pet insurance

[Denine]

Does anyone have pet insurance? Is it worth it? How much is it? Who did you get it from?

 

[Tiggs14]

We looked into it when we got our lab but found it wasn't worth the money we'd have to lay out monthly. We could either be right or wrong on this one but so far we've been right (he's 2 now).

It is fairly expensive and most don't even touch vaccinations, regular check-ups and the like.

We figued we'd have paid a lot of money into the policy during our dogs life that if he needed treatment for something we'd be just as well off to pay for it on an as needed basis.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We checked into it with our dog, and unless it is a major medical procedure (ie. Cancer treatment), it really is hard to justify the costs. Our quote was around I think $45.00 a month and it included an annual check-up, but the reimbursement/coverage rates for other procedures was far too low in comparison to actual costs.

As an example, the reimbursement rate for our dog's annual teeth cleaning (we do brush her teeth nightly too) was $200, yet I know our vet charges around $400, so we'd still have to pay $200.00.

Otherwise, it would just be shots/vaccines for the most part. When I ran the numbers, it worked out that we'd be paying $540.00/year in insurance and about $200.00 in other costs. Yet, what we really pay annually is around $600.00 out of pocket for everything.

Also most insurance doesn't cover breed specific traits like hip issues for German Shepards.

All said in done, we just pay out of pocket for everything, in the end, it would take a lot of medicine (even beyond Cancer treatment) to really hurt enough financially that we would need to consider the insurance.

 

[Jennasis]

Insanity. Most of my boarder's have insurance on their horses. About $250/year will get you major medical/mortality. That's all you need. Something to help pay for those wacky unforseeable events like a broken leg or major illness. Routine stuff should be something you can afford on your own.

 

[stashbin]

No. If a pet is going to cost me that much money, I just won't have a pet! Meow Meow is fairly inexpensive.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Insanity. Most of my boarder's have insurance on their horses. About $250/year will get you major medical/mortality. That's all you need. Something to help pay for those wacky unforseeable events like a broken leg or major illness. Routine stuff should be something you can afford on your own.

I'm wondering what the reimbursement and coverage limits are on something like that? The reason I ask is the reimbursement and coverage limits on the policy I was mentioning really were so low that it was pretty pointless as there was no way the rates were realistic unless you went to cheapest veterinarian possible.

No. If a pet is going to cost me that much money, I just won't have a pet! Meow Meow is fairly inexpensive.

 

[golfgal]

We looked into it for our dog and with what was actually covered it was not worth the price.

 

[Denine]

Thanks everyone. I looked into it years ago but couldn't cost justify it then.

We sent one of our kitties over the Rainbow Bridge on MLK day. We spent around 2K on him in the previous 1-1/2 years. This was without drastic treatment.
We still have a kitty, but don't take her to the vet as it is waaay too traumatic for her.

I want to get another kitty. The routine stuff isn't the problem. We always seem to end up with cats that we spend $1000 on and still lose them.

I am thinking, I will need to limit any care that will be required, if there is a major problem.

I know that if Hera gets sick, we won't be able to help her, because we are not allowed to even put 2 hands on her, let alone pick her up!

I really like having 2 kitties. They are company for each other. I also really want a snuggler. Since Jazz died, DD doesn't have a cat she can spend time with. Hera doesn't trust her at all and barely trusts us. She is better after almost 5-1/2 years, but she is not going to change. She is a sweet cat though.