Pet Insurance? Does anyone have it? What do you think? Who do you use?

[CathrynRose]

I'm looking for opinions on Pet Insurance.

It seems adopted 4 month old Hazel, appears to have what is referred to as an "Inverted V-word" (i.e. girly parts)

Apparently this can be corrected by letting them go through their first heat cycle, but because she was adopted, they required a spay immediately. So, many times this issue can cause ongoing UTI's. Ugh! Poor thing. I've only had one of these in my life, and it was terrible!!!

There are holistic approaches to this UTI problem, which I plan on trying out - however, I'm wondering if we should insure her, if this could be a lifetime problem of hers?

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I just got my cat insurance through petsmart. It’s their wellness plan. The cost is $30/month or 360/year. It covers well visits, shots, and certain medical procedures.

However, I don’t know if your cat will be eligible or not as pet insurance, like human insurance, often denies coverage for “pre-existing conditions.”

Is there any way you can get the adoption group to waive the need to have her spayed immediately? You can explain that this would be in the best interest of the cat and you, her adoptive family. There has to be some sort of compromise. The cat should not have to suffer for life because of this policy.

to you and your kitty. It sounds like you both have a long road ahead.

 

[CathrynRose]

I just got my cat insurance through petsmart. It’s their wellness plan. The cost is $30/month or 360/year. It covers well visits, shots, and certain medical procedures.

However, I don’t know if your cat will be eligible or not as pet insurance, like human insurance, often denies coverage for “pre-existing conditions.”

Is there any way you can get the adoption group to waive the need to have her spayed immediately? You can explain that this would be in the best interest of the cat and you, her adoptive family. There has to be some sort of compromise. The cat should not have to suffer for life because of this policy.

to you and your kitty. It sounds like you both have a long road ahead.

It's a dog.

I didn't know about this V-word issue, until the last couple days. So, of course I Google'd.

It's too late - she DID get spayed. Kinda irks me. Apparently this is common issue in girl dogs - and is 100% correctable by letting them get one period.

They know me. I don't want a dog in heat, for the rest of her life, let alone dealing with doggie diapers. I would have gotten her done, after. Hell, I would have paid for it.

They (and the vet - who is also Charley's vet, they use the same office) had to have seen this before, and should know this.

She's 4 months old - and this isn't a pre-existing (I don't think??) as we've had her a little over a week. Or is it??

Thanks for your input.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Sorry, I’m a little out of it today

I believe it’s a pre-existing condition because it was discovered before she had insurance. Of course, you could still contact a local pet place that offers pet insurance and see.

Btw, the pricing I mentioned above is the same regardless of whether the pet is a cat or a dog.

 

[sunnyday123]

I'm going to go through VPI pet insurance...they tell you what's covered and what isn't. There are breed specific thing they won't cover as well, but in the long run, I think I'd rather have it than not. My lab had vet bills upwards of $10k during her 13 years, between vet visits and medications.

 

[DianeV]

I work at a vet and a lot of our clients use VPI and seem happy with it. Of course its a pay and be reimbursed type of thing but it sure helps and they have many different plans from wellness care to surgeries etc.

 

[CathrynRose]

Sorry, I’m a little out of it today

I believe it’s a pre-existing condition because it was discovered before she had insurance. Of course, you could still contact a local pet place that offers pet insurance and see.

Since *I* discovered it, and have no medical training, other that my Google expertise, I don't think it would be.

Yeah - I'll have to look into it. Thanks to everyone!

 

[RachelEllen]

We had VPI and were generally quite happy with it. It will not pay for close to all costs of an expensive vet experience, but, it might help a great deal.

They are very strict on preexisting conditions. If the condition preexisted the coverage, even if it wasn't discovered until afterwards, they won't treat it. My dog actually got a rash two days after we got the policy (total coincidence). They declined coverage.

 

[Patricia721]

I also use VPI - it certainly doesn't pay the entire bill (they follow a set schedule & deductible) but it does help.

 

[Silent1CB]

Never had pet insurance for previous 2 cats. Just always paid the expenses.

Haven't really discussed it yet about 2 new boys we've adopted, but I did pick up the brochure from the vet. Its also VPI.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If I am not mistaken--often times a known defect or congenital defect excludes the pet for insurance. But not sure if maybe they can just exclude that part or if it is an all or nothing deal.

I have cats, but most of our care for cats--even for extreme things, has been manageble. But take my cat that broke her "knees"--sicne she was afeline, they could fuse together--if she were a dog in that same condition, it would have required major and super expensive surgery (her upper and lower leg bones--instead of tip to tip, were side to side by about an inch).

So I would think maybe having insurance on a dog would be a good thing.

 

[Jockaroo]

Get the vet to check her for the inverted "V". You are right, you don't have the training to diagnosis this--but you are smart enough to suspect something is wrong. It is worth getting it checked. My rescue Scottie was spayed at a young age--she had recurrent UTIs. I can also say that her girlie parts were very different looking than the female Scottie I have that was spayed at 2 1/2 (never bred). I so support spaying, but fear that there are some elevated health risks for doing it too young.

My rescue had so many health issues. Most of her super expensive problems occurred after age 10. Pet insurance premiums begin to increase quite a bit as the dog reaches the senior years. Insurance is great for accident coverage, but frequently don't cover what you really need it to when you need it to. Some exclude common health problems that happen in some breeds (such as back/spinal problems in dachshunds.) Really investigate pet insurance before taking it. For me personally, I prefer to just put back a set amount each month to cover expenses and let it grow. There is no denial of coverage this way.

Oh, and congratulations on your new family member. I don't remember if I posted on your other thread. May you enjoy many healthy, happy years together.

 

[JessicaR]

VPI considers recessed juvenile vulva a pre existing condition. They say its a congenital condition and they will not cover care due to this. There are other reproductive conditions that fall under the same terms.

I used Pet Assure for years with my dogs. I will have a look and see if they also consider this pre-existing.

 

[CathrynRose]

Thanks everyone.

Darn inverted *V*.

 

[cherylp3]

I use embrace pet insurance. they were highly rated on
http://www.petinsurancereview.com/dog.asp