insurance

I have a 4 month old kitten. I went to this fair and was introduced to VPI pet insurance but just read that it was no good. Can someone please tell me a good pet insurance place and please only answer if you have personal experience. Also tell me all I need to know about this whole pet insurance thing. I'm new to this. Thanks. I only want the best for my baby!

Hi I'mHers,

First, disclaimer: I work for Embrace Pet Insurance in Cleveland, Ohio.

I'm glad you're asking questions about pet insurance for your kitten. There is so much information floating around about it and not all of it is correct.

What makes a good pet health insurance policy? My opinion is straightforward: insurance is a promise to reimburse you so one of the main elements of a good policy is full and open disclosure of *everything* that is and is not covered. If you look just at price you are not getting the whole picture.

I encourage you to look at major medical pet insurance (yes, it exists, our company offers it). The idea behind it is you get a plan with a higher deductible and this can dramatically lower your premium, in some cases by 30 to 50%. You can get a major medical pet insurance plan for around $20 to 25 per month per dog (cheaper for cats) and still have coverage for most everything (except routine stuff of course).

Pet insurance buys you peace of mind so that if something bad, expensive, and unexpected happens then your pet is protected.

You should buy pet insurance because you want to be *prepared* in case something bad happens. Remember, insurance is the one thing you can't buy when you need it the most so plan accordingly.

You're very lucky in that nowadays here in the US you have a choice of at least half a dozen different pet insurance companies, just go to Google and type in "pet insurance."

Here are some questions you should ask yourself as you navigate the different plans on the market:

1. Does the pet insurance company give you a choice of deductibles, maximums, and copays to design a plan to suit your budget?

2. Does the plan cover genetic conditions? Make sure their answer is unambiguous because some claim they cover them but there can be "gotchas."

3. Does the plan cover chronic or recurring conditions? So if your pet gets sick in year 1, does it cover the same illness again in year 2?

4. Does the plan come with coverages that you'll pay for but probably never use, like "Lost & Found" or "Accidental Death"? These can end up costing you more over the long run than they're worth.

5. What is and is not covered? Is it clearly stated on their website or over the phone?

6. Does the plan pay claims based on a restrictive benefit schedule or the actual vet bill? You want to avoid benefit schedule plans because they have a high probability of leaving you substantially out of pocket when you make a claim.

7. Are there per-incident or per-body system limits that effectively cap the amount you could receive back? For example, some plans have a $3,000 per-incident limit. If you had a claim for $5,000 with one of these plans then the most you would get back would be $3,000 - ever.

8. How long does the company take to pay claims?

9. What are the rules around pre-existing conditions? Are they excluded permanently or temporarily?

10. Will my premium go up if I make a claim?

11. Will the company increase your co-pay or deductible if you visit a specialist or emergency veterinarian? Some plans do this, make sure you know in advance as not only do emergency & specialists veterinarians cost a lot more but now you're being asked to foot a larger portion of the bill even though you didn't sign up for that.

For reviews of the different pet insurance plans in the US check out http://www.PetInsuranceReview.com

Buying a pet insurance plan requires a little bit of homework upfront. Go with the company that you trust and the plan that you think fits your budget and your needs.

Good luck!

Alex

Embrace Pet Insurance

http://www.embracepetinsurance.com

The best pet insurance I've seen by far is Pet Plan. http://www.gopetplan.com

Their monthy rates are very reasonable with only a few dollars between the basic and the high end policies. Some of their highlights are that they do not have a set price for procedures. Unlike VPI that says they will only pay 600 towards a fracture, Pet Plan will pay up to your yearly maximum. (the basic yearly max is 8,000 and the gold is 20000)

They will also pay for boarding if YOU have to be hospitalized.

They will pay if your vacation had to be cancelled due to your pets illness.

They will pay for reward and advertising costs if your pet becomes lost or stolen. In addition, if he is not recovered they will pay for the cost of the animal.

They will also reimburse the cost of the animal if it dies or is euthanized due to injury or illness.

This plan is really spectacular compared to all the others.

PS. Pets Best is another good insurance but not as good as the above.

y the hell do you want pet insurance,

so you can claim money when he dies!?!?!