurance on the puppy. So far the wife has been dead on... (I won't admit it though!! Haha)

I hope this helps.

Julsquincy -- I totally agree with you though!!! $40 a month for 5yrs finding a good no loan fund avg. 10% you would have almost $3000!! So I can see exactly where you are coming from. Unfortunately the wife wins here!!!!

[Jaboomba]

We are now using ASPCA insurance also. We originally signed up with VPI , but this was the company our vet told us to avoid. As a benefit she provides pet insurance to all of her employees. A about at year ago she dropped VPI and switched to ASPCA.

Just my 2 cent

[mikimm]

VPI , but this was the company our vet told us to avoid

Do you know why the vet said to drop it? I've had nothing but good experience with this insurance.

[Jaboomba]

Mikimm,

She told me that she carried VPI for her employees & recommended it to all of her patients until last year. She said that VPI started increasing the number of claims they would deny & lowered the cost the allotted for various procedures. I had zero experience with VPI, but a close friend has VPI accident insurance and had to use it recently & had no problems.

All I can speak for is ASPCA and they have been very good. They offered a lot of options and we went with the $35 a month program. The only thing ASPCA did offer was a discount (ie.. 1 free month) if we paid in full.

I hope this helps out.


Jim

[jlaack]

I also would NOT use VPI, which is the only insurance I have had. My dog was covered for a long time, then we added a second dog. Our eldest dog also had the cancer endorsement which costs an extra premium. Since I knew how prone the breed was, I decided it was necessary. So after years of paying a monthly premium, when I finally needed the insurance, they would not pay. Yes, they covered miscellaneous things through the years but the benefits provided cost less than the premiums. But ultimately I cancelled my policy when my dog was dx with Osteosarcoma and they said they would not cover the cost of the limp spare procedure (or any portion) because it was 'experimental'. So I asked about the chemotherapy. They would only cover the chemo tx after surgery if we amputated. They would not cover the chemo with the limb spare. The entire fiasco was absurd and I am still am upset that I thought they would help with vet bills when in the end they didn't. I belive the cancer rider would have paid out a maximum of $13,000 in vet bills. For my dog they paid $0.

Ultimately their goal is to make money, they are not a non-profit agency. Personally, I have switched to an interest accruing account that I regularly allocate funds to in case of a future vet emergency. It makes a lot more sense financially to do so.

[mikimm]

Thanks Jaboomba & Jlaack. Your story of the osteosarcoma debacle is really hearbreaking. I'm glad we haven't run into anything along those lines. So far what they've paid for all of our rescues has been far more than the cost of premiums and so have been worth it for us. But I can see how an interest bearing account would ultimately be the best choice for many people.

[gmo1379]

I use Petplan.

It was $55.00/month for a rottie.

Covers ALL health problems (HD and such) and injuries. Only catch is that it cannot be a pre-exisiting condition... in other words any diagnosed illness/injury prior to insuring will not be covered, thats pretty standard with any insurance company though.

They do not cover health checkups, heart worm pills, flea & tick or any other non-injury/illness.

This insurance is great for costly health problems, there is no limitation on the cost either. I chose the $12k yearly coverage. Each year the amount resets to $12k.

More info here:
Petplan Pet Insurance for Dogs and Cats

[aldelgreco]

I use Embrace.
$43 a month for two dogs on a family plan.
Covers HD and ACL tears after 6 months, or if you have a vet send in an exemption through a pre-existing condition waiver, you can have it waived.
I have $500 a year deductible then 10% of the bill after that.
It is mainly only to pay for things that are really expensive, but worth it to me for peace of mind in that i will never have to make a money or dog decision.

[Jaboomba]

Hi Everyone

After reading this thread again I decided to do some more research on pet insurance. I talked to my friend (our vet also) tonight & she was blown away with the reviews she read on Embrace. (Thanks Aldelgreco!!)

If anyone wants to check the site I found out just type in pet insurance review into Google or Yahoo. You can also combine the 3 words together & add ".com" and you have the site. I'm not sure if we can give out websites on here, so if it is against the forum policy I apologize & understand it will be removed.

I hope this helps someone out!!

Thanks!

Jim

THANKS AGAIN Aldelgreco!! We are calling Embrace tomorrow!!