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!
How rude you are, I didn’t even know they would do that until I read this plan. I need something to help me when I go to the Vet because I went today and couldn’t pay it all and figured insurance would help. Rude.

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

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Based on my experience, I’d put my money in a rainy day fund. I rescued a kitty and decided to get insurance. For 1 6mo old kitten it was just under $300/yr for a plan that was in the middle – not the least coverage and not the most. It’s less expensive the younger the cat is and you do get discounts for multiple pets. Based on my claims, I got back a little over $100. One big issue is all of the exclusions to the plans – read the fine print closely. I was a newbie cat owner and didn’t appreciate all of the exclusions. That’s costing me $2500 as my kitten needs knee surgery that’s not covered – NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE. go figure. I’ve also heard that if your cat gets diagnosed with diabetes, for example, the next year it’s can be considered a pre-existing condition and not be covered unless you’re paying the premium for a comprehensive package. It’s not worth it to me.

The link below can get you some quotes and also has feedback on some of the insurance plans and companies.

Finding the Best Pet Insurance

The Truth About Pet Insurance $7.99 Special Report Finally Reveals Pet Insurance Secrets They Don’t Want You To Know…It’s one of the most difficult dilemmas for a pet lover You are at the vet’s office, discussing the cost of treatment with your vet, and suddenly he lays it on you. The total cost of the treatment will be over $2,900…You look at your spouse, and you are both silently thinking… “We can’t afford this!” Because you…

Pet Insurance 101:How to Select the Best Pet Insurance Policy, Including 8 Important Tips and Popular Pet Insurance Alternatives $0.99 This 3,000 word article was written by a licensed veterinary technician. It describes the benefits of investing in pet insurance while debunking the advice of Consumer Reports who advise pet owners to open a savings account for their pet’s medical expenses. Advice is given on what to look for in a pet insurance company and includes contact information for all nine pet insurance companies in the Un…

The Health Master Plan for Your Best Friend: How to Keep Your Dog Happy and in Great Health $4.77 Inside The Health Master Plan for Your Best Friend: How to Keep Your Dog Happy and in Great Health, you will discover:–Understanding ingredients–Dogs need different diets at different ages –Vitamin and mineral supplements –Boredom and variety –Cost of feeds –Dry Vs Canned food –Home made diets –Food allergies –How much should I feed my dog? –How often should I feed my dog? –Signs of Il…

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