I’m looking for pet insurance for my two kittens. I’ve had a look around for reviews on the internet, but all of them seem to have really negative reviews!
Some of the key things I will need from the insurance is:
-For it to cover emergency vet fees
-For it to give life cover, not just for 12 months
If you’ve got any suggestions of pet insurance that you have tried and tested, please let me know! I’m a bit worried about signing up for the wrong one!
Thanks!!!
Unfortunately, the week after we got the kittens, one of them hurt her leg, which cost us a fortune in emergency vet fees and xray costs. We’re students so really can’t afford to have those kind of expenses! I think insurance would be the best options for us as oppose to a seperate fund! But thanks!
I know it is very confusing when shopping for pet insurance. There are too many information
out there and cause a case of information overload.
No pet insurance are the same and you need to find one that tailors to your pet’s need. You
have to be careful when choosing because some insurance company place a low cap on their
reimbursement even though you are paying for higher premiums. Some will have low
deductibles but will not cover much illness or low coverage for accidents and diagnosis. Many
insurance companies will not cover pre existing conditions.
I cannot recommend one that stood out from the rest because what my pet needs might be
different from what you need.
However, there is a site with a lot of good and useful reviews on the insurance available that
you can look into.
http://www.petinsurancereview.com/
http://www.pet-insurance-info.com
Some guidelines:-
How old is your pet? The best time to purchase a pet health insurance policy is when your pet
is young. Most pet health problems happen in the last two years of your pet’s life. So, the
younger your pet is, the better
Is your breed prone to medical problems? While policy premiums are generally not based on
breed, certain hereditary conditions are excluded.
For instance, Persian cats are prone to polycystic kidney disease (PKD). You can still buy pet
insurance for your Persian; just don’t be surprised if it fails to cover related issues (some pet
insurance policies may cover this, so check with your provider to make sure before you buy).
Is your pet already sick? Most pet insurance providers won’t cover pre-existing conditions.
However, if you can prove your pet had a condition that has been cured, that may be covered.
Can you choose your own veterinarian? For many pet owners, vet choice is key, and for good
reason. Some pet insurance companies require you to use veterinarians on their own network.
Others don’t. As always, check with your provider regarding your choice of veterinarian.
What is your pet’s lifestyle? If your dog or cat spends most of his time outdoors, that will
increase his/her risk of illness or injury.
What is covered? Many pet owners purchase pet health insurance policies to protect
themselves from the high cost of future medical problems. Others want regular pet care such
as annual physical exams and routine checkups and cleanings.
Just be advised that most standard pet insurance policies cover catastrophic accidents and
illnesses. Routine vet visits tend to come as add-ons and/or riders.
What State do you Live In? If you are searching on the internet for pet health insurance, you
need to check this. Just because a provider does business online doesn’t mean it services your
state.
Check The Insurance Company’s Track Record
Every state in the U.S. has an insurance commissioner. If the insurance company you are
considering has had legal/ethical issues that should cause you concern, the insurance
commissioner’s office in your state or province should know about it. Check with them before
you buy.
#1 by Janet on May 18, 2010 - 8:33 am
ASPCA has a great one. Info at their web site or some Vets offices have lists.
References :
I run a Rescue
#2 by Susie T on May 18, 2010 - 8:45 am
My experience with pet insurance is this:
Whenever you buy it, you don’t need it. As soon as you drop it, your cat will become seriously and expensively ill.
I decided that (for me) it was better to save up money as an emergency fund than to pay the insurance, at least for the first 5 yrs. My cats have never had serious problems before age 10, with only one exception, and that was expensive. But of course, he hadn’t been sick before so I had dropped the insurance. You can’t win.
References :
#3 by Connie S on May 18, 2010 - 9:15 am
pet insurance is just like insurance for your car or your house.You buy it on the hope you never have to use it.
if you want it or not depends on how determined and how willing you are to go forth with expensive treatment options if your kitties get sick in the future. I know a woman who got insurance for her dog that paid off when he needed surgery to repair his knee.
You can keep a savings account for your kittens where you can invest the amount you would pay for insurance in the account. If something happens you will have some money to help pay for it, and if nothing happens you have a little nest egg
References :
owner of seven cats
#4 by amyw3260 on May 18, 2010 - 9:48 am
Pet insurance is really expensive, isn;t it?
