I have a 4 month old kitten. I went to this fair and was introduced to VPI pet insurance but just read that it was no good. Can someone please tell me a good pet insurance place and please only answer if you have personal experience. Also tell me all I need to know about this whole pet insurance thing. I'm new to this. Thanks. I only want the best for my baby!
How rude you are, I didn't even know they would do that until I read this plan. I need something to help me when I go to the Vet because I went today and couldn't pay it all and figured insurance would help. Rude.

Hi I'mHers,

First, disclaimer: I work for Embrace Pet Insurance in Cleveland, Ohio.

I'm glad you're asking questions about pet insurance for your kitten. There is so much information floating around about it and not all of it is correct.

What makes a good pet health insurance policy? My opinion is straightforward: insurance is a promise to reimburse you so one of the main elements of a good policy is full and open disclosure of *everything* that is and is not covered. If you look just at price you are not getting the whole picture.

I encourage you to look at major medical pet insurance (yes, it exists, our company offers it). The idea behind it is you get a plan with a higher deductible and this can dramatically lower your premium, in some cases by 30 to 50%. You can get a major medical pet insurance plan for around $20 to 25 per month per dog (cheaper for cats) and still have coverage for most everything (except routine stuff of course).

Pet insurance buys you peace of mind so that if something bad, expensive, and unexpected happens then your pet is protected.

You should buy pet insurance because you want to be *prepared* in case something bad happens. Remember, insurance is the one thing you can't buy when you need it the most so plan accordingly.

You're very lucky in that nowadays here in the US you have a choice of at least half a dozen different pet insurance companies, just go to Google and type in "pet insurance."

Here are some questions you should ask yourself as you navigate the different plans on the market:

1. Does the pet insurance company give you a choice of deductibles, maximums, and copays to design a plan to suit your budget?

2. Does the plan cover genetic conditions? Make sure their answer is unambiguous because some claim they cover them but there can be "gotchas."

3. Does the plan cover chronic or recurring conditions? So if your pet gets sick in year 1, does it cover the same illness again in year 2?

4. Does the plan come with coverages that you'll pay for but probably never use, like "Lost & Found" or "Accidental Death"? These can end up costing you more over the long run than they're worth.

5. What is and is not covered? Is it clearly stated on their website or over the phone?

6. Does the plan pay claims based on a restrictive benefit schedule or the actual vet bill? You want to avoid benefit schedule plans because they have a high probability of leaving you substantially out of pocket when you make a claim.

7. Are there per-incident or per-body system limits that effectively cap the amount you could receive back? For example, some plans have a $3,000 per-incident limit. If you had a claim for $5,000 with one of these plans then the most you would get back would be $3,000 - ever.

8. How long does the company take to pay claims?

9. What are the rules around pre-existing conditions? Are they excluded permanently or temporarily?

10. Will my premium go up if I make a claim?

11. Will the company increase your co-pay or deductible if you visit a specialist or emergency veterinarian? Some plans do this, make sure you know in advance as not only do emergency & specialists veterinarians cost a lot more but now you're being asked to foot a larger portion of the bill even though you didn't sign up for that.

For reviews of the different pet insurance plans in the US check out http://www.PetInsuranceReview.com

Buying a pet insurance plan requires a little bit of homework upfront. Go with the company that you trust and the plan that you think fits your budget and your needs.

Good luck!

Alex
Embrace Pet Insurance
http://www.embracepetinsurance.com

Does anyone know of a good affordable pet insurance for cats? Does anyone know of a good affordable pet insurance for cats?

I have insurance on one of my cats who has a urinary tract disease and I use PetCare Insurance. I pay $12.95 a month for it and it's been really good so far. No problems with claims or anything. Here's the website.

www.petcareinsurance.com

Good luck to you!

What is the best pet insurance for cats and is VPI good

I know it is very confusing when shopping for pet insurance. There are too many information out there and cause a case of information overload.

No pet insurance are the same and you need to find one that tailors to your cat's need. You have to be careful when choosing because some insurance company place a low cap on their reimbursement even though you are paying for higher premiums. Some will have low deductibles but will not cover much illness or low coverage for accidents and diagnosis. Many insurance companies will not cover pre existing conditions.

I cannot recommend one that stood out from the rest because what my cat needs might be different from what you need. VPI is the oldest Pet Insurance in the country. There are plenty of mixed reviews when it comes to them. I have VPI as well but it is not easy to claim for reimbursement if your pet seems to need a lot of medical care. They do tend to be less generous and will require a lot of documentations when processing your claim. I find the red tape to be a huge put off.

However, there is a site with a lot of good and useful reviews on the insurance available that you can look into.

http://www.petinsurancereview.com/
http://www.pet-insurance-info.com

Some guidelines:-

How old is your pet? The best time to purchase a pet health insurance policy is when your pet is young. Most pet health problems happen in the last two years of your pet's life. So, the younger your pet is, the better

Is your breed prone to medical problems? While policy premiums are generally not based on breed, certain hereditary conditions are excluded.

For instance, Persian cats are prone to polycystic kidney disease (PKD). You can still buy pet insurance for your Persian; just don't be surprised if it fails to cover related issues (some pet insurance policies may cover this, so check with your provider to make sure before you buy).

Is your pet already sick? Most pet insurance providers won't cover pre-existing conditions. However, if you can prove your pet had a condition that has been cured, that may be covered.

Can you choose your own veterinarian? For many pet owners, vet choice is key, and for good reason. Some pet insurance companies require you to use veterinarians on their own network. Others don't. As always, check with your provider regarding your choice of veterinarian.

What is your pet's lifestyle? If your dog or cat spends most of his time outdoors, that will increase his/her risk of illness or injury.

What is covered? Many pet owners purchase pet health insurance policies to protect themselves from the high cost of future medical problems. Others want regular pet care such as annual physical exams and routine checkups and cleanings.

Just be advised that most standard pet insurance policies cover catastrophic accidents and illnesses. Routine vet visits tend to come as add-ons and/or riders.

What State do you Live In? If you are searching on the internet for pet health insurance, you need to check this. Just because a provider does business online doesn't mean it services your state.

Check The Insurance Company's Track Record

Every state in the U.S. has an insurance commissioner. If the insurance company you are considering has had legal/ethical issues that should cause you concern, the insurance commissioner's office in your state or province should know about it. Check with them before you buy.

Does anyone know what is good pet insurance for my cats? Does anyone know what is good pet insurance for my cats?

See my answer in this thread:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... u3W25tv1MJ

I just answered it a little while ago.

What is the best pet insurance to have for three indoor cats? What is the best pet insurance to have for three indoor cats?

A savings account and a credit card.

Read the fine print on all of the policies. Many won't cover conditons that might be pre-existing, genetic, or congenital which, for indoor cats, are the most likely serious diseases that you'll encounter.

Consumer Reports published an article on pet insurance recently; its accessible online.