Saturday, December 8, 2012

IT’S TIME TO RECONSIDER PET HEALTH INSURANCE

Until recently, most veterinarians have not had many great things to say about pet health insurance.  Most policies have very restrictive coverage and many diseases and procedures are excluded.  Clients are often disappointed when their pets either are not covered, or reimbursements are not what they expected.   Most policies do not cover congenital, hereditary, or breed related diseases.   With purebred dogs, this accounts for a large percentage of the medical cases that we see.  I personally have never recommended pet insurance, until now.

TRUPANION® offers pet insurance that really pays when your pet is sick or injured.  TRUPANION® pays 90% (after deductible) of whatever your vet charges.  If you choose to go to a specialist, or a veterinarian that offers a premium service, TRUPANION pays 90% (of any bill).  Other pet insurance companies have set maximum payouts (what they consider is “reasonable”) for each medical problem or surgical procedure.  For example, VPI will only pay $660 to $920 total for a dog with Valvular Heart Disease (heart murmur).  A comprehensive workup for a dog in heart failure with Valvular Disease may include chest x-rays, blood tests, urinalysis, ECG, and cardiac ultrasound (echo) which could easily cost over a thousand dollars.  Follow-up x-rays, sometimes repeat ultrasound, and lab tests may be necessary, and you have already exceeded your payback limit.
TRUPANION® is one of the only companies that cover congenital or hereditary diseases.   We have a client whose 8 month old boxer developed a severe congenital heart disease.  TRUPANION® has reimbursed them for thousands of dollars in medical costs, and continues to pay 90% of every vet bill related to the heart disease.  The clients are able to choose the highest level of care, and are able to focus on the care of their pet without worrying that they would be paying off charge card bills long after the pet is gone.

When a client has good pet insurance it can change the level of care that pet receives.  Most vets are very cognizant of the cost of the care they are providing.  Some may be hesitant to offer an important test or treatment option because of the cost.  With TRUPANION, a lot of the financial pressure is relieved from the mind of client and the veterinarian.  It could change the outcome of a pet’s treatment. 
My clients are often surprised at how reasonable the monthly premiums are.   Most pets can be covered (even adult pets) for less than $40 per month.  Most cats are less than $20 per month.  TRUPANION allows to you choose a deductible between zero and one thousand dollars.  Its simple, fast, and easy to get an online quote for any pet by going to www.trupanion.com.
Fortunately, many pets get through their entire life without a serious medical problem.  But we understand that your pet is a member of your family.  If something serious goes wrong, you want to know that you are financially able to pay for the best care possible.   TRUPANION® is the plan our doctors recommend.
My disclaimer:  I have no affiliation with, work for, own shares of stock, or get a commission from TRUPANION.  I just think it's a great idea for my clients and their pets.