The Conservative Cave
The Bar => The Lounge => Topic started by: Splashdown on July 21, 2011, 08:42:02 AM
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Meet Baxter.
(http://splshdown.homestead.com/files/Baxter.jpg)
He was born in April, and we just "rescued" him from a loving family. My wife's friend got him for her Downs Syndrom son, but the relationship wasn't working out, so now he's with us. He's awesome.
Now to the point... Does anyone here have pet insurance? If so, what do you recommend? We were looking at PetPlan, but I'd like to hear some advice.
Thanks!
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He's adorable!
No advice on the insurance. We tried a couple of plans for two of ours, but had no luck with getting reimbursed. One of our animal shelter rescues came with a month long plan and we extended it. When he had to see the vet for a problem he had experienced while at the shelter it was turned down for reimbursement as a pre-existing condition so we dropped it.
Maybe the higher premium coverage is good, but we had no luck with the two policies we used. One was VPI Pet Insurance. I've heard other owners who've had good experiences, though.
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Haven't a plan for mine but my Dad insured his boy through the vet, can get the name of the company. His dog has epilepsy and a looooong backbone that gets more arthritic with age so he's put it to good use. His premiums are about $30 a month and the coverage is decent. He has a small co-pay for routine visits and also meds, the real deal will kick in for anything major. Personally, with a pup as young as your Baxter I'd probably hold off for a bit.
Cute baby :wink:
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We had thought about getting pet insurance for our Beagle pup when we first got her last year, but illnesses hit her first and I'm not sure we could get coverage with her history, now. She turns 1 year old next week and has already suffered through parvo and juvenile cellulitis which is also called puppy stangles.
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I've got WAY too many rescued pets to get insurance for them, but there's an alternative that might fit the bill, so to speak, for you and Baxter. It's the CareCredit card from GE Money Bank. I've charged thousands of dollars on that card and have yet to pay a single dime in finance charges. As long as the balance is paid off by the due date, it's basically a freebie financing of your pet's medical problems.
Because I'm my vet's best customer, what with 12 animals being seen in the clinic, anytime I charge the minimum of $300 they extend my payment plan for one year. Right now I have $1600 outstanding on the card and am fixing to charge another $500 or more to get my two new puppies neutered, and their hernias repaired while they're under anesthesia already.
Any way you go, you were really great to rescue Baxter! :cheersmate:
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Aaaaarg, pet insurance is wonderful if you get a dog or cat from a pure breed seller.
My pup, a so called Brussels Griffin bought from a pet store with all the AKC papers and documents of family history is FOOEY.
My Pup has the face of a Monkey dog but the body of a Schnauzer, Some how I have a designer dog that I paid an arm and a leg for.
Who in the heck would want this mix, unusual and a bag of trouble for those that are not into ultra high energy dogs.
Insurance for a pure breed dog that one wants to mate is good thinking. ----like health insurance on people that know their family.
Insurance on a so called designer dog or cat is to go into the dark side.
I have 2 rescue dogs, and the one darn pup that is now where what his what ever breed is suppose to be. I do what I can for my little ones and spend at times the family's vacation money on them. $900 to get a dogs teeth pulled at age 14, insane but Hubby insisted.
Read the small print on pet insurance , might surprise you.
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I've charged thousands of dollars on that card and have yet to pay a single dime in finance charges. As long as the balance is paid off by the due date, it's basically a freebie financing of your pet's medical problems.
I think just about every credit card does that. I pay off each card in full each month and have never been charged any interest.
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I think just about every credit card does that. I pay off each card in full each month and have never been charged any interest.
Yeah, that is true, CG6468, but this is not quite the same. As of today, I have a $1600 balance on the GE CareCredit card. Your average credit card is going to make me pay off that entire $1600 balance by the next due date, in order to not be charged a finance fee. However, on this card, as long as I pay off the charged balance by the end date of the period (3, 6, or 12 months depending upon the amount charged at the vet), I won't pay a dime in interest.
For example, as of now, I have $600 that I must pay off by the middle of November to avoid finance charges on that amount, but until the middle of April to pay off the remaining thousand dollars.
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http://www.24petwatch.com/petinsurance/
I've had this insurance for over 5 years and have no real complaints about it. I don't have the high end coverage that includes immunizations and pay about $33 per month for 2 dogs. My deductible is $100. Reimbursement payments come pretty promptly.
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Thanks for that info boudicca...Im going to look into that.. I have a rescue GSD that is starting to cost me a little bit of coin... Not that I mind since hes a sweetie...Just...Expensive. :)
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Thanks for that info boudicca...Im going to look into that.. I have a rescue GSD that is starting to cost me a little bit of coin... Not that I mind since hes a sweetie...Just...Expensive. :)
I know, but bless you for rescuing an animal in need of a good home! :cheersmate:
I took two of my dogs in today-$124.50 just for checkups and shots. They're worth it, and my vet office will let me charge on the card, although the minimum charge limit is $300, at least at their place. Doesn't matter, as I have two puppies needing checkups and shots next week, so goodbye the rest of that $300. :bawl:
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Congrats on rescuing a dog! My wife and I volunteer at our local shelter to walk dogs. It is right down the road from our church, so we do it every Sunday. Good to see that people are still rescuing.
As far as the insurance, I looked into it, as well. We have an 11yr old Boxer. At one time we had 2 boxers but the female died. We checked out the insurance and decided against it. The reasons were our reasons and I am not saying you shouldn't get the insurance, but we didn't for our own reasons.
Like someone earlier said, his/her payments are $33 a month with a $100 deductible. We get 6 months of heartworm pills for less than that. Other than getting those pills, we don't really need to take him (Pete, named after Pete Rose) to the vet. So, if you follow the Dave Ramsey plan and put money in an envelope each week for a designated purpose, I don't see the need for pet insurance.
You could put $33 a month in an envelope and use it only for vet bills. It would also help cover your deductible. You will probably find that your dog doesn't incur $33 a month in vet bills after a $100 deductible and therefore, save money. But keep that money in that envelope and keep adding to it once you decide what you are going to pay each month.
Like I said, its what I did and it has worked out well. Can't say it will work for everyone.