Pet Insurance

[skyehaven]

Interested if people think Pet insurance is worth it and if so who the have used, good and bad experiences?

Edited February 15, 2011 by skyehaven

[lucknow]

I insured my Bull Arab with Pet Insurance Australia as a 1st birthday present to him :D. My main reason was that he is a very large example of the 'type' (I think theres quite bit of dane in him lol) and if he developed any orthopedic issues, cruciate ligament being my main worry, he would need specialist treatment for best outcome as opposed to the vets I work for doing a GP job if you get my drift.

I claimed a few months later when he jumped through the garage window one Saturday afternoon and after generally trashing the stuff in there was found bleeding heavily with a 5cm gash in his hind leg. After hours consult, general blood test as he was unusually quiet and I had some fertiliser etc in the garage so was worried about possible toxins, fluids, stitch up, overnight in hospital (for my convenience), antibiotics, e collar and sedatives because he is impossible to keep quiet, total cost of around $1200. Insurance company paid up all but the blood test very quickly. Before I had a chance to ring them re cost of blood test not being reimbursed I got a second chq in the mail as case had been reviewed and test was deemed reasonable in light of the possibility of toxicity.

Hugo was examined when I insured him to get a waiver for the waiting period for cruciate claims and all appeared fine. Since then one hind leg has actually bowed and he developed progressive hind leg lameness. 2 weeks ago aged 19 months he had a 'complex TPLO' as my vets describe it, involving pins to straighten the tibia, a TPLO and a tibial wedge. Specialists best guess is that he has at some stage damaged a growth plate causing the tibial varus and subsequent partial cruciate rupture. Cost so far including initial x rays at work is $5100. Company paid out in full (minus my excess of course).

Excess is only charged once per condition so the future x rays to check healing etc are all covered.

My premiums at the moment are just shy of $18 a month as I elected for a $500 excess. In my case I was really only worried about claiming for major things as I get mates rates for the general stuff. I think their premiums have gone up to mid $20's now though. Probably my fault, for less than $200 paid in premiums so far I have been reimbursed over $5000.

Only draw back is having to pay the costs up front before being able to claim.

We get more and more clients with pet insurance and it is fantastic. One client took out insurance out for her cat one day, next day he presented acutely lame/unwell. He had been shot shattering one foreleg. It was packed off to the specialist quick smart and she was one happy insurance client!

I am a fan and wish more people would consider if it suits them before health complaints arise. ( know it doesnt suit every individual, I have one other dog and 4 cats, none of which are insured as it doesnt make sense for various reasons in their case).

BTW my total claims per year are capped at $15,000, Hugo is insured for accident and illness, their only exclusion is I think patellas.

[oakway]

None of it.

It is not worth the cost for pure bred breeders to take up.

Most pure bred breeders and showers have their dogs so confined or kenneled that they don't usually get out.

We do not get coverage on whelping bitches also.

[OSoSwift]

I have insurance and so far have not claimed a heap but have pretty much got back my premiums each year. My main concerns were orthapedic surgery (High speed crashing whippets which does happen with some degree or regularity!) snake bites and major stitch ups seeing as their skin is fairly thin.

So far my claims have been for sprained, strained toes and knees and one unrinary tract issue. My way of thinking is that if I get one snake bite (and there are lots of snakes around here) then I have covered at least 8 to 10 years of premiums. I prefer that I have the safety of not having to suddenly come up with money if my dogs are injured or bitten by a snake. I can walk in and say treat it!

I have 2 dogs insured and the third one when it finally comes will be insured also.

[Mason_Gibbs]

I have Petplan, they have been great with my allergy dog, without them I would have been roughly $5000 out of pocket last year. I am planning on getting a pup later in the year and he will also be on Petplan.

[Jetty]

I am with PIA, I have never claimed though so can't comment on that side of things but there customer service, offers and prices for insurance suited me great.

[Golden Rules]

If you do a search here for Pet insurance, you will come up with a LOT of threads with many recommendations and otherwise.

Lots of useful info!

Oh, and I have pet insurance with two different companies, and would recommend a third but your poll only lets you vote for one company so I didn't vote.

[Sankari]

I am with PIA, I have never claimed though so can't comment on that side of things but there customer service, offers and prices for insurance suited me great.

+1

They're fantastic, I havent made a claim yet but from what i've heard from others, they are terrific and fast with the claim being processed

[Erny]

I'm with PetPlan. After the $000.00's I spent on my previous girl in her last few years I couldn't not take out insurance for my current boy and am very pleased that I did as I've spent more than quite a lot on both Vet fees and foods. It's been good to have the assistance of back up in the Vet fee department and apart from a bit of a rocky beginning with my first claims (which all went in at once and were quite bulky and confusing) I've been very happy with them.

I wouldn't be without pet insurance now and I see for the future only a fairly rapid rise in fees and product costs.