Vet insurance - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ShaniFaye · 08-14-2006, 08:22 AM

When my vet gave me morgana she came with a packet of information that included a free month of pet medical insurance. On the surface it doesnt look all that bad, but then I got to thinking...The only time I've had to take my cats (sorry Im not a dog person so I cant speak from dog experience) to the vet were for spaying/neutering or declawing procedures or when I found out 2 of them had feline lukemia years ago, and it was so advanced when we found it, they were put to sleep then and there because they were suffering so much or for normal shots.

Does/has anyone ever purchased this? What was your experience in using it and was it worth it to you?

MexicanOnABike · 08-14-2006, 08:37 AM

oh ya. i saw the papers for the insurance but i dont think i'd get it because we have an indoor cat. my dad had cats all his life and he never had problems with em. the only real thing i would get is life insurance(my previous cat got killed by a car).
i'm sure for dogs, it would be really helpful. i keep hearing about the problems ppl get with their dogs.
but i guess that if you really love your animal, the insurance wouldnt be a bad idea.

CaliLivChick · 08-14-2006, 09:00 AM

We had kitty health insurance for awhile through Banfield (located in a lot of PetSmart stores). When we first took her in, they did all sorts of stuff, including teeth cleaning, and it would have cost around $800. We paid around $25 a month for the insurance (only kept it for about a year), and it took care of everything.

The only reason we haven't put her back on the insurance is we can't afford that right now. However, I would recommend it. With the Banfield one, it's good at any Banfield anywhere, so even though we started out in CA, we can use it in FL. And it seemed to cover pretty much everything, including maintenance shots, with no co-pay.

Elphaba · 08-14-2006, 12:08 PM

We've never taken out insurance, but I have regretted that more than a few times. The large and giant breeds of dogs are prone to leg and joint problems.

Grancey · 08-14-2006, 01:57 PM

I wish I had done it. One of our cats suffers from urinary tract infections. Our vet now trusts us enough to know that we know when the cat has taken ill, and we can get the prescription meds without costly testing. If you can afford it without it being a hardship, do it.

The_Jazz · 08-14-2006, 02:08 PM

Just like anything else, make sure you understand what you are buying before you sign anything. Do your research and make sure that the insurance company actually exists and pays claims. Just because someone put some brochures in your vet's office does not mean that they won't run off with your money.

I will now stop being an insurance nerd.

*Nikki* · 08-14-2006, 02:31 PM

I recommend it.

Most pet insurance will cover a precentage of anything you have done at the vet. I would strongly recommend vaccinating your feline against feline leukemia and this would need to be done on a yearly basis and is usually included in the yearly exam.

level five · 08-14-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Jazz

Just like anything else, make sure you understand what you are buying before you sign anything. Do your research and make sure that the insurance company actually exists and pays claims. Just because someone put some brochures in your vet's office does not mean that they won't run off with your money.

I will now stop being an insurance nerd.

amen to that.

some insurance is good and some only pays when things really get up there. i had a free two month policy when i registered one of my poodles. the second month she had a probelm. at first the company wouldn't honor the clain saying they didn't honor clams in the first two months! i know, sounds silly, i appealed and they paid the claim nearly a year later, i also wrote the akc who was promoting the policy when you registered your dog with them.

Elphaba · 08-14-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by level five

some insurance is good and some only pays when things really get up there. i had a free two month policy when i registered one of my poodles. the second month she had a probelm. at first the company wouldn't honor the clain saying they didn't honor clams in the first two months! i know, sounds silly, i appealed and they paid the claim nearly a year later, i also wrote the akc who was promoting the policy when you registered your dog with them.

Yes! I hope they have withdrawn their sponsorship, as that would quickly put an end to policies like this.

And I think insurance *nerds* are extremely valuable to everyone that isn't one.

08-14-2006, 08:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	Vet insurance When my vet gave me morgana she came with a packet of information that included a free month of pet medical insurance. On the surface it doesnt look all that bad, but then I got to thinking...The only time I've had to take my cats (sorry Im not a dog person so I cant speak from dog experience) to the vet were for spaying/neutering or declawing procedures or when I found out 2 of them had feline lukemia years ago, and it was so advanced when we found it, they were put to sleep then and there because they were suffering so much or for normal shots. Does/has anyone ever purchased this? What was your experience in using it and was it worth it to you? __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

08-14-2006, 08:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	oh ya. i saw the papers for the insurance but i dont think i'd get it because we have an indoor cat. my dad had cats all his life and he never had problems with em. the only real thing i would get is life insurance(my previous cat got killed by a car). i'm sure for dogs, it would be really helpful. i keep hearing about the problems ppl get with their dogs. but i guess that if you really love your animal, the insurance wouldnt be a bad idea. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

08-14-2006, 09:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
CaliLivChick In Transition Location: Sanford, FL (between Daytona and Orlando)	We had kitty health insurance for awhile through Banfield (located in a lot of PetSmart stores). When we first took her in, they did all sorts of stuff, including teeth cleaning, and it would have cost around $800. We paid around $25 a month for the insurance (only kept it for about a year), and it took care of everything. The only reason we haven't put her back on the insurance is we can't afford that right now. However, I would recommend it. With the Banfield one, it's good at any Banfield anywhere, so even though we started out in CA, we can use it in FL. And it seemed to cover pretty much everything, including maintenance shots, with no co-pay. __________________ Don't trust anything that can bleed for a week and not die. Oh wait, that's me... nevermind... you can trust me.

08-14-2006, 01:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	I wish I had done it. One of our cats suffers from urinary tract infections. Our vet now trusts us enough to know that we know when the cat has taken ill, and we can get the prescription meds without costly testing. If you can afford it without it being a hardship, do it. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

08-14-2006, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
The_Jazz Asshole Administrator Location: Chicago	Just like anything else, make sure you understand what you are buying before you sign anything. Do your research and make sure that the insurance company actually exists and pays claims. Just because someone put some brochures in your vet's office does not mean that they won't run off with your money. I will now stop being an insurance nerd. __________________ "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin "There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush "We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

08-14-2006, 12:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	We've never taken out insurance, but I have regretted that more than a few times. The large and giant breeds of dogs are prone to leg and joint problems.

08-14-2006, 02:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nikki ~~~~~~~ Location: Charleston, SC	I recommend it. Most pet insurance will cover a precentage of anything you have done at the vet. I would strongly recommend vaccinating your feline against feline leukemia and this would need to be done on a yearly basis and is usually included in the yearly exam.