We've had many different pets over the years and never really worried about vet bills. We've had, dogs, cats, chickens, fish, rodents, etc. and had the occasional vet bill for a few hundred dollars...until last year.Last September our 13yo cat had a massive tumor and we spent over $1000 to figure out there was nothing that could be done. A few months later, the new kitten my wife adopted shattered his arm and cost us $4500 to repair. After all this we should have purchased insurance already, but haven't. Has anyone has good luck with pet insurance? We currently have 2 cats and are getting another dog in about a month and don't want to risk another financial hit like we had last year.

I got pet insurance years ago after having two dogs come up with high medical bills within a short period of time of each other. I almost had to make a decision I didn't want to because of the cost. I didn't, but had to borrow a huge amount of money.I first got Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). There was a limit for each illness/accident that incurred....not sure if it's still that way. My dog had Degenerative Myelopathy---the insurance coverage on that maxed out--the rest I had to pay out of pocket. They were quick to settle claims, though.I now have Pet Plan, which has no incident limit, covers hereditary illnesses and some other things that VPT doesn't cover. Fortunately I have not used it.Premiums are MUCH less on mixed breeds opposed to purebreds.As far as expense--I would rather have the insurance and not use it than to not have it and need it. I've read that if you are disciplined enough to save enough money for major vet. bills (which I'm not)--you're better off....well, of course, it's a gamble, just like human health care coverage. With veterinary medicine getting more sophisticated (and expensive) every year--I'll pay for the insurance.

I've never done the pet insurance. My logic:Pet Insurance - pay out $XX per month on the premiums. If the pet gets sick, hopefully all will be paid for by insurance. If the pet doesn't get sick, that money is gone.Save it myself - put away $XX per month for vet bills. If the pet gets sick, use every bit needed. If the pet doesn't get sick, I have that much more money in reserve.With multiple pets, it's worked well for me. But, I have also done the same for vehicle and household "emergencies", so I have enough being put away each month to handle things as they occur. That means I'm not cutting into my pet funds to pay for the $600 motherboard in the SUV, etc.

I have had some major pet medical bill's from two Collies that went through chemo. When I checked into pet insurance it was only good until the pet turned 8 and limited on what it paid. My Collies had there problems later in life and would not have been covered and I would have been out the money for the insurance. It might be better today but it sure soured me on pet insurance.

I've researched pet insurance on and off over the years. We can even get a discount on VPI through DH's work. But no matter how hard I try I can't make it make sense for us. Too many exclusions, too much chance of premiums increasing drastically with age, etc. So we put some money away each month -- enough to cover routine vaccinations, heart worm and flea preventatives plus a little extra for any unexpected emergencies. In other words, we pretty much follow the same logic as ToedToes. So far that's worked well enough for us.

Banfield aka Petsmart is about $500/year. Cover most shots, rabies etc. annual teeth cleaning and other "stuff". It's worth it to us because our dog is diabetic. They also have all our records nationwide should we need them....Dennis

Do you have pet insurance | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

colliehauler
Explorer III
Apr 03, 2015
I have had some major pet medical bill's from two Collies that went through chemo. When I checked into pet insurance it was only good until the pet turned 8 and limited on what it paid. My Collies had there problems later in life and would not have been covered and I would have been out the money for the insurance.

It might be better today but it sure soured me on pet insurance.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Apr 03, 2015
I've never done the pet insurance. My logic:

Pet Insurance - pay out $XX per month on the premiums. If the pet gets sick, hopefully all will be paid for by insurance. If the pet doesn't get sick, that money is gone.

Save it myself - put away $XX per month for vet bills. If the pet gets sick, use every bit needed. If the pet doesn't get sick, I have that much more money in reserve.

With multiple pets, it's worked well for me. But, I have also done the same for vehicle and household "emergencies", so I have enough being put away each month to handle things as they occur. That means I'm not cutting into my pet funds to pay for the $600 motherboard in the SUV, etc.
brewjaz
Explorer
Apr 03, 2015
I got pet insurance years ago after having two dogs come up with high medical bills within a short period of time of each other. I almost had to make a decision I didn't want to because of the cost. I didn't, but had to borrow a huge amount of money.

I first got Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). There was a limit for each illness/accident that incurred....not sure if it's still that way. My dog had Degenerative Myelopathy---the insurance coverage on that maxed out--the rest I had to pay out of pocket. They were quick to settle claims, though.

I now have Pet Plan, which has no incident limit, covers hereditary illnesses and some other things that VPT doesn't cover. Fortunately I have not used it.

Premiums are MUCH less on mixed breeds opposed to purebreds.

As far as expense--I would rather have the insurance and not use it than to not have it and need it. I've read that if you are disciplined enough to save enough money for major vet. bills (which I'm not)--you're better off....well, of course, it's a gamble, just like human health care coverage. With veterinary medicine getting more sophisticated (and expensive) every year--I'll pay for the insurance.

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Do you have pet insurance

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