Pet Health Insurance

[h0llywood]

Anyone have it? Is it worth it? If you do not have it, how often do you take your dog to the Vet?

If so, is there one that you can recommend without having to pay an arm and a leg? I have to dogs 1) 2 year old Labradoodle 2) 3 month old King Charles Cavalier. 

I've seen quotes out there that go for $55.00 for both my dogs at a 70% reimbursement rate and $250 premium. 

Any help would be great.

[Panthro]

I wished I got it. My dog tore it's acl and they did knee reconstruction to the tune of $3k. Now I need Obamacare pet insurance to cover preexisting conditions. I thought they were like $10 a month

[KSpan]

Insurance companies exist to make money, so statistically-speaking you're paying the insurer more than the policy will likely ever pay out for you.

In your scenario, your annual premium (I assume $250 is the deductible) is $660. When was the last time you spent $660 on pet care in a year, let alone that and the $250 deductible and 30% of whatever the cost is? Does the policy cover routine care?

[Panthro]

Aspca has one for $40 a month and covers up $3k per year

[h0llywood]

2 hours ago, KSpan said:

Insurance companies exist to make money, so statistically-speaking you're paying the insurer more than the policy will likely ever pay out for you.

In your scenario, your annual premium (I assume $250 is the deductible) is $660. When was the last time you spent $660 on pet care in a year, let alone that and the $250 deductible and 30% of whatever the cost is? Does the policy cover routine care?

My labradorite, I spent nothing because I went to low cost clinics for vaccinations. I've never had a dog get old so I do get worried that one of them will eat my daughters toys and it will cost 3k to get it out.

[h0llywood]

21 minutes ago, Panthro said:

Aspca has one for $40 a month and covers up $3k per year

Have you ever have to use it?

[Panthro]

10 minutes ago, h0llywood said:

Have you ever have to use it?

I would have loved having it back in January

[Anybodyhome]

Read this:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43916934/ns/business-consumer_news/t/pet-insurance-good-deal-or-rip/#.VxOgMvkrLGI

I've had 4 dogs over the past 20 years- Frankie, female black lab lived to 16; Gabbie, chow lived to 17. Both passed within a year or so of each other and neither had any medical emergencies. 

Chief, our 5-year old rottie/husky/St.bernard/dobie mix was run over by a pickup truck when he was a year old and Greensboro Veterinary Hospital got me for $3500 for the surgical repair of his right rear leg. 

The only medical emergency for any pet I've owned and if I would have been paying premiums for all of those pets over the years, I would have contributed $30-40k in premiums to cover a $3500 surgery.

 

 

[thefuzz]

Works OK with some breeds, not worth it with others.

If I were to get another English Bulldog, I probably would get it.  They have histories of skin issues, eye issues, tearing ACL's, heat issues, etc...just not a very "healthy" breed.

Anything else, and I would think it's probably wasted.

[Panthro]

Sounds like you have me as a pet

[h0llywood]

Ok thanks for the input guys. 2 years having my labradoodle he has been healthy except for 1 day he was super lethargic and depressed I thought he was poisoned. I hadon't a bad experience a long time ago where a dog of mine ate rat poison and i thought it was happening again. It turned out he was just depressed and wanted the new puppy we rescued to come home. 

I don't want to be on the hook for a 3 know bill but I don't want to pay premiums for naught as others have posted. Seems like a tough decision

[Zaximus]

It depends.  If you have a dog that has allergies and some other skin issues, it's probably worth it.

[Cary Kollins]

On ‎4‎/‎17‎/‎2016 at 9:52 AM, Panthro said:

Aspca has one for $40 a month and covers up $3k per year

 

Do you know if that is valid if your dog has torn his ACL before?

Mine tore his last October without insurance, and I've looked at a couple of plans but they usually have a stipulation about a prior ACL tear.

 

edit: I just purchased their Level 1 plan for about $18/month. It covers knee ligament damage after the first 12 months of coverage, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for one year that it doesn't happen again.