by Jennifer Wilson

Created on: April 21, 2009

Pet health insurance is a waste of money. If you truly believe you need this added expense you must take into account the pros and cons when getting and using pet health insurance. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Pros~

Discounts on pet shampoos, vitamins, some high priced pet foods, and yearly physicals

Cons~

Finding a participating vet that does not charge upfront billing and require you to file with you insurance company. Understanding what is covered, the 'cap' amount, out of pocket expenses coverage. Understanding how to file a claim and get the full amount of your refund, understanding billing codes and the mountain of forms.

My company offers pet insurance of a monthly fee through what I thought was a very reputable company. I paid almost thirty five dollars a month to cover a total of ten pets. I first checked with my vet to make sure they accepted this company's policy which they did and then purchased a policy that I thought would benefit all my pets. The first time I went to use it I saved almost six dollars off the total visit bill and believed this was a very good investment for the health of my pets as well as my budget. Three weeks later I got the first of many wonderful bills from the insurance company. Even thought my vet accepted the pet insurance policy and billed them directly, the company refused to pay on some of the med treatments and started using codes that explain what they would and would not cover. Then I received more bills explaining that since my vet used my cat's nick name Sammie instead of Sammy they could not pay the bill. A later bill indicated that due to two of my dogs being over tens old they would not cover the meds for joint and pain. After months of fighting with the insurance company, my bills went to collections. You have to understand, my vet still saw my pets even while we were both dealing with the insurance company.

I did some research online and found that health insurance on pets is not as closely monitored as human health insurance. When you sign up for a policy you have make sure every loop hole you can think of is covered. When I moved and had to take on a new vet I talked in great detail with them about taking insurance again. I was very surprised to learn that unless you are guaranteed coverage for an expensive surgery or medical treatments the costs to maintain a policy is many time greater than the possible future savings. The best advice my vet gave me was to get a copy of all the forms for a vet visit claim reimbursement. Then take some time and review all the parts of the form and get a better understanding of what kind of information they are looking for. Make sure your vet records match what the insurance company has on file. In talking with the vet I found some loop holes they had used on other pet owners. They helped me understand the safest and smartest way to file a claim to make sure the company cannot use some legal back handed way to get out of paying.

I also found that many vets including my own have payment plans available and pet clubs they support. The clubs are just like the vision plans at the eye doctor; you purchase a vet plan and save on the cost of future vet visits. You might even be able to find a plan that will allow you to put money aside of emergency visits. The best and only advices I give when it comes to pet health insurance is talk to your vet and find alternative payment methods. Do not spend money month after month only to find out that your pet is not covered. If you really want to do be smart, ask your vet if you can put that monthly payment toward an emergency vet visit.

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