Comments on: The good old days and the new reality http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/ eat. play. love. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cait http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-4149 Cait Fri, 26 Feb 2010 06:59:43 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-4149 I guess for me, the biggest hang up is that well... the 'benefits' outside of emergency coverage don't do much for me. My obedience dog is already spayed, and my show dog is staying intact for at least the next few years. Pyo-related emergency spays aren't covered, and mammery tumors wouldn't be either, if we ever needed that. Titers weren't and I do really minimal vaccinations. If I could come up with a plan that was ONLY for emergencies with a deductable of about $1200 that was reaosnable, I mgiht well take advantage of it- but I just don't have enough emergencies that would ever need it- and the most likely emergencies to happen are things that I don't think they'll cover, like sports injuries or pyo. I guess for me, the biggest hang up is that well… the ‘benefits’ outside of emergency coverage don’t do much for me. My obedience dog is already spayed, and my show dog is staying intact for at least the next few years. Pyo-related emergency spays aren’t covered, and mammery tumors wouldn’t be either, if we ever needed that. Titers weren’t and I do really minimal vaccinations. If I could come up with a plan that was ONLY for emergencies with a deductable of about $1200 that was reaosnable, I mgiht well take advantage of it- but I just don’t have enough emergencies that would ever need it- and the most likely emergencies to happen are things that I don’t think they’ll cover, like sports injuries or pyo.

]]> By: casacaudill http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-4085 casacaudill Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:27:48 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-4085 As you know, we've had quite the couple of years for pet expenses at casacaudill. Because we have been fairly lucky in life, we can afford everything that has come our way, but we frequently hope we don't have to spend any more. Last week The Huzbin asked me how much I'd be willing to continue spending on Dakota's extra special care and the answer was "whatever it takes" and I truly mean it. I can always postpone a vacation or a new trinket for the house, but I won't ever postpone necessary and important care because I don't want to spend the money. Perhaps I'm a crazy cat lady, but when I adopted these buddies, I vowed to take care of them as well as other people take care of their kids (and I not so secretly think I've done a better job of it than some parents). As you know, we’ve had quite the couple of years for pet expenses at casacaudill. Because we have been fairly lucky in life, we can afford everything that has come our way, but we frequently hope we don’t have to spend any more. Last week The Huzbin asked me how much I’d be willing to continue spending on Dakota’s extra special care and the answer was “whatever it takes” and I truly mean it. I can always postpone a vacation or a new trinket for the house, but I won’t ever postpone necessary and important care because I don’t want to spend the money. Perhaps I’m a crazy cat lady, but when I adopted these buddies, I vowed to take care of them as well as other people take care of their kids (and I not so secretly think I’ve done a better job of it than some parents).

]]> By: LindsayP http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3933 LindsayP Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:07:30 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3933 I know!!! Now I don't know what to do. Do I keep the insurance and pay out $40 a month for nothing, or cancel it, in the likelihood that Sue'll do something to injure himself? Or is there another insurance company that I can switch to? I just don't know... The problem is when they get his full medical records, and all the food/skin allergy stuff and ER visits show up. Any suggestions? I'm seriously ready to tear my hair out.... I know!!! Now I don’t know what to do. Do I keep the insurance and pay out $40 a month for nothing, or cancel it, in the likelihood that Sue’ll do something to injure himself? Or is there another insurance company that I can switch to? I just don’t know… The problem is when they get his full medical records, and all the food/skin allergy stuff and ER visits show up. Any suggestions? I’m seriously ready to tear my hair out….

]]> By: Angie http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3928 Angie Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:04:32 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3928 I have no complaints with my pet insurance company thus far. I made sure to research it a lot since it seems relatively new in the US still. I signed my dog up with Trupanion pet insurance and they've been really helpful and great. What I like about them is that they cover 90% of our vet bills, cover hereditary and congenital disorders, and their premiums don't increase with pets age. worth checking them out. www.trupanionpetinsurance.com I have no complaints with my pet insurance company thus far. I made sure to research it a lot since it seems relatively new in the US still. I signed my dog up with Trupanion pet insurance and they’ve been really helpful and great. What I like about them is that they cover 90% of our vet bills, cover hereditary and congenital disorders, and their premiums don’t increase with pets age. worth checking them out. http://www.trupanionpetinsurance.com

]]> By: Annette Frey http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3905 Annette Frey Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:20:24 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3905 How's did the lab do? I have insurance, which basically reimburses itself for the yearly stuff and the extra cancer waivers too. How’s did the lab do?

I have insurance, which basically reimburses itself for the yearly stuff and the extra cancer waivers too.

]]> By: wikith http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3904 wikith Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:15:45 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3904 I had PetPlan for Puzzle before he set foot in our home. I was terrified I'd accidentally bring parvo home some day. I'd definitely recommend insurance with a similar setup to PetPlan over the setup of VPI. Neither one pays out directly - it's a reimbursement scheme either way, so be sure you have a credit card with a high limit! But VPI reimburses based on a schedule of "reasonable fees" and I have never ever seen a vet with fees that VPI defines as reasonable - people wind up being reimbursed for ~50% or less of the actual bill. PetPlan does not have set payouts for specific diagnoses - there is an annual limit on payouts, and a per-incident deductible/co-pay. I've not had to use my insurance yet, so I've no idea if actually collecting will work as smoothly as they claim, but I DO know the system espoused by VPI and several other companies does not work for most people. I had PetPlan for Puzzle before he set foot in our home. I was terrified I’d accidentally bring parvo home some day.
I’d definitely recommend insurance with a similar setup to PetPlan over the setup of VPI. Neither one pays out directly – it’s a reimbursement scheme either way, so be sure you have a credit card with a high limit! But VPI reimburses based on a schedule of “reasonable fees” and I have never ever seen a vet with fees that VPI defines as reasonable – people wind up being reimbursed for ~50% or less of the actual bill. PetPlan does not have set payouts for specific diagnoses – there is an annual limit on payouts, and a per-incident deductible/co-pay. I’ve not had to use my insurance yet, so I’ve no idea if actually collecting will work as smoothly as they claim, but I DO know the system espoused by VPI and several other companies does not work for most people.

