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. 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Yes, it appears they have several discounts availabe. They gave me 2 lifetime discounts but I'm not even sure why. :)Here is a list of the ones they offer:

http://www.healthypawspetinsurance.com/healthy-paws-promo-codes-and...

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Guess we will be looking at insurance other than PetPlan.

[Debbie and Toby]

Just went on to Healthy Paws site and got quotes for Toby, had one quoted for Goldendoodle and another identical quote for "mixed breed". These quotes were based on age and breed. Mixed breed is a few dollars cheaper. This would be quite a huge savings for us, compared to the $105 per month we are currently spending, but...they would only reimburse at 70% and we would have an annual deductible of $500...they also state they do not cover anything 'pre-existing". For us, I don't know if this would work, although it would be a huge monthly savings. I think for someone that has younger doodles with no pre-existing conditions, or only a couple minor claims this could be a good, affordable plan. It would be cheaper for us but the pre-existing condition clause could really affect us.  I also entered a promotion code of SAVE10 when I got the quote. Without the code, the plans were a couple dollars more. It also looks like pets 8 years and older only qualify for the 70%/$500 plan.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Interesting. I think  once you have a pre-existing you're pretty much stuck. Our cat has a pre-existing so we will have to stay with Petplan for her.  Tara turns 8 in December and her PetPlan expires in November. So it sounds like we would be losing benefits in a year with HealthyPaws anyhow.  Geez! 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I just called Healthy Paws and found out that if you enroll your pet before the age of 8 your policy will continue at the level at which you enrolled and not drop to 500/70 when they turn 8.  If you enroll after age 8 the 500/70 policy  is all that is offered.  They also said that their premiums increase from 5-10 percent a year but no more then that and it is not based on the age of your animal only based on changes in cost of veterinary care in your area. 

[Debbie and Toby]

That's good to know.. another very good reason to insure your pets while they are young.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Yes, that's for sure! I just talked with Healthy Paws again. Apparently, you can make adjustments to your policy if your dog is over 8 without it defaulting to the 500/70.  So you can improve or reduce coverage during the life of the policy as long as you don't file a claim. Once you file a claim you cannot improve your coverage but you can lower it.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

Unreal :-(

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

I've found that companies handle pre-existing conditions differently.  Some have a period of time they will not cover the condition and, if no issues within that time, will cover it afterwards.  Others flat out deny.  Still others rely on the medical opinion of the vet (if your vet writes a letter and says the prior condition was completely resolved and this is an entirely new problem).  I went through the later with Trupanion with one of the boys, the vet wrote the letter and all was good.  In my opinion, when you start getting into the insurance company paying for what is "medically necessary", fasten your seatbelt. That typically means their vet will give their opinion which may/may not agree with your vet.  No time for that silliness. 

On writing letters, my experience has been if you find the CEO (or upper management), and that is easy these days, write and send the letter certified/return receipt, I get a 95% acknowledgement rate.  The further up the chain you go, the less they want to be bothered.   They just want you to go away.  Posting on social media also gets attention. Most companies have people whose only job is monitoring social media.   Return receipt means someone has to get the letter although it does cost you $$.    I will be watching.  Give them heck!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Cyndi. I found the CEO, but the only address I can find if a PO Address. If anyone else comes up with something different, let me know. 

[Cyndi, The Boys & Callie]

According to Linkedin, he's in Philly.  I found an address (below) in Newtown Square.  Apparently he and his wife are co-founders.

Chris Ashton, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at PetPlan Pet Insurance (North America) - Greater Philadelphia 

PetPlan Pet Insurance (North America)

3805 West Chester Pike Suite 240, Newtown Square, PA 19073

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Cyndi. I haven't written the Petplan letter, but I did get the Healthy Paws one done. What address are you finding for that one? I have the two CEO's, but the only address I get is a PO.