Petplan Insurance UPDATE....Unhappy with New Underwriters....Please do Your Research Before Buying and Definitely Compare to Healthy Paws!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I know we have had several discussions about Pet Insurance and whether or not to get it and what company to go with if you do.  Fudge is 7 and Vern is 6 and I got Pet Insurance for both before I brought them home. I believe Pet Plan had a policy effective date of 30 days after we brought our puppies home, but I could be wrong. This is all fresh in my mind as my renewal is next month.

First let me say, I would not be without pet insurance, just as I wouldn't go without health insurance. That said, I would like to share my experience with Pet Plan. As others have noted, they have changed the way they do business this year and those of us who have had it all along are more or less stuck with keeping them, because at this point, some of our dogs would have pre-existing conditions.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/petplan-insurance-has-changed

For me, the new premium I will incur has stayed in the ball park of how much they been increasing my premiums each year. Below I am attaching a discussion where I have been tracking my premiums.  They have upped my annual allowance from $10,000 to $15,000. My deductible from $200 to $300 and my reimbursement is 80%.  The new premium for Fudge would be $426.55 per year and Vern would be $370.88 per year.

I have the option of tweaking my policy and have asked them to check on making my deductible a yearly condition rather than per condition.  This is where I am a little upset because Fudge had one claim in 2009 for flu like symptons (which they coded anorexia) and now we are on a "maybe" list and the agent has to get back to me. She was a new puppy and I was worried about dehydration. Vern had a more recent episode, but knock on wood, my dogs have been very healthy and I have used the insurance only a couple of times for both dogs. I disagree that I should be on a "maybe" list, but will withhold judgment until the agent calls back. 

I continue to think that the more informed we are, the better choices we make, so I feel this is good information to have on DK.  New people can see these discussions, weigh all their options, and pick the company that works best for them. 

Here is another discussion worth reading.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/great-pet-plan-claim-exper...

id=2065244%3ATopic%3A4508677&page=1

and the discussion where I track my premiums over the years.

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/pet-insurance-premiums-wha...

UPDATE: FUDGE AND VERN DID QUALIFY FOR THE ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE VERSUS THE PER INCIDENT DEDUCTIBLE.

Our new coverage for the 10/14/2016-10/14/2017 is as follows

$15,000 80% $300 annual deductible. Fudge's premium is $469.20 and Vern's is 407.97.  This is definitely an increase. I have updated it in my previous discussion listed below.

The agent also said premiums are based on age, breed, and location. He also stated you can continue to get the $10,000 coverage that we have had in the past, but Pet Plan is issuing the new quotes for $15,000 because it automatically includes some new options. (the only one I remember is help with costs for advertising if your dog is lost)

FURTHER UPDATES:  Instead of having you weed through pages of this discussion, here are some more interesting things Ricki (and Tara) found out about PetPlan versus Healthy Paws!

1) Plus, Petplan told me no one qualifies for any discounts except the 5% on line renewal once you are past the first year. The other discounts are only for first time clients.

2) Just got an on-line quote from Healthy Paws.  Theirs all have unlimited benefits and annual deductible so the only variables are amount of deductible and copay.  A $250/90% policy would cost $593.40.  A $250/80 would cost $500.28 so that is about $50.00 a year less than Petplan's 15000/300/80 plan and we wouldn't have the cap on benefits and would have a lower deductible.  

3) I discovered another Healthy Paws benefit.  If you take your pet to emergency and you have 90% copay, PetPlan lowers the coverage to 80% (we have had this happen with them). Healthy Paws doesn't do this and will pay at the same 90% as they do for all claims. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I agree.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I just wish they would tell us what the "pre-existing" conditions would be if we switched. It seems as if they would get a lot of business that way. I know I would make the switch.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Maybe you could call Healthy Paws and get more info about pre-existing conditions and if they would apply to F & V. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am writing a letter....going to try and find out who is in charge :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I love how you assign me this task :) LOL This is like when you miss a meeting and they volunteer you for a job in your absence. 

[Debbie and Toby]

I guess I am curious, if PetPlan has these huge increases now, how can other companies offer same or better coverage than what we have on PetPlan for a lower cost? I understand they could also have huge increases in the future, but it really makes me wonder what is going on with PetPlan? It seems they will lose a lot of customers now. And since we are already paying $105 per month, I am really afraid to see what our renewal will be Feb 1. When I did the quote as if we were adding a new 9 year old doodle, it came out at $163 per month, with less coverage. I would have to drop coverage way down to stay at a comparable rate. So unhappy with what they are doing.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm wondering about that too? It makes me a little nervous about switching to a different company. Will the other shoe drop?? LOL

  I discovered another Healthy Paws benefit.  If you take your pet to emergency and you have 90% copay, PetPlan lowers the coverage to 80% (we have had this happen with them). Healthy Paws doesn't do this and will pay at the same 90% as they do for all claims. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I added all of the things you found out to the top of the discussion.  I also sent a general email to Healthy Paws. I will let you know what they say about the pre-existing conditions. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Okay, hopefully I have the information correct this time! :)

[Debbie and Toby]

We had that happen a couple years ago, Toby had a problem with his eye on a Saturday morning, our vet said to take him to the emergency clinic as they were already booked solid, PetPlan only covered 80%...  That's a good benefit to know about, lucky for us we only owed about $200 for that visit, but emergencies can be quite expensive....

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am going to write a letter to the company and see what happens. I cannot believe there new underwriters are popular with anyone. 

[Debbie and Toby]

I wonder if enough people complain,  if Healthy Paws or another highly recommended company could offer an "incentive" to entice people to switch over to them... based on the current issues with PetPlan.  I know that may be wishful thinking, and probably wouldn't happen, but it would sure give people an option that could be beneficial...