Question about Rising Pet Insurance Premiums! Pet Plan

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I have pet insurance on both my dogs. I have filed one claim and that was an ER visit with Fudge when she was just a puppy. This year my policy premium went up to $206.60, which is almost $40.00 more than last year. Here are the premiums I paid over the years for my dogs:

Fudge

2009    143.56

2010    143.56

2011    167.69

2012    206.60

2013    246.40

2014    308.00

2015    385.00

2015    349.68 (we moved in October 2015 and PetPlan changed our policy plan from March to  

                                10/14/2015)

2016    469.20 (Pet Plan switched me to 15,000 annual coverage, 300 annual deductible, 80%)

2017    603.10

Vern

2010    143.56

2011    167.69

2012    182.93

2013    221.07

2014    276.34

2015    345.43

2015    304.02 (see above. my policy plan switched from beginning in April to 10/14)

2016    407.97 (Pet Plan switched us to 15,000, 300 annual deductible, 80% reimbursement)

2017    524.37

My rates include a 15% discount and my coverage is for vet fees of $8000, 80% reimbursement level and $200 deductible. I guess my concern is at the rate these policies are going up, I could one day be paying big bucks for insurance and the CSR told me today that there is no cap on the premium.   Also, I was told today that the premium is not affected in any way by the amount of claims you submit, but only by age of your dog, location (where you live), and breed.

Is this comparable to what others are paying? I also wanted to get this all written down for the next time someone asks about Pet Insurance.

I still think Pet Insurance is very, very important, but just want to know if my company is in the same ballpark as others.

**sometime before we paid the 2016, Pet Plan changed Underwriters and redid all the policies. Premiums skyrocketed for many. Our policy was switched from a per incident to an annual deductible. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I so understand that "old brain."

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

The guy I spoke with said that age 3 is when they typically start seeing some of the genetic diseases pop up along with some other items.  I guess it is kind of like the warranty on your car...3 years/30,000 miles.  :)

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

I discovered it was by instance also when I tried to submit a claim last year. I wasn't very pleased. Maybe we should design our own plan...call it DoodleSure...lol

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Have you filed claims for Hattie yet as "mixed breed"? If so, did they question it?

[F, Calla & Luca]

Still when you consider the cost of the policy I think it's a good deal. I bought it for catastrophic costs really when suddenly surgery etc. is $12,000.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I agree!

[Martha & Cooper]

Laurie,  

I went back and looked at the premiums on my last dog, Smokie and yes, they do raise the rates as they get older.   He was with a different company than Cooper is with.   They raised Smokie's rate when he turned 3 and every year after that.  It will be interesting to see how much Cooper's rate goes up this year.   He won't be 3 until November and we renew his policy in June.    I had VPI for Cooper for a couple of months, until I decided Pet Plan was a better option.  

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Martha, for checking!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

We use Pet Plan - Silver - My rate includes 10% discount for micro chipped $12000.00 Vet fees, $200 deductible, 20% copay. I purchased insurance (thank you all DK'rs) just before she turned one.

First Year   $165.71

Second Year  $180.78

So that's a little less than a 10% hike this year, exactly the same as yours

Looks like that zapped you on fudge the 4th year because they didn't raise your rates the 2nd year.

Are you Pet Plan as well?

[Jennifer and Jack]

I will say o e last thing, the less fluid cash you have aka the poorer you are the more important it is to have the best insurance possible. I have the gold plan from pet plan..and if I needed to I would have my cable turned off before lowering his plan.

I have no co Insurance at all a d a fifty dollar deductible per illness...it covers care for Jack when I am in the hospital. Covers costs of cancelling a trip,or having to come home early if your dog becomes sick. Soak while for me I know if I went with a two hundred dollar deductible it would be cheaper. I honestly don't have that to put out...... But if you do, then paying the less is better...

I have probably already gotten ten years of premiums from Jack already!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

You and Jack are the perfect example of pet insurance working Jennifer...and seriously if I didn't have the option of quarterly I couldn't pay all at once in most cases...not really in the budget but an extra.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Sorry my typing is so bad I type bad from my iPad ... I pay Jacks monthly, directly pulled from my checking account.