Your Pet Insurance Guide

Plan Ahead To Pay For Your Pet's Healthcare

Perhaps the two most disheartening things I saw in my 42 years of practicing small animal medicine and surgery were: pets suffering from something that was entirely preventable clients who were financially unprepared to pay for the care needed to treat their seriously ill pet and had to opt for less than ideal diagnostics and treatment - often leading to deterioration of the pet's condition, and sadly, sometimes even euthanasia. They hadn't planned ahead. Preventing costly accidents and illnesses is without a doubt the best way to save money on your pet's healthcare. The absolute best resources I've ever seen... Read more →

Does Pet Insurance Really Provide Peace Of Mind?

"Pet insurance provides pet owners peace of mind when it comes to paying unexpected and expensive veterinary bills." It's an often quoted statement (or something similar) the pet pet insurance industry uses when promoting their product. Here is just one example of many I found from Avery Insurance's website: "Pet insurance is an easy way to protect your pet’s health and help mitigate the stress of expensive bills and allows those who haven’t had the time to ramp up their savings to get their pet on the road to recovery. And it provides you with peace of mind in the... Read more →

Which Pet Insurance Company Is The Best?

Because I have a blog and podcast focused on pet insurance, the most frequent question people ask me is, "Which pet insurance company is the best?" When I go to veterinary meetings, I'm asked the same question by veterinarians curious about which pet insurance company they should recommend to their clients. In reality, that's the wrong question to ask. There isn't a "best" company for everybody. Pet Owners Pet owners should choose the company that matches the priorities they have set for themselves and their pet because whether they realize it or not, they are unique. Each pet owner has... Read more →

Customer Service Matters When Purchasing Pet Insurance

Truth be known - the most frustrating thing about doing business with a company is usually the little things. Those recurring annoyances that drive you crazy until you've finally had enough and you find an alternative. This has always been the case, but I think the recent Coronavirus pandemic magnified the problem. Some companies thrived during the pandemic and are still thriving. It's a given that successful companies in any industry have a good product. After that, I believe customer service is what elevates some companies above their competitors. Some companies prioritize customer service and it is integral to their... Read more →

Top 3 Pet Insurance Complaints From Consumers

I have been perusing one of the top-rated pet insurance review websites the past couple of days concentrating on negative reviews across the whole spectrum of companies. There were 3 complaints that seemed to be occurring over and over. Top 3 Complaints 1) Claims being denied because of a pre-existing condition. 2) Premiums increasing dramatically since policy was bought. 3) Reimbursement delays after a claim is filed. Based on the evolution of the pet insurance industry during the last decade, I could have easily predicted at least the first 2 complaints. All is not lost, however, because there are steps... Read more →

Why Pet Insurance Is Worth It

I recently published a podcast episode interview with a pet parent who over the past 20 years, has insured 4 dogs as puppies and 1 rescue at the age of 9 yrs. old. She’s been reimbursed over $70,000 in claims for all her dogs to date. She makes a compelling case for why pet insurance is worth it. She also offers some great advice for both those considering insuring their pet and those who already have pet insurance. Read more →

Pet Insurance 2021 - 3 Takeaways From NAPHIA's State Of The Industry Report

I recently received a summary of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) 2021 State of the Industry Report. Below are some notable stats for the United States: The pet insurance industry has grown at an annual rate of 24.2% over the past 5 years. The average monthly premium is $49.92 ($599.03 annually) for dogs The average monthly premium is $28.44 ($341.35 annually) for cats 82.9% of insured pets are dogs 17.1% of insured pets are cats There were 76.3 million cats and 75.8 million dogs owned in the U.S. in 2020 There are 3.1 million insured pets in... Read more →

3 Tips For Customizing A Pet Insurance Policy To Stay Within Your Budget And Minimize Out-of-Pocket Expense

When customizing a pet insurance policy, it's very important to know which variables have the biggest impact on your premium and which variables have the biggest impact on your out-of-pocket expenses (premium included). Pet insurance companies allow you to customize your policy primarily by allowing you to choose among several annual maximums, deductibles or reimbursement percentages. Some companies allow you to customize only one of these variables and some companies allow you customize all 3 of these variables. I’m using Embrace pet insurance company to illustrate this. Embrace allows you to customize all 3 variables. I’m also using a claim... Read more →

