VPI Pet Insurance experiences?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I just purchased the VPI insurance for Hunter, the Marjor Medical Comprehensive Plan.  I had been looking at different companies but found out that the company I work for has Prudential Insurance as a client and they underwrite for VPI.  That gave me a VERY good discount and the ability to payroll deduct it. 

I am just looking for experiences people have had with them so I know what to prepare myself for. 

 

Thanks!

 

[Martha & Cooper]

I had VPI for Cooper and my last two dogs and switched Cooper to PetPlan when I found the different way PetPlan paid.   It has been almost two years now, so it would be hard for me to compare completely, but my experience with VPI was they had a set amount that they paid for each illness or accident and would not pay anymore, no matter what the expenses were.   For example, our last dog had a torn ACL.   The surgery was 900.00.   VPI plan said they would pay up to 525.00 minus the deductible and no more for a torn ACL.   Look closely at your policy.   

With PetPlan, you choose your deductible and the yearly amount of coverage.   You pay the deductible once per illness, then they cover the expenses, minus whatever co-insurance you choose 10%, 20% etc, up to the limit you chose when you took out the poilicy.    The best policy covers up to 20,000.00 and renews every year.   This has worked out wonderfully for us with Cooper and his liver illness.    Yes, we have been out of pocket, but we would have hurting to afford his treatments and diagnostics without this insurance.   At two years of age, with the discounts he gets, we pay $26.60 a month for the middle of the road policy.  

[Lee Seidman]

I have had VPI insurance for three years now. They seem to take their time in sending out checks but have been great to work with. My oldest Doodle has developed Addisons disease at three years of age.  Her Vet bills ran almost $6,000.00 and they paid at least  80% including meds. Billy is 2 1/2 and has a history of hot spots and allergies. They have paid almost all his medical as well. Once they acheive the max for the year for any particular problem they stop paying.  As an example, we are maxed out for the Addisons and will not receive any additional until we renew in August. I think they are great, have the major medical for both doodles and will be staying with them.

[Ellen Patrick]

I second what Lee said; they can be a bit slow in paying out. In general I don't like having to shell out cash and then getting a reimbursement check from the insurance company - but that's how they all do it. I don't always have money to lay out!

I still have a policy though, but I also am a member of Pet Assure, which knocks 25% off the bills at the time of service, so it's good for me because I don't always have that extra cash lying around! It also helps because now I'm only claiming 75% of what a regular bill would be from the insurance company, so my premiums take longer to go up :)