Yet Another Dog Question

December 5, 2022 9:59 AM

Is pet insurance worth it? I adopted Dice this weekend. The vet says she thinks he's 1-2. We had a $670 pet visit (some of it was flea/tick meds and some dental chews) but we did a urinalysis for like $400. I don't really expect to have many more medical issues with him, but if he has urinary issues, maybe I will. If you have pet insurance you like, what is it?
posted by bookworm4125 to Pets & Animals (14 answers total)

In my experience - some people say it was well worth it - but for myself and family, most people talk about how when they needed to use it, it didn't cover "X,Y,Z" - and so ended-up being not worthwhile. But - I am also a pragmatist, who grew-up on a farm and hunted while young - and, if a pet becomes very very ill - I am going to work with a veterinarian for an "end-of-life option", rather than prolong the inevitable alongside pain and suffering. We lost one dog to cancer already this yet, he was my daughters - and she works as a vet tech - she could probably have discounted rates for treatment but chose a quick path for him.

My suggestion would be to examine the plans and details in-depth, then search for and ask for people's input on those specific providers and plans.
posted by rozcakj at 10:08 AM on December 5, 2022 [6 favorites]

I was disappointed with the insurance I had for my last dog because she was several years old when I got it. Because of that, pretty much every ailment, even (especially!) the kinds that recur like stomach problems or UTIs, counted as "pre-existing." And forget hereditary problems. Eventually I realized it would only cover a catastrophic injury of some kind that exceeded the deductible, and when she was elderly and never left the home, I canceled it.

For my current pup, I got it the day I got her. It's a Figo policy and it's responded swiftly to my claims, although I always seem to think it will cover more than it does. That's insurance for you, I guess. It's not the most I could be paying for a policy; Figo allows you to pick some of the coverage a la carte.
posted by Countess Elena at 10:31 AM on December 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

When I've had pets develop chronic issues and then the insurance was nice for ongoing defraying of those costs (medication, insulin needles, etc.) I've also had it be really helpful in covering a big hunk of emergency and end-of-life care. I get it, because I can easily afford it, for new pets for those reasons. But it's useless for many years before it becomes useful, and it would probably be equally effective to just be really disciplined about saving up early for pet emergencies.

I'm not aware of any pet insurance that's really useful for routine stuff - some of them will offer you a plan that's meant to defray annual check-ups and shots, but last time I looked (which was a while ago!), the math didn't really work out on that being worth it.

As for specific companies, I've got two with Embrace and one with Trupanion, just based on which company had better coverage/prices when I was buying.
posted by Stacey at 10:34 AM on December 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

(I would also suggest asking the vet's office you have or are likely to use if they accept certain credit options like Scratch Pay or take Trupanion up front. I think Trupanion is the only pet insurance that will pay at point of service like human insurance instead of operating by reimbursement. But I could be wrong about this by now, and in any case Trupanion may still not be your own best choice for an older dog.)
posted by Countess Elena at 10:35 AM on December 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

With a rescue, you really don't know what issues will crop up in that first year. My little guy's major physical health issue has been a stubborn, nasty ear infection, and it's saved me several hundred dollars with that. (I use Healthy Paws, which reimburses claims promptly.) Do read the coverage limitations carefully--they don't usually cover routine exams or behavioral health.
posted by praemunire at 10:36 AM on December 5, 2022 [3 favorites]

We had Trupanion for our last dog and found them very fair and responsible. The big thing is that they do not cover pre-existing conditions so if he has urinary problems now, they will never be covered in the future. (Our dog had gum issues early on and they never covered any dental problems) However when he got cancer in his leg, they covered 90% of all of the costs including a mushroom based supplement that had been shown to be helpful with this type of cancer (i was surprised that was covered - our human health insurance would not have paid for it) Throughout the crisis, we were able to do whatever we thought was best for him based on his needs and not have to worry about the cost. I was very grateful. My daughter got a similar plan for her rescue and it has covered 90% of the cost of two knee surgeries.

The basic deal with insurance is that most of the time people will pay in more than they use (that's how the company makes a profit) but it gives you the peace of mind that if there is a really big expense, you don't have to worry about how to pay for it. When it comes to animals, I am willing to pay those monthly premiums so that I don't feel the pressure of deciding based on cost when something bad happens to an animal that i care about.

