Update on Pet Insurance Options

[Adina P]

Initially I contacted VPI pet insurance upon suggestion of one of our members in case they'd be able to offer DoodleKisses.com members a discount (since there are a lot of us).  I learned the discount is pretty small and decided to contact a few other pet insurance carriers: Pet Plan, Embrace, and Trupanion.

 

I have heard back from 2 of the 3 so far.  Essentially our options are:

 

1) Offer members a 5% discount for insurance carrier A.

2) Offer members a 10% discount for monthly plans or a 15% discount for yearly plans for insurance carrier B.

3)  Earn a commission ourselves on accepted applications from insurance carrier B.

4) Offer members $10 sign-up discount for insurance carrier C

5) Earn a commission ourselves on accepted applications from insurance carrier C.

 

Since the whole point in looking into this was to offer something cool for our members, I really wanted to check with you again on what you want.  I know most of you who are interested have already either chosen an insurance carrier or have considered the various options.  So it's not just about the biggest discount but also whether the insurance carrier offers what you most want/need in a pet insurance plan.  It would be COOL if we could earn a commission AND offer you a discount but that combo is not an option with those we've heard from, so we're going with a discount for you. 

 

Someone mentioned that saying "Doodle" when you sign up for Pet Plan (who has not gotten back to us yet) gets you a 10% discount.  This is due to the Doodle Messenger's partnership with them...I think they may even make a donation/commission back from this. 

 

Now, how should we proceed?  What do you say?  Should we take a formal poll on which carrier is MOST desired?  THIS IS NOT THAT FORMAL poll...but more of a quest for suggestions on what members want out of this. 

[Sandra Douglas]

This is a beautiful Doodle!!  How do you keep his hair so lovely?

[Dos Doodles--Sam & Luke]

Wait, that's not a doodle.  That's a polar bear!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

How can that be?  He looks just so innocent and sweet!  It truly is amazing the mischief some can get into too!

Good luck with this boy.  He is handsome! 

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

What a great picture.  He looks like he is saying, "Look Ma, I ate the whoooole thing".

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I have NOT done my research with plans so I will go with the one gets a discount and especially if dk gets a commission.

[Adina P]

Well it doesn't sound like any of the above that have contacted me offer a discount to member AND a commission to us.  Though PetPlan does this with Doodle Messenger (correct me anyone if I am wrong here!) they have not gotten back to us and that discount is available to all...so I'm not sure us partnering with them would make a huge difference to anyone since it wouldn't add a discount not already available to doodle owners.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Peri has Petplan, but we have not had to use it (bought it after her 1 year shots last July and she has been a healthy dood).

[Lynne B]

Here's a site where you can read reviews on ALL of the pet insurance companies http://www.petinsurancereview.com/petplanUS.asp  I have a neighbor whose dog got diabetes, they had insurance with a company other than petplan, the disorder was covered for THREE MONTHS until the policy came up for renewal, after which they never were able to recover a penny for the dog's treatment. 

[Dos Doodles--Sam & Luke]

This is interesting, Lynne.  I notice that you say the diabetes was covered for 3 months until the policy was up for renewal.  So it sounds like the policy does not continue from year to year, instead it renews each year?  That might be the catch I was looking for (being very skeptical of insurance companies).  This may adjust how I approach the numbers work up for my own decision making process...

[TrevorDoodle]

I called Pet Plan last week about getting a quote on insurance.  I told them about the "doodle" discount and she would  not give it to me.  She said that she gave me the "online" price and she couldn't discount it anymore.    Does anyone know if this is true or did I speak to a dud.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

I didn't know about the Doodle discount but I DID get a multi-dog discount. I may call and see how the Doodle discount works.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I just signed Rooney up, go to the Doodle Messenger web site - benefits for member and then click on Pet Plan.  Enter Doodle as your code.  I was going to do the 100% reimbursment but then found out that a specialist, emergency hospital or teaching hospital was only covered at 80% so I went 80% with a 100.00 deductable.