Any experience with VPI Pet Insurance???

[NewfieGirl]

I had never looked into this before, but with the knee surgery I just went through with Huggs, I decided to look into it. Has anyone dealt with VPI or other plans - good or bad experiences? I just always paid as I went but then again I never knew there was such a common surgery out there for thousands of dollars! Do they work well from any of your experiences?

 

[Jdarg]

I would be really surprised if they didn't exclude the ACL surgery, especially on the dog that just had one.

 

[robertsondavies]

pretty sure most consumer experts will tell you that Pet Insurance is 'always' a bad idea, in their words..if i recall.

see clarkhoward.com

 

[Will B]

It's just like human insurance...cost effective if purchased when the dog is a small pup but not so when you try to get it for an adult dog. After the dog's first 18 months, it's a toss up. It only gets worse from there...

We have it on our male. We got it when he was 7 weeks old, and it has come in handy with his eye problems. We tried getting it for our other when she was 2-1/2, and the cost difference was too great...

 

[NewfieGirl]

They are both about 2.5 years old. It will be about $600/year for them if they will even cover Huggs with his recent TPLO surgery. I will call them up and ask about some specifics. Maybe it woud be better to put the money in a savings account for them? Just wondering how many of you have used it before? Definitely sounds like it would be better to get as a pup - it would have helped with the surgery, I guess. I am still unsure since there is a common ACL repair if the TPLO would have been considered elective? If that is the case, it would not be worth it at all.

 

[Will B]

Here's an option.

Shop around for a low interest credit card. When you get it, toss it in a folder where you keep your dog records so you don't use it for anything. Should you ever have a situation where it's going to get a little pricey pull the card out and use it for that and then file it away again...

 

[ItzKatzTime]

Here's an option.

Shop around for a low interest credit card. When you get it, toss it in a folder where you keep your dog records so you don't use it for anything. Should you ever have a situation where it's going to get a little pricey pull the card out and use it for that and then file it away again...

I like this option....will try this for my babies. Thanks

 

[ItzKatzTime]

I had never looked into this before, but with the knee surgery I just went through with Huggs, I decided to look into it. Has anyone dealt with VPI or other plans - good or bad experiences? I just always paid as I went but then again I never knew there was such a common surgery out there for thousands of dollars! Do they work well from any of your experiences?

I have not had experience with pet insurance. Have given some thought to it, but I haven't heard anything good about it. Hoping this thread will throw some more light on the subject.

NewfieGirl your dogs take the best pictures!!!

 

[seaside2]

Not the same thing (sort of) but we used to have very nice show horses. We kept life insurance on them, but not medical. I always hated paying the premiums until one of them had to be put down. The check was received 10 days later and we bought two younger ones for what we got from the insurance company.

In the horse business, major medical can be cost effective when, for example, colic surgery can be $5k to $10k easy.

 

[NewfieGirl]

NewfieGirl your dogs take the best pictures!!!

Thanks so much!

Not the same thing (sort of) but we used to have very nice show horses. We kept life insurance on them, but not medical. I always hated paying the premiums until one of them had to be put down. The check was received 10 days later and we bought two younger ones for what we got from the insurance company.

In the horse business, major medical can be cost effective when, for example, colic surgery can be $5k to $10k easy.

Never knew you could buy life insurance for animals - I am so glad it worked out for you!

Shop around for a low interest credit card. When you get it, toss it in a folder where you keep your dog records so you don't use it for anything. Should you ever have a situation where it's going to get a little pricey pull the card out and use it for that and then file it away again...

Good idea - will try this or start savings account. I called to walk through what portion they would have paid had I had the insurance and it was only $500 or so after you deduct the premiums for a year. Everything points to not worth it at this time - maybe I will look into it at puppy stage next fur baby.