Pet Insurance

eddyandme · ‎09-24-2011

Just cancelled my Healthy Paws account because my new monthly payment is ridiculous!!!!! A couple years ago it was $80+per month; then it jumpted to $103+ until this november: new monthly charge is now $165+.

Fortunately - and pray it continues - never had to use my coverage. Vet exams. meds, et al is not included which is fine - all I wanted was "protection" if something awful happenned. But, I'm not gonna pay almost $2K for this insurance. I'm told it's 'cause of the claims made in the state I live in.

Long story short, can anyone recommend a good pet insurance plan?

TIA and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

(P.S. if I don't 'heart' anything it's 'cause I just signed on to Chromebook and having a little difficulty navigating!)

m0rgan · ‎09-30-2012

@eddyandme I don't have a recommendation for pet insurance but since you never used it why don't you open a separate bank account and put the $100.00 per month in that account and earn interest (little as they pay now) and then have the money you need for an expensive vet bill if that happens.

CrazyDaisy · ‎03-20-2010

@m0rgan wrote:
@eddyandme I don't have a recommendation for pet insurance but since you never used it why don't you open a separate bank account and put the $100.00 per month in that account and earn interest (little as they pay now) and then have the money you need for an expensive vet bill if that happens.

Have always used the separate account method. Funds build up really quickly.

Someday, when scientists discover the center of the Universe....some people will be disappointed it is not them.

NickNack · ‎03-10-2010

@eddyandme I had Healthy Paws for my last French Bulldog, and it was a Godsend when I really needed it. She got very sick suddenly in the middle of the night on a weekend with a long seizure. She spent the night in the ER and then came home the next night with seizure meds. They made an appointent with her for the Vet School for a neurological evaluation for Monday.

On Monday she had an MRI which found a brain tumor. They kept her on pain meds until I could get there and be with her while they put her to sleep. It was just about the worst thing I've ever gone through. I loved her so much.

The Vet bills for the ER and the Vet School were over $10,000. I had 90% coverage with a $100 deductible. I was so thankful that my decisions didn't have to be made based on money. There was a possibility that the MRI would have found something else (don't remember what it was now) that would have been treatable.

I did try to get Healthy Paws for my next French Bulldog, and they would only let me get 70% coverage with either a $250 or $500 deductible. I don't remember which. I consider that catastrophic insurance, which is not what I wanted.

I went with Trupanion for Ava, my new French Bulldog, and switched my cat to Trupanion also. I had never used his other policy. It is not cheap, but I have 90% coverage with a $100 deductible per issue. That is nice, because Ava has stomach issues, and the deductible for that has been met for life.

Healthy Paws increases were always quite a lot per year. Trupanion increased Ava's coverage by about $1 per month this year and decreased Henry's, my cat's, by something like $1.25 per month. Everyone has 90% coverage with them, and you choose your deductible starting with $0. I am very happy with them.

The Bluebird Carries The Sky On His Back"
-Henry David Thoreau

Marp · ‎03-09-2010

@eddyandme, I have my rambunctious youngest insured through Trupanion. Although I have not had a claim I've also not had a premium increase.

The one time I did need to contact them, a claim erroneously attached to my account, they immediately acknowledged their error and the situation was resolved in under five minutes.

trupanion.com

The eyes through which you see others may be the same as how they see you.

KingstonsMom · ‎03-09-2010

@m0rgan wrote:
@eddyandme I don't have a recommendation for pet insurance but since you never used it why don't you open a separate bank account and put the $100.00 per month in that account and earn interest (little as they pay now) and then have the money you need for an expensive vet bill if that happens.

@m0rgan

That's exactly what we do! At least we see that our 'payments' go to a fund that is there if we should need it!

No more $$$$ disappearing into thin air, we know where it is and that it's available if we should need it for Kingston.

This year we sure needed (and used!) it when Kingston needed a specialist surgeon to repair his ACL's in both knees.

ETA: Surgery on both legs ended up costing $10,000, because his case wasn't a simple ortho procedure on the ACLs, it involved cutting bone due to defects.

You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.

morganjen · ‎03-13-2010

Same for me. It started out reasonable, but after several years, doubled so I stopped it. I now have a Care Credit account for any unforseen vet emergencies.

Originally joined board 12-14-2004

On It · ‎03-15-2021

Our bulldog was the most expensive pet we have ever owned. Pet insurance saved us. She had two surgeries, multiple urinary problems, and long term treatment for skin and allergy problems.

She was by far the most memorable of our pets and was such a presence. She was a favorite at both vet's offices, one in Texas and one in New Mexico. She commanded the room and should have been a show dog. With all her charms, I cannot imagine owning a bulldog without pet insurance. They are high, high maintenance.