I thought I’d said the name Pets Best Insurance enough times that everybody knew by now that I think it is the most solid company out there. But apparently I need to do some more reminders! I just got this from Mitch:
Dear Tracie – I presently have VPI for my dog and have become disenchanted with it because of so many exclusions. I can’t always listen to your show on Saturday mornings as I am a music teacher and have students often at the same time. What are your recommendations for pet insurance?
Alden – you should be signed up for the podcast if you cannot listen live. You would have heard me tell everyone time and again that Pets Best has the most fair and generous policies of any company: after a $75 deductible per incident they pay 80% of 100% of all bills. No schedules. Read the email trail on my bulletin board with Max’s Mom Pam who is going through cancer amputation and chemotherapy with VPI paying only pennies on the dollar. Contact Pets Best immediately. Tell them you want the Dog Talk® discount – hear the exclusions that might apply but just as important is how much they pay on each claim.
Keep that music playing!
Tracie
UPDATE:
I sent the email about pet insurance to Dr. jack Stephens, who “invented” the concept of pet insurance and actually owned VPI until it was bought away from him by a big national company (which is when many of us who were customers noticed the benefits diminishing). I asked Jack for his comments on the email aobut 90% reimburesment and his reply follows. The thing I have been trying to stress to folks is that you hve to really shop & compare. If a company like VPI has an allowed “scheduled” amount for a service then if chemotherapy, for example, costs $3,000 and they say it should cost $300 they will pay 90% of what THEY think is an acceptable fee. Just look at my website for the story of Max the Golden with the leg amputation and his mom Pam who paid for insurance for all four of her Goldens with VPI and is heartsick over how very very little they are covering of Max’s actual costs. I will stick to my guns and tell you all that Pet’s Best is the only one I’ve found with no confusing calculations – they pay 80% of 100% of your bills, no matter what. Here is Dr. Stephens’ reply to my blog posting and response to Sarah’s comment:
Tracie,
Very well said. VPI pays 90% of a schedule, which is much less than average vet charge. Two other companies offer 90% of Usual and customary, but you pay more for it. The consumer pays for what they get, if they want low deductibles, no copay then of course there will be higher cost and restrictions. the more they co-insure or have higher deductibles the lower the premium.
There are many good options out there now for pet insurance, but they all have their idiosyncrasies, including PB. We try to give the most value and what the pet owner needs to take care of their pet. We have a higher calling: pleasing the vets and saving pets. But all of us want and have to make money.
Yours, Jack
Keep in mind that she is endorsed to spout off wonderful things about this specific insurance company. When shopping for pet insurance, read reviews and do the research.
Some companies cover 90% of the bills as opposed to Pets Best’s 80%. Their monthly premiums increase as the pet gets older as well which is not true for all companies.
I could delete Sarah’s quite unpleasant post on here but instead welcome the opportunity to correct her assertions and put to rest confusion about pet insurance for all people – even those without whatever Sarah’s obvious personal agenda may be. First of all, Pets Best does not endorse me, I endorse THEM. Just as I have chosen many companies, based on what my research has shown me, I chose this insurance company after years of frustrations of my own with low reimbursement, inexplicable non-payment, etc. All the excellent products and services which I endorse on the air and in personal appearances and in my writing are there because I chose them – and they have no input or control over anything I say. If there really were a pet insurance company which paid 90% of bills wouldn’t that be wonderful! I have never heard of such a thing and you, Sarah, have neglected to name names – why not?? If you are so sure about this, what keeps you from naming the supposed company?. One thing is certain, there would be a low cap on how much would be paid out. With the policies I have chosen with Pets Best (with the discount all my listeners get) and pay for for my three dogs, the lifetime limit on each dog is $100.000. I find that to be reassuring. As for the premium going up with age, every single company I have ever investigated does that but Pets Best keeps the rate unchanged until 8 years of age – which is quite decent. And those “reviews” on the supposed “consumer feedback” websites are entirely unmonitored and SO obviously stuffed by employees for one company posting negative things about other companies or touting their own. Anyone can say anything on there that they like and nobody questions it. The only reliable way to find out what medical procedures are excluded- what the terms are of a policy – is to get on the phone and ASK a real live person to lay it out for you. Until someone shows me a company that offers a better deal on every level than Pets Best, I will continue to urge people to get coverage and to turn to this company when doing their own due diligence. Anybody who has read or listened to me knows without question that my motivation is to recommend what is best for the animals and their people – I have no other agenda.
I had no intention for my previous comment to be an advertisement, but since you asked here are a few companies that offer 90% reimbursement in the United States: VPI, PetCare, Trupanion, Pet Plan . And those that don’t have age brackets (price doesn’t change with pet’s age) : Trupanion, PetCare .
I don’t understand why you’re attacking my comment that people should read reviews, as it is not in any way suggestive or demeaning to any particular company. There are actually a multitude of review websites on the internet that could be considered reliable sources, for example websites that interview each company with the same set of questions. I am merely suggesting that people should do their own research and derive their own opinions when investing in the health of their beloved pets.
I think what’s most important here is that each individual get a plan that works best for their specific needs. I personally don’t like doing all the research myself so I read and listen to reviews from trusted individuals. The best thing to do is try a plan and if it doesn’t work then you can always change. http://a-animal.com
Thanks Pamela – but I AM that trusted individual and I have done the research diligently. That’s why I can say without doubt that Pets Best gives the most reliable coverage. And they are so pleased for my endorsement that they offer my listeners and readers a discount code – AP5252 which they can tell the operator at Pets Best when they call. Plus a discount for multiple pets and one fro paying the whole premium at one time.