Healthy Paws Insurance or Pet Plan?? I would appreciate any feedback on either company.

[Adrienne]

I am researching pet insurance companies and have narrowed my choices to:  Healthy Paws or Pet Plan.  I like that Healthy Paws has unlimited lifetime benefits but they have a 1yr wait period prior to covering for hip dysplasia.  Pet Plan seems to be comparable to Healthy Paws but has an $8000 annual limit--this seems like more than enough but I do know that in rare instances, it may not be sufficient.  If you currently have pet insurance for your Doodle, I would appreciate any information that would help me decide between the two.  Also, if you have questions that I should ask prior to purchasing, that would also be helpful.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We have Pet Plan and I did a discussion about my yearly premiums and I update it every year. Here it is:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/question-about-rising-pet-...

We have never had to use it for Vern (knock on wood), but I have had to use it for Fudge and had no problems.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I could probably be a commercial for Pet Plan.....I have the gold plan...$50.00 deductible no co insurance......it has paid for itself over and over and over....I chose gold because it pays for when I am in the hospital ....I can pay someone for their care...I have Jack and Molly under me..so alone just for the two of them I get $1000.00 for boarding fees.

They always pay what is covered and I have never had one rejection...I submit claims on a regular basis...Jack now has what is considered a ore existing condition and I could not switch...I am opposed to how much the premiums went up but again I always get it back and then some each year.....

[Star and Goldie]

I have actually never heard of Healthy Paws which is odd because I really thought I did my research before going with PetPlan. Looking at the two I think I still would have gone with Pet Plan. I think all insurance are wired pretty much the same. I think you'll see people who have had positive and negative experiences with both. So far, I haven't had any experience with my insurance. I just feel better having it :)

[Seamus & Haidee]

I signed Seamus up with PetPlan when I got him.  Ive recently submitted some claims for vet visits for acute colitis and allergies. I found their emails to be helpful and their website very user friendly.  Still waiting for claims to be processed (two weeks now) so it will be interesting to see how fast they are.  

[Adrienne]

I've found both to be very similar in that they both cover hereditary, congenital conditions and hip dysplasia.  

I like that Healthy Paws has an annual deductible and unlimited lifetime coverage.  However, I am a little nervous about the 12 mo waiting period for hip dysplasia.  Does hip dysplasia or symptoms of hip dysplasia occur in pups less than a year old?  The 15 day waiting period is a little off putting because that means that any injury or illness within the first 2 wks are not covered and could possibly be treated as pre-existing conditions after the 15 day period if condition re-occurs.

Pet Plan looks good but I am a little concerned with the limited annual coverage and I don't like paying a deductible per incident.  I tend to think that $14k/yr or $22k/yr is more than enough, but you never know.  To get these higher amounts, I'd pay $3-$6 more per month.  Pet Plan also has a waiting period for hip dysplasia but it is shorter, 6 mos., and it can be waived if you get the vet to examine the pup's knees w/i 30 days of getting the policy and the vet writes IN THE MEDICAL NOTES that there are no problems.  However, this could also backfire if the vet feels that there might be a problem, no matter how slight.  Now, you have no coverage.  It may be better just to wait out the 6 mo period.

This is much harder than I thought it'd be...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Hip dysplasia can show up way before 1 year, and it's good when it does, because often you have more and better treatment options i they do certain kinds of procedures before 1 year old.