I chickened out on pet insurance: UPDATE

[Breanna]

I had called VPI and set up a plan. I was all excited until I saw several reviews saying that they did not get reimbursed for a variety of reasons. They said that the insurance companies will find any way out of paying a claim. I just can't afford to risk investing in insurance and then not getting paid for a claim. I cancelled the insurance before I was charged. I read that some people open savings plans instead of insurance and I will do that for now until I figure it out. If I open a health savings plan then I could at least have it for health care in an emergency for either of us. 

Update:

I did a little more reading and decided on PetPlan. It's much more affordable than VPI because it doesn't cover vaccinations and wellness exams (you end up paying the same over the course of the year anyway). 

I talked to my aunt about pet insurance recently and she said she doesn't have it but will rely on credit cards or payment plans if anything happens. Well, on Christmas day her dog got hit by a car and now she is asking for donations to pay for his treatment. That helped me finalize my decision that I need pet insurance. I just signed up online for the bronze plan-$10,000 a year with an 80% reimbursement and $200 deductible. I feel pretty good about that. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I think some people who write those bad reviews never really understood their policies.  When I filed a claim for my cat with Petplan they covered everything I expected without saying a word! They even covered her acupuncture and natural remedies. The main thing, if you decide to try insurance, is to really understand your policy. Dig in and read all the fine print before you buy then when it is time for reimbursement there won't be any surprises.

Oh, and another thing is that people who have a gripe always are more eager to post about it then those who are happy with something...so what you're reading is probably from a very vocal minority.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've never had a problem with Petplan covering a claim....and I've had some big ones.  You just need to read your policy so that you are clear about what they will and won't cover.  It's like any other insurance....you need to be informed.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Boris is 14 months old and will be having surgery for OCD in the new year. The cost will be about $4500 and I have been told that our insurance will cover it and it will be paid direct by the company to the vet Hospital. So if you aren't getting insurance make sure you have a good chunk of savings in the account from the word go.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I second Nicky's advice. Have a nice healthy savings account set aside for those emergencies or big ticket items like OCD surgery. I'd think at least $5000 would make me feel a little less anxious if it were me. Insurance is a personal decision of course, and the reviews can be very concerning, I agree. I just know I would rather take the educated risk of understanding and utilizing my policy appropriately and possibly not be paid, rather than risk the chance of any one of a thousand things that my dogs can succumb to, not to mention accidents, and have no chance of being paid and still owe 10 times what the insurance would've cost me a year. Petplan has covered everything the policy has said it would, so I have nothing bad to say about it. I've even gotten reimbursed for portions of vet bills for ear infections.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I never used the insurance policy until this year. Kona had to have his tail amputated, $1200. This past month both dogs were in the hospital overnight twice getting IV antibiotics as well as Kona having surgery on a tear in his inner eyelid. The bills have run in excess of $3000. I am so very grateful for Pet Plan. I am sure they are not the only insurance company that honors their policies. I have $200 deductible and they cover exactly what they say they will in the policy. I hope you reconsider. I never imagined the dogs being so sick this one month. 

[Camilla and Darwin]

I agree with everyone and think you should definitely give it another chance. Insurance is so important!!! We have Pet Plan and we've been happy with it.

[Breanna]

Thank you all for your advice. I definitely will reconsider, it is something that I have been going back-and-forth with for awhile. 

[Alex/Mindy/Georgia/Coral]

Pet Plan. VPI is ranked number one, but as you can see here, Pet Plan is very well liked and a favorite.

[Martha & Cooper]

I wouldn't wait too long to make a decision about pet insurance.  Usually the reason people don't get reimbursed is because of a pre-existing condition.   The longer you wait, the more of a chance your puppy can develop a condition that you will wish was covered.   

I didn't have pet insurance for my first two dogs and wish I did.   I took the insurance for my last two dogs and Cooper.   I had VPI for two and switched to Pet Plan.  I like the way Pet Plan pays better.   You pay a set deductible, then a copay and they pick up the rest.   Believe me, I have a dog with a liver illness,  they have paid as expected and been wonderful!!  I wish they paid for his special diet, but I can live with that as long as it keeps him going.    If I had waited until he was sick, I would not have been able to get insurance for his liver illness and I would have had to mortgage our house to pay for just the tests that he needed to get a diagnosis! 

Sorry if I am being blunt.    I think you should think, what if my dog got sick tomorrow?   Would I have 3000 or 5000? It might take you a long time to save that kind of money  if you were to put the premiums in a savings account.   I didn't have it when my Cooper was 18 months old and all of a sudden was very ill.   Thank goodness I had PetPlan.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I so agree with this. Diagnostic tests alone for JD's IBD were almost $5000, and the treatment is for life. 

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

We have three doodles and got pet insurance the day they came home.  It's not with Pet Plan or VPI but we've never had a problem with anything getting paid that was covered.  I agree with Ricki, many people do not understand their policies.  If you haven't already, you might want to look at a site like  http://www.petinsurancereview.com/dog.asp which compares companies.  At least for me, one big difference (in addition to price of course) was how different companies define pre-existing and how they apply deductible.  For some, the start of a new policy year was meeting a new deductible even if treatment had already been started.  That did not sit well with me so I searched for a company that handled it differently. In my experience, initially understanding the pre-existing, emergency care and deductible application was the key to comparing other plans.  I know it can be confusing. But, it's like people insurance.  I hate paying for it but if I need it and don't have it, I would kick myself.  

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

I already have it in my mind for the new puppy in the coming new year!