Pet Insurance Tip: Exam Fee Coverage

Some pet insurance companies include coverage for consultation/examination fees in their policy. Others make it optional coverage you can include when getting a quote. A few just don't cover exam fees. I've had pet owners ask me, "Why wouldn't this be covered because a vet has to exam my pet to find out what's wrong and treat it?" A subtle reason (I suspect) some companies don't cover this or make it optional is to deter you from taking your pet to the vet for relatively minor ailments to decrease the number of claims filed. There are several reason you might... Read more →

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 →

How To Know What Information Is Reliable When Pet Insurance Companies Compare Themselves With Others

You've probably seen comparison tools or tables on company websites where they compare themselves with the competition. Have you ever wondered if you could rely on the information presented? Watch this brief video as I explain what information is potentially valuable and when you should use caution in interpreting the information provided. (Watch full screen if you can). Comparison tables on pet insurance company websites from Doug Kenney on Vimeo. Here's a link to the Trustedpals website and the Pet Insurance Toolkit. Read more →

How Important Are Reviews When Considering Pet Insurance?

I don't usually buy anything of significance without reading some reviews and I don't think I'm unique as a consumer. When purchasing a "product," I believe you can place more significance on consumer reviews that detail how the product actually performed compared to the claims of the company who manufactured it. If the consumer also comments on the customer service they received from the manufacturer when a problem arose, that's a bonus. In my opinion, purchasing pet insurance demands a different approach. Technically, the "pet insurance policy" (terms and conditions) is a pet insurance company's "product." But reviews are usually... Read more →

Beware Of This New Trend (Tactic) By Pet Insurance Companies

Pet insurance companies are required to file a copy of the rates (premiums) and terms and conditions (what the policy covers and doesn't cover, what the pet owner is required or allowed to do and what the insurance company is required or allowed to do) with each state's Department of Insurance. I've already published several in-depth articles and podcasts (links below) dealing with the problem of policyholders getting hit with significant and unexpected premium increases when their policy renews. This article deals with changes in the terms and conditions when a policy renews. A company may make global changes to... Read more →

Make Sure Your Pet Insurance Policy Covers Alternative/Rehabilitation Therapy

The field of alternative/rehabilitation therapy in veterinary medicine is evolving. Veterinarians now have an option to specialize in this field. Consequently, more and more pet insurance companies are covering alternative/rehabilation therapy. I believe this is an important coverage to include in your pet insurance policy. Some companies broadly define alternative/rehabilitative therapy as "treatment that does not generally fall within the realm of conventional veterinary medicine as used by the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV)." 1 Other companies may limit which of these therapies will be covered. Look at a sample policy to determine exactly what alternative/rehabilitation treatments a company... Read more →

How To Evaluate A Pet Insurance Policy

Perhaps the most important step to take before purchasing pet insurance is to read and understand a company's policy. Understanding what you read is critical. I recommend that you download and print the sample policy, highlight any sections/clauses that you have questions about and then call and talk with a company representative for clarification on these concerns. In my experience talking with pet owners, most of them fail to do this, and therefore, don't really understand what they are purchasing. More often than not, this leads to surprises and regrets down the road when they file claims that are denied... Read more →

Eusoh - An Alternative To Pet Insurance

I recently discovered perhaps the only alternative to pet insurance that I think I can get behind. Why? It is based on a model similar to Medishare - an alternative to human health insurance. I have family members and friends who use Medishare and it has proven useful to help them with their medical bills. It is generally much less expensive than human health insurance. From what I know at this time, it appears that Eusoh is generally less expensive than pet insurance. I am planning a podcast interview with representatives of Eusoh soon to get more details. From a... Read more →

