[Rene & Jim]

Hi Melissa! The thing to remember is that everyone has a different financial situation so it’s not a one size fits all approach. I recommend checking out a book called The Pet Insurance Toolkit by Dr.Doug Kenney. He gives a lowdown on how to find the right company for your needs and includes a worksheet to help you research every company. His podcast is also helpful.

One helpful tip I learned from him is to ask if the company you are considering will do a medical record review of you dogs health history after you enroll. This will let you know what the company will consider preexisting and not cover. As of now only three companies do one, including the one I use which is Embrace.

[Ed]

We use Fetch, formally PetPlan. We put in claims and were reimbursed as expected. I got insurance for my dogs the day I got them. I presume the preconditions would not be covered, and thinks like elbows and hips have a grace period that may be waved if your vet attests that the dog has no issues. As is the case with all tru insurance you pay in a lot more than you use. The insurance is there in case you have a really major incident, or to give you the option to pursue treatment without trying to figure out where you are going to come up with the money to pay it. A surgery done by your local vet will probably amount to $1500 to $2000 including the initial visit, tests, the surgery itself and the medicine. A procedure that needs to be done at a medical center will likely be upwards of $5000. Prices will vary depending on the condition, where you live, etc. Pet insurance usually does not cover wellness visits, vaccinations, spaying, neutering, and other preventive stuff.