References :
#5 by Stacy K on May 18, 2010 - 10:05 am
I like Trupanion. My dog is insured through them, and I found them to be the most straight forward and fair company. They cover 90% of your entire bill (no benefits schedules) and they don’t have any kinds of limits on claims.
Petinsurancereview.com has a lot of helpful feedback on most pet insurance companies.
Whichever company you choose, watch out for 2 things:
-wellness coverage: you usually end up paying more through the middle-man insurance company than if you were to pay directly to the vet
-benefits schedules/list of customary fees: some companies keep a list of procedures and how much they *should* cost, when in reality your vet usually charges a lot more for those things. The insurance company would only reimubse you for the price on their list, not the actual cost of your bill.
Good luck with your shopping, and check out Trupanion!
References :
http://www.trupanionpetinsurance.com
#6 by tåkë cárê õf mÿ cât on May 18, 2010 - 10:37 am
I know it is very confusing when shopping for pet insurance. There are too many information
out there and cause a case of information overload.
No pet insurance are the same and you need to find one that tailors to your pet’s need. You
have to be careful when choosing because some insurance company place a low cap on their
reimbursement even though you are paying for higher premiums. Some will have low
deductibles but will not cover much illness or low coverage for accidents and diagnosis. Many
insurance companies will not cover pre existing conditions.
I cannot recommend one that stood out from the rest because what my pet needs might be
different from what you need.
However, there is a site with a lot of good and useful reviews on the insurance available that
you can look into.
http://www.petinsurancereview.com/
http://www.pet-insurance-info.com
Some guidelines:-
How old is your pet? The best time to purchase a pet health insurance policy is when your pet
is young. Most pet health problems happen in the last two years of your pet’s life. So, the
younger your pet is, the better
Is your breed prone to medical problems? While policy premiums are generally not based on
breed, certain hereditary conditions are excluded.
For instance, Persian cats are prone to polycystic kidney disease (PKD). You can still buy pet
insurance for your Persian; just don’t be surprised if it fails to cover related issues (some pet
insurance policies may cover this, so check with your provider to make sure before you buy).
Is your pet already sick? Most pet insurance providers won’t cover pre-existing conditions.
However, if you can prove your pet had a condition that has been cured, that may be covered.
Can you choose your own veterinarian? For many pet owners, vet choice is key, and for good
reason. Some pet insurance companies require you to use veterinarians on their own network.
Others don’t. As always, check with your provider regarding your choice of veterinarian.
What is your pet’s lifestyle? If your dog or cat spends most of his time outdoors, that will
increase his/her risk of illness or injury.
What is covered? Many pet owners purchase pet health insurance policies to protect
themselves from the high cost of future medical problems. Others want regular pet care such
as annual physical exams and routine checkups and cleanings.
Just be advised that most standard pet insurance policies cover catastrophic accidents and
illnesses. Routine vet visits tend to come as add-ons and/or riders.
What State do you Live In? If you are searching on the internet for pet health insurance, you
need to check this. Just because a provider does business online doesn’t mean it services your
state.
Check The Insurance Company’s Track Record
Every state in the U.S. has an insurance commissioner. If the insurance company you are
considering has had legal/ethical issues that should cause you concern, the insurance
commissioner’s office in your state or province should know about it. Check with them before
you buy.
References :
#7 by Chris on May 18, 2010 - 11:03 am
Sorry to hear about your cat.
#1 First of all remember that most people that tend to leave reviews on the internet are unhappy customers, rarely will a happy customer leave a review.
This is why you tend to see only negative reviews.
#2 Second, you are right in wanting to get a good basic insurance policy, because rarely will a more comprehensive policy be worth the money.
#3 Third, ask your veterinarian who they recommend getting a policy through, or the vet techs at the clinic. They have a lot of experience in dealing with these companies and can tell you which ones pay out the best.
#4 Fourth make sure you get at least three quotes and compare them before paying for a policy
#5 Fifth, since you need to insure two pets, ask for a multiple pet discount, which is usually 5 to 10%
References :
http://www.compare-pet-insurance-plans.com/cat-insurance-comparison-chart.html