]]> By: Tabitha http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3903 Tabitha Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:37:02 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3903 I would love pet insurance for my cats however, it is difficult to get insurace for rescued cats as you dont know what they may have had before you brought them home. As we have two cats which we dont know the medical history AND they are older then 2 years it would be over 200 dollars a month. I would LOVE nothing more then to get it as our little Mini has had many respatory and sinus infections for some reason, however we just cant afford the 200 commitment. We also pay for vet care out of our savings. Its not ideal but they are always taken care of. I would perfer to go into debt and sell everything in my home then ever see my babies suffer. I would love pet insurance for my cats however, it is difficult to get insurace for rescued cats as you dont know what they may have had before you brought them home. As we have two cats which we dont know the medical history AND they are older then 2 years it would be over 200 dollars a month. I would LOVE nothing more then to get it as our little Mini has had many respatory and sinus infections for some reason, however we just cant afford the 200 commitment. We also pay for vet care out of our savings. Its not ideal but they are always taken care of. I would perfer to go into debt and sell everything in my home then ever see my babies suffer.

]]> By: Ashley http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3902 Ashley Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:55:28 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3902 After having to take my male cat to the vets twice for emergencies (he has UTI problems) I've been considering getting pet insurance. I know that his UTI issues will probably not be covered because it is considered a pre-existing condition, but I would be nice to have all of my fur babies covered in case of emergencies. I have a feeling I'm going to be going with PetPlan. After having to take my male cat to the vets twice for emergencies (he has UTI problems) I’ve been considering getting pet insurance. I know that his UTI issues will probably not be covered because it is considered a pre-existing condition, but I would be nice to have all of my fur babies covered in case of emergencies. I have a feeling I’m going to be going with PetPlan.

]]> By: Dr. V http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3901 Dr. V Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:10:09 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3901 WHAT?? That doesn't make sense at all! Ingestion of a FB= pre-existing condition? That's ridiculous. WHAT?? That doesn’t make sense at all! Ingestion of a FB= pre-existing condition? That’s ridiculous.

]]> By: LindsayP http://pawcurious.com/2010/02/the-good-old-days-and-the-new-reality/#comment-3900 LindsayP Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:02:10 +0000 http://www.pawcurious.com/?p=3264#comment-3900 ugh, if you're gonna get it, make sure you don't have pre-existing conditions! My pup Sue is a bluenose pitbull, who as a breed are really susceptible to skin allergies & food allergies. He'd already been to the vet a few times due to the food allergy and trying to get that under control. We thought about getting pet insurance, but we didn't actually do it until he had to go to the ER TWICE in a month for ingesting foreign objects (the walls of his dog house and his bed). We got Trupanion, which came highly recommended from the techs at our local vet office. I pay $40 a month for 90% reimbursement, a $0 deductible, and hip-dysplasia coverage just for fun. Two weeks ago Sue had to go to the vet for a skin allergy, anal gland expression, & ear infection due to some sort of external allergy. Guess what. Trupanion won't cover his claim because it was a pre-existing condition. And the kicker, it's "highly unlikely (we'll) cover ingestion of a foreign object as it's a pre-existing condition." WTF!!! That's WHY I got the insurance in the first place!!! So, now I'm SOL and paying for pet insurance that won't cover me for anything. But with Sue's luck, the day after I cancel the policy, he'll get HBC/cancer/deathly ill. So, I guess I"m stuck with keeping it and paying for something that I'll never get anything out of.... Grrr ugh, if you’re gonna get it, make sure you don’t have pre-existing conditions! My pup Sue is a bluenose pitbull, who as a breed are really susceptible to skin allergies & food allergies. He’d already been to the vet a few times due to the food allergy and trying to get that under control. We thought about getting pet insurance, but we didn’t actually do it until he had to go to the ER TWICE in a month for ingesting foreign objects (the walls of his dog house and his bed). We got Trupanion, which came highly recommended from the techs at our local vet office. I pay $40 a month for 90% reimbursement, a $0 deductible, and hip-dysplasia coverage just for fun.

Two weeks ago Sue had to go to the vet for a skin allergy, anal gland expression, & ear infection due to some sort of external allergy. Guess what. Trupanion won’t cover his claim because it was a pre-existing condition. And the kicker, it’s “highly unlikely (we’ll) cover ingestion of a foreign object as it’s a pre-existing condition.” WTF!!! That’s WHY I got the insurance in the first place!!! So, now I’m SOL and paying for pet insurance that won’t cover me for anything. But with Sue’s luck, the day after I cancel the policy, he’ll get HBC/cancer/deathly ill. So, I guess I”m stuck with keeping it and paying for something that I’ll never get anything out of…. Grrr

]]>