Your Pet Insurance Guide

Watch Out For This When Getting A Pet Insurance Quote

I get a lot of quotes as part of doing research for my blog, books, and podcast. I've noticed that companies don't always present all the options available on their quote page. Why wouldn't they want potential policyholders to know all they have to offer them? I'll explain what I think is going on, but first let's look at some examples of what I'm referring to. Nationwide: Here is a quote on a puppy: What they initially showed me was their Major Medical policies with and without wellness care benefits. These policies reimburse according to a defined benefit schedule rather... Read more →

Pets Best Expands Coverage of Hereditary and Congenital Conditions

Pets Best pet insurance company recently announced that it's Best Benefit policies now cover hereditary and congenital conditions up to the full annual maximum. Previously, coverage was limited for hereditary conditions and congenital conditions were not covered. The changes may not yet be approved and available in all 50 states. You can check coverage in your state here. There are 7 conditions that have a 1-year waiting period - cruciate ligament injury, porto-systemic shunt, cardiovascular defect, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochrititis dissecans (OCD). You can have this waiting period reduced to the normal 3 days for accidents... Read more →

Pets Best Pet Insurance: Claims Paid

The Pets Best Insurance Blog recently did a series of articles on common toxins that affect pets. It's worth the read if only to make you aware of potential toxins that you probably have in and around your home so you can take steps to make sure your pet doesn't have access to them. Otherwise, you could face a rather expensive trip to your veterinarian or an emergency clinic for treatment of a preventable and potentially life-threatening condition. At the end of each article, several examples of actual claims that Pets Best paid for the treatment of that particular toxicity... Read more →

Pets Best Offers Cancer Only Pet Insurance Policy

Here's an article announcing new cancer-only policies by Pets Best. Most people would be better served buying more comprehensive accident and illness coverages that also includes coverage for cancer. However when I interviewed Pets Best Founder and President Dr. Jack Stephens for a podcast episode, he alluded to their research that some pet owners were more concerned about cancer than any other illness their dog or cat might experience, so that's the reason for the cancer only policy. They are in the process of getting several new policies including the cancer-only policy approved in all 50 states, so all of... Read more →

Pets Best Offers "My Vet Knows Best" Discount

Pets Best is offering a 10% discount on any pet insurance policy upon enrollment and every year thereafter that a pet remains insured with the company. Known as the "My Vet Knows Best" program, it is offered by Pets Best's new underwriter American Independence Insurance Company. While it is available in many states already, it has to be approved state by state. Depending on the policy you select as well as your pet's breed and how long your pet is insured with a Pets Best policy, the savings could be $500 to $800 over the life of your pet. The... Read more →

Pet Insurance For Adopted Rescue Pets

Today’s article is a guest post by Donna Baker, the Education and Community Awareness Manager for the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (DVGRR). She is a subscriber to my blog and has adopted several older Golden Retrievers who were surrendered to their organization. She shares why she ultimately decided to purchase pet insurance and why she enthusiastically recommends pet insurance to all the new owners of pets adopted from DVGRR. With the continued economic downturn, DVGRR (like many other rescue groups) has seen an increase in dogs surrendered because they developed an expensive medical problem that their original families couldn’t... Read more →

How To Evaluate A Pet Insurance Policy

Hi, everyone. I just uploaded my latest video to my YouTube channel. Although a Pets Best policy is used in this video, the principles can be applied to any pet insurance company's policy. In every pet insurance policy regardless of the company, you'll find several things that you'll want to call the company for further explanation. Read more →

Pets Best Pet Insurance Announces Latest Winner In "My Vet's The Best Contest

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post on a similar contest sponsored by Trupanion pet insurance company. Pets Best is encouraging pet owners to nominate their veterinarian in the My Vet's The Best contest. The story detailing their latest quarterly winner demonstrates a special veterinarian who went above and beyond what was expected to care for one of his client's G. Dane. Read more →

Pets Best New Direct Deposit Program

I am posting a link to a press release by Pets Best about their new direct deposit program to speed up the filing of claims and reimbursement processes. I believe that other pet insurance companies have also implemented the ability to do this, but may not be as fully automated as Pets Best yet. It is worth asking your pet insurance company about this. Dr. Jack Stephens, the President of Pets Best says that he believes that this is the direction that pet insurance companies are headed. I think this is beneficial to pet owners and veterinarians alike. Read more →

Pet Insurance Allows Pet To Get Needed Surgery

This is an illustration how pet insurance is supposed to work. Pet needed expensive surgery. Because the pet's owner had pet insurance, she opted for the surgery paying for the bill with a credit card. The dog recovered and she got her reimbursement check from Pets Best insurance company before the credit card bill was due. The title to the article is a bit misleading. I don't think it means that the spinal problem would have been fatal to the dog, but that the pet owner may not have been able to afford the surgery if she didn't have pet... Read more →