Pet Insurance? Please help!!

mardnajela

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Hello all,
I recently got a higher paying job and I think it's about time to do the responsible thing and get my cat health insurance.
Don't get me wrong, she's gone to the vet before and has all her shots up to date, I'm just so confused I don't know where to start. I've found a few online but every time I look up reviews all the reviews are horrible or clearly bias.
I just want to find good health insurance for my cat. Something that will help with regular routine checkups and emergency services.
Does anyone here know of a good one they might want to recommend?
She's 7 months old, DMH.
Thank you so much
Any advice is appreciated!!
 

mrsty

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There is a website gopetplan.com - they will give you a quote online. I don't use them (probably should have) but found out about them through AARP. If you are an AARP member you can get a small discount, but you need your AARP membership number. I figure since a big outfit Iike AARP sort of "supports" them with offering a discount they should be legit. They offer different plans with different levels of monthly cost and coverage so look it all over carefully to make sure you're getting what you want. Good luck....
 

sivyaleah

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Those rates look incredibly high at gopetplan.com

There are a lot of other companies but I forget them off hand. Do a search in Google; you'll find them easy enough.

Make sure you compare what each one covers to make the best choice for your needs. 
 
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mardnajela

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Those rates look incredibly high at gopetplan.com
There are a lot of other companies but I forget them off hand. Do a search in Google; you'll find them easy enough.
Make sure you compare what each one covers to make the best choice for your needs. 
The thing is I find ones and think they're good
But then I read reviews and they're terrible. I only see high costing insurance plans with crappy reviews and 1/5 ratings.
The one that caught my eye is trupanion but besides that nothing else
 

NewYork1303

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I looked into pet insurance a while ago and eventually decided the prices were just too high. Instead I set aside $100 a month toward future vet bills. I feel there is an advantage to this since I can use this for any kind of vet care that I choose and even for routine vet care. 
 

sivyaleah

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Trupanion seems to get good reviews but I do what @NewYork1303  does which is budget a certain amount a year towards my 2 cats care.  Until this year, it would have been a wash; their health was pretty good for the most part and didn't go above what 12 months of pet insurance would have been for both of them.

Unfortunately, my older one was recently diagnosed with diabetes and he's too old to even get insurance now (let alone the whole pre-existing conditions usually not being covered).  So, I'm sucking up the cost and seriously thinking I should cover the younger one now who actually isn't all that young now - she's about 7ish.  Trupanion is the only one I was seriously considering.
 

laura mae

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I don't have pet insurance because the premiums would have been expensive for the number of kitties I had. But with Charlie and Etta (who passed away this summer) their vet bills ended up costing a lot. Between them I probably spent $1,800. But with pet insurance, I don't know if that would have made a big difference. 

It seems like even relatively common cat issues outside of shots and exam gets pricey quick. My vet who sounds like they are reasonable given how much it could be. These are the costs I am either familiar with or what I was told would be the charge.

X Ray is 100.

blood panel is about $100

Antibiotic shot $80.00

basic ultrasound is $100.00

Vet specialist ultrasound  and exam $900

Have to go to the emergency vet? count on it being $800

Tooth extraction $200 at least

Thyroid radio active treatment to kill the thyroid $1,300

exploratory surgery with biopsy open abdomen $500

laproscopy to do exploratory surgery at the specialist $3,000

I don't know the percentage that pet insurance covers. That might be the bad reviews you are seeing---they probably don't cover as much as people think it will.
 

artiemom

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I had a nightmare with a certain insurance company, beginning with the letter "T"....I will not go into detail, because it even involved this forum....

a very long story. If you want details, then PM me...

I also know another person who has the same insurance for his young cat, and they are denying a lot of claims. I do not know the details but just beware of them.

Insurance is good while your cat is healthy. After that, I am not sure about it.

If you are able to put aside a certain amount of money, per week or per month, in a separate account for pet care, I really do feel you could be better off. 

But who really does that? It is a rare person who does. 

I am wishing you luck with whatever you decide...
 

pipperoo

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I did a fair amount of research before insuring my DSH last year.  I went with Pet Plan (gopetplan.com) as I found them to be quite clear about what was covered and not covered and I found the premiums to be good as well.  Cost is about $20/month Canadian.  They have lots of options for coverage/deductibles etc.

With my last cat, I had a different insurance--cost $30/month--and the coverage was not as good as Pet Plan.  For example, it didn't cover dental and naturaly she needed dental to the tune of about $2,500 over the last 24 months of her life......