Research More Important Than Ever Before Choosing A Pet Insurance Company To Insure Your Pet

I have been in favor of pet owners considering pet insurance as a way to help them pay for their pet's unexpected healthcare expenses that they cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket. However, in the past year or so, I have had several readers of this blog contact me about disturbing trends in the industry. It has only served to reinforce my long-held belief that pet owners simply must do their own careful research before purchasing a pet insurance policy. That's why I created the Pet Insurance Toolkit to guide them through this process. What's Changed Premiums have soared, particularly for... Read more →

Veterinarians Should Avoid This "Gotcha" When Buying Pet Insurance For Their Pets

Veterinarians should be aware of an exclusion included in the policies of several pet insurers in the United States because it affects them specifically. Some insurers won't reimburse a claim made by a veterinarian whose pet is insured if the veterinarian diagnoses and treats the pet himself or herself. This first came to my attention a decade ago when a veterinarian posted what happened to her on a veterinary community message board (VIN - Veterinary Information Network). Her pet was insured by Pets Best which denied a claim when she had treated her own pet for an illness. Needless to... Read more →

Maximize Your Pet Healthcare Dollars With Pet Insurance

A pet insurance policy can help you stretch the dollars you can afford to spend out-of-pocket on your pet's healthcare. The following calculations are assuming the condition that is treated is covered by the insurance policy. Let's say you can afford to spend $100/mo. or $1200 annually out-of-pocket on pet healthcare (with or without pet insurance) and you have a new Beagle puppy. The premium in Memphis, Tn. (where I live) is $37.15/mo or $445 annually for a policy with a $250 deductible, 90% reimbursement and unlimited annual coverage at Petsbest. I'll include the cost of the premium in the... Read more →

Best Way To Submit Pet Insurance Claims

Ideally, you or your veterinarian should receive reimbursement after submitting a pet insurance claim within a few days. Hopefully, in the future, it can be a real time transaction. In this article, I will provide tips to avoid delayed reimbursement after claim submission. This topic is also covered in my book, Pet Health Insurance:A Veterinarian's Perspective. Read your policy and/or the company's website for specific instructions on what the company requires to process a claim. If you have any questions about the requirements, call the company to clarify. Most companies require a claim to be filed within a certain period... Read more →

What's In Your Pet's Medical Record - Why It Matters When Purchasing Pet Insurance

Perhaps the most frequent reason pet insurance companies deny reimbursement for treatment is because they determine that the condition was pre-existing when you purchased the policy. Your pet's medical record is the primary way a pet insurance company determines what conditions are pre-existing. As many of you know, I recommend asking the company that you choose to insure your pet to do a medical record review for a detailed look at your pet's past health history. This should be done after buying a policy and after the required waiting period for coverage to take effect, but within the first 30... Read more →

Top 3 Dog and Cat Claims of 5 Pet Insurance Companies in 2018

I find it interesting that the top claims from 5 different companies were so similar. While pet insurance can sure come in handy for those acute, unexpected and sometimes expensive conditions, one of the main benefits I've seen is coverage for chronic conditions. These can often be treated giving the pet a good quality of life for many years, but will cost thousands of dollars to treat over the lifetime of the pet. It's easy to underestimate what these costs can be. Read more →

How To Prevent Economic Euthanasia

Today's post is a chapter from my book, "Pet Health Insurance: A Veterinarian's Perspective." It is the shortest chapter in the book, but has a link to audio clips that add perspective to the topic. You can obtain the book here or the kindle version here. The topic: economic euthanasia - an unfortunate consequence of not knowing the reality of costs often required to save a seriously injured or ill pet and/or not having a plan in place to pay for the costs should they occur. Putting An End To Economic Euthanasia While grocery shopping with his wife, Dr. Jack... Read more →

