Does anybody have health insurance on their pets? I have received a few emails lately pushing it. Is it any good or is it a scam? What is the price range? What companies should I check out?
I don’t have it, but there are a lot of exclusions such as anything the pet was born with. Your vet can probably give advice on how well they think it works.
There are various plans that range anywhere from like $10/mo on up. Just like with people, they have a range of options and what they cover and any co-pays, etc. Some include full coverage, dental cleanings, subsidized chipping and rabies, and others do not. We have the cheapest plan as our dogs are young and healthy and really don’t need it. But, same with humans again, a lower priced plan is kinda skimpy when you see a doctor to deter you from going to the vet all the time. But it pays 50% on an emergency or surgery. Which is why we got it.
They do not cover any treatments for known hereditary diseases that a particular breed may have. But, the doctor visits up until the point where they diagnose it are covered. Also, any known preexisting condition is technically not covered.
Your local vet should have a bunch of brochures that will then list coverage options.
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The problem is that as the pet ages, when you actually need the insurance, the premiums rise and the coverage lessens. And at a certain point the pet is deemed “uninsurable.”
Not to be too much of a sales pitch, but if there is a Banfield pet hospital in your area, you might want to look into their Wellness Packages. It’s the same idea of paying a monthly fee for a certain subset of services per year or the life of the pet (bloodwork being an example of a yearly service, while spaying is an example of a lifetime service). They have different ones for different ages of pet, and they seem to do an honest job of emphasizing preventative care.
The major drawback is that they are only good at Banfield hospitals, which aren’t open in the middle of the night for emergencies. But, might work out for you.
I studied in a vet school that offered Care Credit and shadowed a clinic that used it. I do have to say, if you don’t qualify for a credit card, you’d have a harder time qualifying for it.
It probably depends on what type of pet, and if you expect any major complications in the future. If you own a cat or a healthy adult dog, it’s probably not that important. If you own a Pug or similar animal with a high potential for problems, then it might be a very good idea.
My coworker swears by it. Of course his dog has been in not one, but two, fights with mountain lions. Survived both times. Major repair work both times, would have cost thousands. Cost a couple hundred.
Except that depending on insurance type, it may not cover things that are considered hereditary or familial. Better check on all that fine print. 
It is good for emergency situations, like dragonlady mentioned.
I’m pretty sure they at least cover Dachshund back problems, which is common and very costly to fix.
I don’t get it… it’s not insurance, but a GE credit card. And if you already have a credit card that you can use anywhere in the world, what does this get for you? (Unless vets don’t take regular credit cards in your part of the world?)
(What is “shadowing”? Sounds like stalking. Is it like an internship?)
IIRC, it acts as a payment plan so that the person doesn’t pay interest on it, but has X amount of months to pay it all up. I think they charge the doctors (dentists also are covered in care credit) a fee for having the setup. The advantage to them is that they can then have immediate access to that money (and even paying what the company asks, ideally, the doctor still makes some profit). With credit cards, if you don’t pay the balance at the end of the cycle, you start accumulating fees and charges. And sometimes, when you’re on a budget, you cannot just put it on the credit card. But can plan from, you know, from now until the debt is settled, put an extra $50 a month in the care credit card.
No, in shadowing I just act as a shadow of the veterinarian, going after them, looking at what they’re doing, etc. I knew what they were doing, and I knew the treatments and everything (I had just graduated), I just wanted to see again how a clinic worked before going into academia. I was not in charge of any pets. Although, because of what I did know, I was occasionally helpful for the vets in assisting surgery and treating patients (under their supervision).
Something to think about.
I’m prepared to be flamed here, but:
How much are you willing to pay for pet health care?
I’ve had cats most of my life. I love the little furry critters, but…
Cats are cats. Pets. Something to make my life better.
I take good care of them. Most have lived to 18yrs+. They get their scheduled vet visits and their shots. They see the vet when they aren’t act normal.
But they aren’t people. I won’t pay thousands of dollars for medical procedures on a pet.
There are lots of better things to do with that kind of money.
While to me pets aren’t disposable, they are also not human.
So if you are like me, and wouldn’t authorize a procedure that costs that much, then the insurance may not be worth it.
For me, even the cheap plans I’ve seen just won’t pay for themselves. I’m better off putting that money aside every month, and then I can spend it if an emergancy ever does come up.