Pet insurance

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 2:15pm

Anyone have it? I've always snickered at the idea, but now my cat needs to have a few teeth extracted and the estimate is $657.00! Her teeth are tiny! What the hell??

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 3:02pm

$657 for cat teeth? You could buy 131 brand new cats for that.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 3:16pm

For that price, you could go to veterinary dental school and do it yourself.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 3:18pm

I know a couple people who have pet insurance.It is actually pretty smart thing to have. Vets like Human Doctors are expensive! You have to be accepted though (much like human insurance) and animal who has pre existing conditions or are too old will be denied. My old dog just had seven teeth removed and it cost me $1,100.00 He is way too old to get insurance.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 3:45pm

We have pet insurance...and believe me it's worth every penny.

[Becky2]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 3:53pm

When it comes to teeth cleaning/extractions, I'd suggest "shopping around." The vet I used to take my dog to was going to charge $650 plus more if any extractions were necessary. Then I called another vet, equally qualified and talented, and they were only going to charge $200 + extractions.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 4:01pm

if your company offers it, it's even better. And I do believe if your company offers it, your pet cannot be denied (like you can't) but am not sure with that.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 4:07pm

Ha you MUST be from California if your company offers Pet medical insurance! It is hard enough to get Human insurance here in NY!

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 4:08pm

I asked my HR rep if I could add her to my dental insurance..ha. Her name is Ruby; I could get away with it, right?
PS I'm friends with the rep..she laughed.
Updated On: 3/18/08 at 04:08 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 4:43pm

snafu my company is based in Massachusettes with people all over the US.....it's the company, not necessarily where you live. The larger companies offer this sometimes...

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:14pm

I just got VPI. Worth every penny. My dog is still a puppy, so my rates are fairly low, and he's covered for everything (including when it comes time for his snip-snip). He had to get a chest xray already, so THANK GOD I got the insurance. I've more than made back my money. Not to mention the piece of mind.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:23pm

"snip-snip?"


I always say his juevos have been rancheroed!

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 5:25pm

well put, elphie. I think that works best for chihuahuas. I've got a cocker spaniel.

Maybe I could say I've got an un-cock-er spaniel?

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 3/18/08 at 7:15pm

My company also offered pet insurance last year (we switched insurance companies in January) and I looked into it, but decided it would be way too expensive for two young, healthy, indoor cats. It was almost twice as much as my own health insurance.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 3/19/08 at 10:56am

I just found out that MetLife is in the pet insurance business. Who knew?

[Jonny boy]

Posted: 3/19/08 at 4:40pm

Anyone know what the average going rate is for pet insurance?

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 3/19/08 at 5:24pm

depends on the coverage and your pet. You can get rate quotes online for most of the places, and it usually takes 2 minutes to fill out one of their forms. Try petinsurance.com to start. Their rates are pretty reasonable.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 3/19/08 at 10:35pm

We were paying less than $20 a month for our young cat. Unfortunately the one time we tried to use it the paperwork was a hassle. I had the vet fill it out, then I faxed it, two weeks later I got a letter saying it wasn't correct, i contacted the Vet they tried to fill out the more info they wanted, faxed it back, and then got another letter 2 weeks later and VPI pushed it back again. By that point the vet was just plain annoyed with me. This was for a simple check up/shot/ear cleaning/etc. So when it lapsed, i just let it go. I may sign up for it again, I dunno. I have a few friends who have had great success with it.

Chris's new HR program has a pet insurance plan for like $10 or $15 a month I think as well, and we are in NJ, but it is through ADP which is nationwide.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 4/4/08 at 3:06pm

So, today was Ruby's surgery. The doctor estimated that she would have to remove 3 teeth at her last check up. Well...I just talked to her and she only has TWO teeth left!

My poor pretty toothless girl.

And I feel guilty about worrying how much the "estimate" went up.