Have A Plan For Your Pet's Healthcare Expenses

What You Need To Know: Having one or more pets is a huge responsibility and this includes having a plan in place to pay for your pet's healthcare. Your pet's life just might depend on it. As a veterinarian, I see clients everyday who apparently haven't given this much thought until their pet suffers an unexpected and expensive accident or illness and they realize they aren't financially prepared to handle it. My friend, Dr. Jason Nicholas (The Preventive Vet), sums it up this way: Dr. Nicholas has a website dedicated to helping pet owners be aware of potential dangers to... Read more →

Pet Insurance Policy Tip - Waiting Periods

What You Need To Know Every pet insurance policy has one or more waiting periods. This is a length of time between when you sign up for a policy and coverage actually begins. Generally, the purpose of a waiting period is to prevent someone from noticing that their pet is sick, buying insurance, then taking the pet to the vet for treatment so that it will be covered. Any symptoms of illness noticed by a pet owner or treatment of an injury or illness by a veterinarian before you sign up for a pet insurance policy or that occurs during... Read more →

Pet Insurance - Direct Pay To Vet

Imagine taking your cat or dog to the veterinarian for an emergency or serious illness and the tests and treatment runs into the thousands of dollars. Would you be able to pay for the care needed to save their life or restore them back to health? What if you only had to pay a deductible and/or copay and the insurance company paid the rest of the bill directly to the vet rather than you paying the full cost up front to the vet and then seeking reimbursement from the insurance company? Which would you prefer? Pet insurance has traditionally been... Read more →

Research Is Essential When Purchasing Pet Insurance

I recently found the following review about a product I was researching on Amazon: "Honestly, of the negative reviews I've read about this particular item, most of the people who are unhappy didn't do enough research first. You should judge an item by what it advertises it does. So far this has done everything it's said it would for me. I couldn't be happier. I think if you've done your research and this item has the features you have been looking for, you'll be super excited with it, like me." I have often said almost the exact same words when... Read more →

Should You Add Wellness Care Coverage To Your Pet Insurance Policy?

Because wellness care is essential to keeping a pet happy and healthy and it is an expected expense every year, I’ve found that more and more pet owners are expressing an interest in purchasing wellness coverage along with their pet insurance. Laura Bennett, former CEO of Embrace, explains why they decided to start offering wellness coverage as an option several years ago: dkvet · Laura Bennett on Wellness Coverage Currently, wellness care benefits offered by pet insurance company come in 3 different designs: 1) Benefit schedule Companies have a list of items that they consider wellness care and a specific... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim By Month - March - Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD)

Petplan's most common claim for the month of March 2016 was for Intervertebral Disk Disease. Most people associate this problem with the Dachshund breed, but IVDD can occur in many canine breeds and less frequently in cats. Source: Press Release I'm going to point you to a webpage that does a good job explaining the different types of IVDD with illustrations and how it is diagnosed and treated - both medically and surgically. Next, watch this video as a neurologist talks about IVDD: It is important to read a sample policy when doing your research before purchasing pet insurance for... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim by Month - February - Periodontal Disease

Petplan's most common claim for the month of February 2016 was for Periodontal Disease. Most people probably aren't aware that studies have shown that periodontal is present in 70-80 percent of dogs and cats by 3 years of age unless steps are taken to prevent it. Source: Press Release What is Periodontal Disease? The periodontium is comprised of tissues that support the tooth - the gingiva (gums), cementum (connective tissue that covers tooth root), alveolar bone (socket), and periodontal ligament (fibers that attach the tooth to the alveolar bone). So, how does periodontal disease develop and what are the potential... Read more →

Pet Health Insurance Tales

Found an interesting article on a TV station's website presenting comments from pet owners about their experiences with pet insurance. I found the comments very representative of what I've heard over the years. It reinforces that each person's situation is different and I hope will spur you to consider whether or not you should consider purchasing pet insurance if you don't have it. Feel free to comment about your own personal experience with pet insurance. Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim By Month - January - Cruciate Ligament Injury

Petplan's most common claim during the month of January in 2016 was anterior cruciate disease in dogs. I often explain this injury to owners by mentioning similar injuries to athletes which they are familiar with. Source: Press Release Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are commonly seen in middle-aged to older large breed dogs although they can occur in any breed. A veterinary surgeon once told me that a hindlimb lameness in a middle-aged to older dog is a torn cruciate until proven otherwise. The ligament weakens with age due to degenerative changes making it more susceptible to injury. Young dogs can... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim by Month - December - Allergies

