Pet Insurance - Be careful!

[Elsa]

Someone posted about pet insurance earlier today; be very careful. I would not even recommend it! The "reputable" ones are good for routine maintenance - vaccinations and check-ups; not good for the unforseen, enormous vet bill that you buy it for(if they were good for that, heck! I would go for it!). In the municipality that I work for (dog licensing is one of the many regulations that we enforce) we are having a an untold number of problems with a pet store chain that offers "pet insurance" (organization shall remain nameless) due to the over-vaccinating that is happening. Unfortunately, most of the consumers affected are senior citizens who are trying to do the right thing. They get a notice to vaccinate their dog from these people EVERY YEAR (boosters are good for three years). Once they are at the vet getting the dog's "yearly" booster, other services, suspiciously not covered by insurance, are offered. At city hall this has been a chronic problem for quite some time and finally, a few locations of this company have straightened out. Just asking everyone to proceed with caution if you decide to go that route....

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-Elsa

Ruby- Flashy Fawn, Black Mask,Cropped, 5/1998

 

[Brenda]

Hi, Elsa! Actually we've never really looked into getting pet insurance but appreciate the heads-up for future reference. One question. Here, in Canada, our pets are innoculated every year. I don't know whether they receive the same medications, at the same dosages, as your pets but wondered why we must have them done every year. Does anyone else on the board know anything about this? Thanks!

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Brenda
Boxer Baby: Harley - born 12/27/98 - adopted 1/14/2000 - docked tail/natural ears/neutered - full of pee & vinegar!

 

[Elsa]

check with the manufacturer of the vaccine. The ones the States of California, Arizona and Nevada approve are all three-year boosters. Also, if your local branch of government requires licensing, check with them to see which ones are approved with them and how long the effectiveness lasts.

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-Elsa

Ruby- Flashy Fawn, Black Mask,Cropped, 5/1998

 

[anne]

Hi , in the uk dogs have boosters every year these are not covered by any insurance policy that I know of .Most people I know have not had problems with there insurance,the owner usually pays the first £50 towards treatment costs and then the insurance pays the rest up to either £4000 or £6000 depending on what policy you have.

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mum to-
cassie flashy fawn boxer girl born 6/7/2000 natural ears and docked tail.
Tess cross/border collie born sept 1984
Jake the cat born 3/26/85