PetPlan Insurance has changed ;-(

[Leslie J]

I just received a pre-renewal letter from PetPlan. It seems they have new underwriters and have made changes that their I am very unhappy with. For five years I have had a plan with a $200 deductible, 80% coverage and $10,000 annual allowance. I haven't complained as my payment went from $200 a year to over $500 a year.

The proposed change to my plan is a $500 deduct, 70% coverage and $15,000 maximum annual allowance for $600 per year. This coverage is in not comparable! As an example, if I had a $1,200 expense the old plan would cover $800 and the new would cover $490.I tried different amounts, and according to my calculations I would need a vet bill of $15,000 or more for the insurance payout to be better with the new coverage.

They claimed in the letter I could "Build My Own Plan". I tried and set up the same coverage level I've had for the last 5 years. It would cost over $1,300 per year!!!!!

I have always been a big advocate for PetPlan, but I will no longer recommend PetPlan.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Yes, that is the reason they want the zip codes ... they are looking at Vet rates.  They told me it is strictly based on location of the Vet and age, breed of the dog.  What I first signed Lucy up they didn't have the doodle options.  I noticed that when I signed AB up.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Oh no....this makes me nervous. I have always had PetPlan too. I won't be renewing under these terms.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If it would make anyone feel any better, I could try submitting an application to get coverage for Jack. :D

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

:-}

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's something interesting to consider. Apparently the breed makes a big difference in the rates. I just got a quote for Jack, listed as an 11 year old Labradoodle, a quote for "Jacques", listed as an 11 year old Poodle mix, and "Henry", an 11 year old Goldendoodle.  All male, same zip code. They automatically quoted the $500 deduct, 70% coverage and $15,000 maximum annual allowance plan, and here are the results:

Labradoodle: 1499 per year

Goldendoodle:  1212 per year

Poodle Mix: 1067 per year

So apparently, it's cheapest to list your dog as a Poodle mix. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And since labradoodles are significantly more expensive to cover than goldendoodles, that would account for some of the difference between Guinness's quote and Lucy's. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I also did an 11 yr old male Labrador mix, and that came in at 1407 per year. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I do think I showed Guinness as a "mixed breed" initially, but once he had his first claim and the vet submitted paperwork she showed him as an ALD and from then on that's how he has been rated.  My guess is that Goldendoodles as a breed are a little "newer" as a category than Labradoodles, so there's not as much data on them.  I'd bet in a few years there won't be much difference.  "Poodle mix" is a really broad category...lots of things could be driving that experience down.

[Leslie J]

I wish I could switch Cocoa to a poodle mix!!! She doesn't have a pre-existing condition so maybe it will pay to switch. I wonder if prior medical problems (like ACL partial tear) which have healed are pre-existing conditions.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sure the ACL would be considered a pre-existing condition. But it doesn't hurt to check.

[Janet & Jaxson]

I will be very interested on where this goes. We don't renew until January. But we also moved to Hawaii. I just called them yesterday to change our address and I half expected them to hit me up with a premium adjustment but they didn't - yet! Jaxson's premium is $358. He is 22 months. FYI - with the AARP discount, they also send you a Visa gift card annually. I think it's $35.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

That is weird because when we moved from PA to MI in October and I called with our new address, they automatically took another payment out for each dog and changed my renewal plan to run from October to October. It was an over $700 charge that I was not expecting at the time.