Is Pet Health Insurance Right for You?

When it comes to insurance, people seem to be in one of two camps: those who love it and those who hate it. For those of you who love it, prefer to pay bills in smaller monthly payments rather than occasional large chunks at a time, or for those that simply have accident/illness prone pets - keep reading!

We recently took some time to really dive into plans from the pet insurance company, VPI, to determine if it could be a worth-while investment for our clients. While there are lots of different pet insurance carriers out there, we chose to evaluate (and ultimately recommend) VPI due to its track record and notable financial underwriter, Nationwide. This said, we're happy to accept any pet insurance plan you choose and encourage our clients to shop around to find the deal that's best for them and their pets.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty of individual plans, let me start by explaining what pet insurance is, and what it is not. In the eyes of the underwriters, pets are treated as possessions and are therefore insured more like cars and less like people. While I personally may not agree with this philosophy, (my dog, Marlie, is practically human!) it does make insurance significantly less complicated. Another aspect to mention is that all pet insurance plans are by reimbursement only. This means you pay for your pet's care at checkout as usual, submit your paperwork, and then the insurance company will send you a check. Plans are available for pets of any age, but have the best coverage and are most affordable if started when your pet is young and at its healthiest.

To help our clients receive the maximum reimbursement possible, one of our receptionists, Lori, is now our official insurance guru. Before submitting your claim, she will scour your pet's medical record and confer with your veterinarian to find the most accurate and beneficial diagnosis to list. With the safety net of insurance, it is our hope that our clients will have the financial freedom to say 'yes' to our veterinarian's best medical recommendations for your furry companions.

Which VPI plan is best for you?

(This is my personal summary of each plan. Please refer to VPI's website: or call 888-899-4VPI for complete information.)

Major Medical Plan

• Most comprehensive plan with largest reimbursement allowances (typically allows more than enough to have 100% reimbursement for our service prices)
• Covers injury and illness including chronic conditions, multiple conditions, and advanced diagnostics
• Covers hereditary issues after 12-month waiting period
• New plans available for dogs and cats less than 10 years old
• Plans activate 14 days after application
• Average premium $15-$40/month based on deductible size, pet age, and pet breed/size.
• Annual deductible options of $100, $250, or $500 

Medical Plan

(Similar to the Major Medical except...)

• No hereditary condition coverage
• Has reimbursement allowances  that typically will cover 80-90% of our service fees
• Monthly premium runs a few dollars less

Injury Plan

• Coverage for accidents only (not medical illness claims)
• New plans available for cats and dogs of any age
• Plans activate 24 hours after application
• Average premium $12/month
• Flat annual deductible of $250

Cat Plan

• Coverage for the 15 most commonly seen medical conditions
• Reimbursement allowance of $600 per condition per year
• New plans available for cats less than 10 years old
• Plan activates 14 days after application
• Average plan $12-15/month
• No annual deductible

CareGuard Wellness Coverage 

(can be added to the above plans)

• Coverage for wellness exams, vaccines, heartworm prevention, tests, microchips, and +/- spay/neuter/dental procedures
• Reimbursement allowances will break even for most of our patients
• Monthly premium $12-22

As with any insurance, there are some products/services/conditions that are not covered in any plan. For VPI, this includes:

• Food/Nutritional Supplements
• Congenital/Developmental Conditions
• Behavior Problems/Training
• Breeding/Reproductive Conditions
• Cosmetic Conditions (including declaws)
• Pre-Existing Conditions

Please let us know if there is anything we can help you with in regards to pet insurance (or anything else for that matter!) If you decide to purchase a plan, please let Lori know and she will be happy to help you with paperwork after each visit.

Comments

[Noah Berkowitz]

Nice post!great info!