Shopping tips:
1. Don't get a plan that covers routine care - they know you are going to use it so you will be just paying them a premium over what it would cost you out of pocket - a waste of money.
2. Make sure there is no limit on the how much they will pay per disease - this is where you most want the safety net of insurance. Having a max payout really reduces the value of the insurance when you need it most.
3. Understand what they consider a pre-existing condition and talk to them about whether it is a life-long rule out or if your vet can certify that they are returned to full health you will be covered for any future instances.
4. Understand if the price increases with the age of the pet. Trupanion will set the starting price based on the age of the pet when you sign up but they do not escalate the price as your pet ages. They might have general across-the-board increases but they have already factored in the fact that your pet will get older every year into the price they charge you so you don't find that the insurance gets suddenly expensive when you need it most.
5. If cash flow is an issue, ask your vet if they will bill the insurance directly or if you need to pay the whole bill yourself and then get reimbursed.
6. In terms of your own mind-set, understand the insurance is for the unexpected costs, if you can see it coming, they probably won't cover it (that's the essence of ruling out pre-existing conditions) So you might expect urinary problems, but what about a fight with another dog or swallowing a rock or pneumonia or cancer or a persistent ear infection ....
posted by metahawk at 11:38 AM on December 5, 2022 [5 favorites]

Doesn't directly answer your question, but if you're looking to save money on vet related stuff, consider getting your meds elsewhere, as long as you know for certain what's needed.

For instance, I get my flea/tick meds from Sierra Pet Meds in Australia for 1/2 to a 2/3rds cheaper than my local vet's pricing. Same exact meds from the same manufacturer. Note that shipping can take 6 weeks so order accordingly.
posted by dobbs at 11:53 AM on December 5, 2022 [3 favorites]

I don't really expect to have many more medical issues with him

BUt you know shit happens, and that health insurance is the responsible way to plan accordingly
posted by BadgerDoctor at 12:23 PM on December 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

Best answer: When I looked into pet insurance, I concluded that it probably doesn't make sense just as a way of saving money on pet care. You will most likely pay more with insurance than you will just by paying whatever vet bills come up. The advantage of insurance is that the costs are more predictable. You pay smaller amounts more often and (if your dog's treatment is something that's covered) you'll never have to pay a really huge amount all at once. If finances are tight enough for you that a bill of $1000 or more would be impossible for you to pay but you could manage the monthly cost of insurance, then insurance might make sense. If you could manage to pay for any care needed, but would just rather not be hit with a huge bill, you're probably better off not getting insurance.
posted by Redstart at 1:14 PM on December 5, 2022 [4 favorites]

I use Nationwide, premium is deducted from my paychecks. I have found it well worth it. My dog developed cancer a couple years ago, and insurance has paid 1/2 of all his treatments. He's still happy and healthy two years later. I have it for my younger dog too. It's really helpful when they get into something or have an accident and need emergency care. I have paid less in premiums than I have received in reimbursement.
posted by mareliz at 1:41 PM on December 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

I think it's worth it for the first year since you just don't know the dog or their health or their behavior (like sock-eating) that well yet. Plus, if you start when they're new to you, you don't have to worry as much about things being considered pre-existing. After the first year, if you've got the savings or access to credit, you could consider self-insuring (that's what I do) as the math would on average come out ahead. But I do think it's worth it for that initial period at least.
posted by mosst at 2:11 PM on December 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

You pay smaller amounts more often and (if your dog's treatment is something that's covered) you'll never have to pay a really huge amount all at once. If finances are tight enough for you that a bill of $1000 or more would be impossible for you to pay but you could manage the monthly cost of insurance, then insurance might make sense. If you could manage to pay for any care needed, but would just rather not be hit with a huge bill, you're probably better off not getting insurance.

Just be aware that "a huge bill" could be north of $30K for a year's cancer treatment in a major city.

As Metahawk said, pet insurance reduces (not eliminates) the odds your pet's medical treatment ends up driven by costs.
posted by praemunire at 5:46 PM on December 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

Evaluating and comparing pet insurance is really hard.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-pet-insurance/
posted by Dansaman at 12:06 AM on December 6, 2022

Trupanion is real insurance, not just a wellness plan. There is no cap on benefits so they pay everything after you meet your deductible.

We have it and it has been hassle free to file claims and get reimbursed.
posted by Jacqueline at 4:07 AM on December 6, 2022