Pet Insurance

Do any of you pet owners have pet insurance? My 8 year old kitty had to go to the emergency room last night. The vet thinks he had some kind of stroke . I picked him up this morning to take him to his regular vet and he is doing much better :| Anyway, the emergency room visit cost us over $500! Yikes! I'm not sure how much his regular vet is going to charge us today. I would not hesitate to pay for our beloved pets but our credit cards could only stretch so far! I have heard that you could buy pet insurance, (just in case this happens again) but what does it cover and how much does it cost?

[PrincessFiona]

Pet Insurance

Cherry,

I was going to post the exact same question this week!!!!! We just spent $200 (YIPES) on our cat. He had a UTI. I also didn't hesitate to take him in....but realized that we paid more out-of-pocket than if our child had had a UTI 8) . I think that vets deserve the payment for their education, etc...so that is not the issue at all....I was just wondering if anyone else had some type of vet insurance and if they found it helpful for these kinds of emergency costs.

Kris

[DCJenn]

We have been seriously considering getting it. My parents got it for their new cat after spending a major amount of cash on their cat who had cancer. Of course, my dad couldn't let go and therefore prolonged the life of the poor old guy far too long- but they ended up with quite the bill. (Of course, anytime you go to a feline oncologist who performs surgeries with the feline surgeon and the feline anethesiologist and everything is being looked t by the feline radiologist...well, you just know that you're going to spend as much as a small American Car.)

Petey has been to the er twice, both times when he was a pup for eating things- like styrofoam. The girls are fine but Antonio was a delicate boy- he had to go a few times for bloody stools. (and once again, the question is- do I need children!!!???)

Jenn

[PrincessFiona]

vets...

Funny vet story, Jennifer:

I worked as a vet tech during college and we saw a little dog that had eaten a condom (Am I allowed to say that online ) Poor little guy had to be induced to vomit so that he wouldn't get an intestinal block...the little puppy's 'parents' were, needless to say, quite embarassed by the whole thing!

But anyway...back to vet insurance....where's Michelle...we'll have to get her take on this!

kris

[SueC]

That's pretty funny Kris!
I have thought about getting pet insurance as well. Our dog has been the picture of health for the four years we have had him, but we have already said if God forbid he ended up with some major medical problems, we would do whatever we could to keep him alive and well.
Does anyone have any idea what it costs?

[mommax3]

I have thought about this myself, since I have three cats who are not exactly young --- one is 12 now! I will be seeing my father-in-law this weekend, and he is the dean of a vet school, so I will pick his brain and see what he knows.

Before he got into administration, he was a veterinary oncologist and lectured around the world on the topic. He is very well known. I don't know how many times that some desperate pet owner has called him because they have heard of him and offered to fly him to where they are and pay him obscene amounts of money if he will just look at their dog/cat. If he has time (less and less often!) he will usually go and consult with their regular vet and perhaps give them a referral to a veterinary oncologist ---- but he will only agree to come if the pet owner agrees to start seeing a counselor to deal with their pain about the possibility of losing their pet.

I will let you guys know what I find out. I've been meaning to ask him anyway!

Sally

I'd like to learn more about this too. Our pets have been relatively healthy....but as a pup, Ned (true to his labrador self) ate a leg of jeans. 8O He had to have a denim-ectomy. Not cheap. And poor guy, we added insult to injury by having him neutered at the same time.

I recall that some friends of ours had vet insurance. Our friend's grandmother bought it for him after he lost two dogs in sort of freak occurances (one was bloat; can't remember the other). Anyway, it was quite sad and he had spent quite a bit of money both times. I *think* he told us that certain things are covered while others are not. Maybe it's more like catastrophic insurance? I don't think it covers regular preventive visits.

[Michele]

Well...

I really don't know much about pet insurance! I have been meaning to read up about it since it's going to become pretty popular...but I'm busy reading up on other stuff...maybe youguys will force me to!

Here is a website for one company, Veterinary Pet Insurance http://www.petinsurance.com/ . This particular company sponsored a financial seminar for vet schools at UF last year. It was a very good seminar, but unfortunately had very poor turnout from both the students and the faculty.

Banfield (VetSmart) has "wellness plans" and many local vets are adopting that idea. It's a set price you pay per year and it includes so many visits, vaccinations, physicals, dentals, radiographs...the packages vary by vet. I don't think they include emergencies though or organ diseases (kidenys, liver, etc). Mostly routine stuff like ears, teeth, parasites.

Emergencies are hard. One of the hardest things about them is deciding on-the-spot how much your animal is worth to you. As cruel as that sounds, it's often what it comes down to...and how much cash/credit you have available.

I don't know much about insurance, but I'm hopeful that it will give people more options to treat instead of euthanasia. As a vet it will give me more option to "take some chances." When money is a factor, 40% survival for a $3000 procedure makes the decision to go for it tough...but if money wasn't a factor, we might be able to take those chances. On the otherhand, I don't want some insurance company telling me that a procedure isn't necessary or that I have to use this drug before another because it's protocol...or cheaper.

Sooo....until I read up more I can't make an opinion. But if you search google I think there are a few more companies out there. Some vets will let you make payments on a bill...maybe charge a monthly interest rate...or so...

I know our bills can get expensive...and it is a horrible feeling to want to help an animal but not have the money handy...I've felt it. Maybe pet insurance is the best answer...I'll have to read more.

[PrincessFiona]

Pet INsurance

Hey..thanks for the link, Michelle....I'm checking it out right now!

kris

[fluffhead]

When our 12 year old cat was sick (subsequently had to be put down...another story), and we were paying an arm and a leg for vet visits and medicines, I was discussing the situation with a colleague. She lived in a much more rural area, where people used vets for their farm animals.
Anyway, when she took her cats in to the hospital, they charged about a tenth of what I was paying.
I took this to mean that up there, people viewed animals as more of an investment, and there was no economic incentive to pay so much to keep one alive longer, while down nearer the cities, there were so many emotional issues to allow bills to escalate.
I'd be curious about what kind of premiums one pays for pet insurance.