December's most common Petplan claim for 2016 was allergies. This was surprising to me because the most common allergies I see in practice are due to atopy and are usually more common during pollen season (spring, summer, and fall). Source: Press Release Most allergies manifest themselves by inflammation of the skin, ears or gastrointestinal tract. This usually manifests itself with itchy skin or ears or gastrointestinal symptoms. In fact, itchy skin/ears is a more common manifestation of food allergies than GI signs. The good news is that there are new treatments for itchy skin that are very effective with fewer... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim by Month - November - GI Diseases

We are continuing the series on Petplan's most common claim by month from my perspective as a practicing veterinarian. Source: Press Release Perhaps the most common illness I see is some sort of acute or chronic gastrointestinal (GI) disorder - either vomiting or diarrhea. Fortunately, most cases are treated successfully with symptomatic therapy. Most of the time we don't know what caused such illnesses. Acute cases can be mild (out-patient treatment) or severe requiring hospitalization with IV fluids and medications to treat the symptoms. While gastrointestinal signs can occur secondary to disorders of other organs e.g. the liver, pancreas, kidneys,... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claims by Month - October - Ear Infections

We are continuing Petplan's most common claim by month in 2016. I also include some insight and tips from my perspective as a practicing veterinarian. Source: Press Release Hardly a day goes by that I don't see one or more dogs with ear infections. They are not common in cats. Otitis is actually inflammation of the ear pinna and/or canal. Infections are usually secondary to the inflammation. I tell clients that the top three underlying causes of ear infections in dogs are allergies, allergies, and allergies. This may be food allergy (usually the protein source in the food) or environmental... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim By Month - September - Pancreatic Diseases

Petplan Pet Insurance Company looked at 2016 claims data to determine the most common condition for which claims were submitted by month. For September, it was pancreatic diseases in dogs and cats. Source: Press Release Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency This syndrome is caused by a lack of digestive enzymes being secreted by the pancreas. This can occur in young animals and it is suspected that it may be inherited particularly German Shepherd dogs. The disease can also occur later in life secondary to repeated bouts of pancreatitis that destroys the cells that secrete these enzymes. Because the food eaten by the... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim by Month - August - Heart Disease

I am continuing the series highlighting the most common pet insurance claim by month by Petplan pet insurance company and giving my perspective as a veterinarian. This month's focus is on heart disease. Source: Press Release The most common heart disease in cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It is usually seen in middle-aged cats, but can also occur in very young or older cats. Some cats with cardiomyopathy have a heart murmur or an arrhythmia. Cardiomyopathy in cats is usually diagnosed with an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Anytime I hear a new murmur in a cat, I recommend an echocardiogram... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim By Month - July - Fractures

The focus this month is on fractures in our continuing series of Petplan's most common claim by month. Source: Press Release Pet insurance companies usually offer "accident only" policies which would cover fractures. These policies are inexpensive and cover a list of conditions the company considers "accidents." This list will often vary from company to company, so be sure and read a sample policy and/or call the company to be certain what conditions are covered by such a policy. Personally, I recommend getting an "accident and illness" policy that offers much broader coverage, but at a higher premium. Fractures are... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claim By Month - June - Cancer

This is part of a continuing series based on Petplan's statistics about the most common pet insurance claim by month of the year. This month the focus is on cancer which is one of the most common diagnoses in middle-aged to older pets. The diagnosis of cancer often brings up emotions of fear and dread whether in people or their pets. As you know, the earlier cancer is diagnosed, usually the better the prognosis. I find that there are some pet owners who are very perceptive of subtle changes in their pet's routines and know when things just "aren't right."... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claims By Month - May - Bite Wounds