I made a claim with Pet Plan a couple of months ago as Pip had gingivitis/stomatitis and had to have a vet check, bloodwork and a specialist appointment (cleaning and tooth sealing).  Pet Plan processed the claim and paid me within a week.  Completely hassle-free.

In addition, whenever I've had questions I can do the online live chat and they are very helpful and informative.

An important thing to note with insurance is that you will need to keep your cat up-to-date with annual wellness checks (these are not usually covered) and the insurance co will need a copy of the vet's file on your cat with your first claim. 

I think that pet insurance is worth it--you might not notice it during youth and adulthood, but once your cat gets to be a senior, vet costs seem to add up.  so unless you are disciplined and "put aside" money for vet care over-and-above annual physicals, you can think of the insurance premiums as the money you would otherwise be putting aside.....
 

Willowy

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I've heard good things about Healthy Paws and Pets Best. After doing some research, I decided to get Healthy Paws insurance for my new dog (but I haven't signed up yet because I still need to get him in for a checkup). I didn't really look at their cat plans though. Those 2 companies (and PetPlan and Trupanion) score the highest on this site: http://www.petinsurancereview.com/index.asp?v=full

It is important to read all the fine print beforehand to make sure you understand what's covered. That probably will save most frustration.
 
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Kieka

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I was looking into it after Links latest misadventure. I saw a lot of good things about Healthy Paws and they don't have claim limits. I decided though that at 2 and 1 years old that I'd be better off putting the money in a savings account (after I pay off the current bill). By the time they get older I should have a nice little account it up and if I never need it I will have the money still. Plus the plans don't typically cover dental cleanings and annual exams.

So it was $700 a year and I'd still be on the hook for another $200-400 a year in routine things. I know big things can happen, Link and Rocket just cost me $600 out of pocket between them in emergencies, but I've had those cats that never need anything too. I figure if something else happens maybe I will do it then but at this point I'd rather collect my own interest.
 

buddybellamom

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We had pet insurance for Buddy and Bella (RIP) and for them, it was a  god-send:  Bella's specialist appt to figure out what was wrong with her was over $900.  THen it turns out to be FIP and she was gone 2 mos later (she had the dry kind).  For Buddy's kidney issues, they paid out pretty good.  I think we paid for the 80% reimbursement level. And what we did for high bills is to put it on CareCredit, and when we got the check from Healthy Paws, we paid off the Care Credit.

For our new little one, we are signed up again; hers is about $25 per month.  While setting aside that amount per month in an account sounds like it would work, if you have just ONE emergency, and have only been putting in for a few months, there's not enough in there to cover it.

theresa
 

msserena

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I was looking into pet insurance myself & the vet hospital gave me a brochure for Trupanion. After what I read above, I tossed it. I use Care Credit too & they have totally been a life saver, being able to make monthly payments without interest, it's just unheard of from a credit card company & they are awesome. They can really help if you're in a pinch.
 

DreamerRose

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Healthy Paws is the top rated insurance company. Premiums are based on the age of your pet, so the older they are when you sign up, the more you pay. However, I don't think the premiums increase over time. There is a website to compare plans, I believe it's petinsurancereview.com
 

crazy4strays

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I have pet insurance for my younger cat through Embrace Pet Insurance. My premium is $14.52 per month and it's basic coverage for unexpected accidents and illnesses. I didn't get the routine wellness plan because it's easier to just pay for routine stuff as it comes up. Buying routine care through pet insurance is essentially a forced savings plan. 
 
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mardnajela

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Thank you all for your responses they were all wonderful advice!
I ended up going with HealthyPaws
It was the one that I found to have the most positive reviews and for the amount of coverage, it's a good price. Lola is 4 months old and they're charging me $23 a month. I don't mind paying that if it means security if goodness forbid something should happen with her.
Thank you again!
 
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mardnajela

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That's great! Glad you made a decision that you're happy with.
Yes! I'm so happy with it! I'm going to enroll all my fur babies as soon as I can. Thank you so much for your advice!
 

mrsty

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Wow, I don't know where you live but those prices look pretty good to me. I had radio-iodine done for my cat, there were only 2 choices of where to go in my state and they both charged $2,000 and that was 5 years ago. Either way, when your cats get old is when they really start costing some money, so if you just learn to save up and keep it maybe you'll be ready for the big bills.
 
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mardnajela

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Wow, I don't know where you live but those prices look pretty good to me. I had radio-iodine done for my cat, there were only 2 choices of where to go in my state and they both charged $2,000.
Well, apparently in New York the rates are different? Lol.
Well, all my cats have insurance-but that won't stop me from putting a little savings account for my babies. Insurance may be a life saver but that doesn't mean they'll cover everything!
 
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