Is pet insurance worth it?

[Pam Pieroni]

Six-month-old Simba has been to the vet 3 times for intestinal issues (eating bully sticks that didn't agree with him the main culprit).  At $80 a shot for some visits, I'm wondering if pet insurance is the way to go.  And which is the best company in your experience?

[Julie & Wrigley]

As a kid we had VPI but we have Trupanion right now for our 5 month old. The breeder suggested it since it covers more (although it's a higher premium per month). We're paying about $50/month but it covers all illness/injuries/hip displasia. They also do a free trial month sometimes so ask!

[Pam Pieroni]

Thanks for the links! I couldn't get the search to work (as you mentioned, it was down).

[Debbie and Toby]

Definitely worth it! I would not be without it! We have PetPlan and are very happy! They don't cover routine visits and vaccinations, but for sickness and injury they have different deductible and coverage plans that you can choose from. You will find a lot of helpful information in the pet insurance forums.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

With all that Daisy does as far as tearing up toys and all the crazy running I have Pet Plan for just that reason alone. I would be a wreck worrying even more if I had to think about the costs of vet bills if need be.
This plan does not handle routine visits/shots but I think the intestinal issues would be considered an illness visit. I have a $200 deductible and can handle that but anything more would put a crimp in my style!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I've never had pet insurance for any of my pets and I don't have any on Rooney now. I'm of the mind that you should open a seprate savings account - then pay the premium to yourself. Then in an emergency it will be there and if you never have an expensive situation you have a nice little stock pile set aside for a rainy day. Of couse when my daughter's lab had emergency surgery - $5,0000 worth - it caused her a hardship so you just have to weigh the odds.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Between Murphy's Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Guinness's Pancreatitis bills that we've had this Fall, I'm so glad we did have insurance. We've spent about $2000 just in the last couple of months. We just had to cover the deductible.

[Lindsey, Lee, Whopper and Simba]

We have PetPlan insurance now for both of our doodles but only use it for major illnesses/injuries. Whopper made it to 18 months without any major incidents and then one morning she woke up not herself. A few hours later she was coming out of surgery after having swallowed a brillo pad. A bill for close to $1900 would have been a definite strain. Fortunately, a couple months earlier I had made the decision to pay around $18/mo so that major events like this would be covered.

[Pam Pieroni]

PetPlan is sounding like the company to go with! THanks for your input.