Last month I started a series of post about Petplan's statistics of the most common claims submitted by policyholders by month. I decided to comment about each month's claim from my perspective as a veterinarian. Source: Press Release Bite wounds in both dogs and cats frequently become infected and require treatment by a veterinarian. In fact, it is best to have your pet examined as soon as you realize there are bite wounds present to try and prevent an infection that will require more extensive and expensive treatment. Injuries sustained when a dog fights with another dog or a wild... Read more →

Most Common Pet Insurance Claims By Month - April - Foreign Body Ingestion

I recently received a press release by Petplan Pet Insurance Company where they compiled a list of the most common claims that are filed for each month of the year. A comparison of multiple years would need to be done to determine if these stats are potentially significant or just an interesting tidbit. I have decided to use this list to write monthly about the condition that was the most common for that month and offer any tips I can to help prevent these problems or at least educate pet owners about the condition from my perspective as a veterinarian.... Read more →

Insights From Pet Insurance Cost of Care Report 2016

Healthy Paws pet insurance company recently published the 2016 Cost of Care Report that provides interesting insights for both pet owners and veterinarians. They analyzed over 200,000 claims from June 2015 to June 2016. The report focuses on the top 10 conditions for which claims were filed during this period for both dogs and cats and the impact that new diagnostic procedures and treatments are having on the cost of care for these conditions. I believe it is well worth your time to read this report. You can download it here. Read more →

Pet Insurance Helps Pay For New Treatments For Cancer In Pets

Cancer, as in people, is one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions in pets - especially in dogs. Although cancer isn't as common in cats as in dogs, cancers in cats are often malignant. Treatment of cancer in pets often includes one or more of the following - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy (vaccines). Some of the newer techniques like Cyberknife radiation treatment and vaccines for certain types of cancer are making the treatment of cancer more tolerable, prolonging pet's lives and improving their quality of life. I have a patient that has oral malignant melanoma. His owners rejected... Read more →

3 Common Frustrations People Have With Pet Insurance And How To Avoid Them

Most people who purchase pet insurance have positive experiences. Some even describe their experience as amazing! But, after looking at some negative reviews that policyholders have given companies, I found at least 3 themes that should be addressed. And these negative reviews were for companies that overall rated very high with the vast majority of policyholders. Here are 3 common frustrations policyholders had when dealing with the company they had chosen to insure their pet and how you can avoid them: 1) Premium increases. Expect your premium to increase at least a little every year. Consider yourself pleasantly surprised when... Read more →

Two Reasons You Should Buy Pet Insurance For Your Pet

Healthcare expenses for pets fall into two categories: 1) Wellness care - these can be planned for and scheduled. 2) Accidents and illnesses - these are unexpected and often expensive Although some pet insurance companies offer wellness care coverage, usually as an add-on rider to their accident and illness policy, the main reason to purchase health insurance for your pet is to cover the unexpected and potentially expensive events that happen. So, let's look at the two categories of the unforeseen and expensive accidents and illnesses: 1) Acute problems - watch these videos: One thing to note about this story... Read more →

My Visit To Veterinary Pet Insurance And What I Learned That May Help You

Dr. Carol McConnell, Chief Veterinary Medical Officer / Vice President and Scott Liles, President Although I've corresponded with Dr. Carol McConnell via email numerous times and had her as a guest on a podcast episode, I finally got to meet her in person last year at the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) meeting in Nashville, TN. We had lunch together and she invited me to visit Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). Earlier this month, my wife and I visited our daughter who lives in Los Angeles and I took advantage of being in the area and visited VPI which is located... Read more →

2 Simple Questions That Will Help You Decide If Pet Insurance Makes Sense For You

There have been many articles published debating the merits of pet insurance. Whether to purchase pet insurance is, however, a very personal one. Every day, veterinarians see seriously ill or injured pets that will require hospitalization and/or surgery costing thousands of dollars to have the best chance for a successful outcome. Often, pet owners struggle with the decision of whether to go forward with treatment, or sadly, euthanize the pet. Finances aren't always the only consideration. Sometimes the long-term prognosis and expected quality of life factor into the decision. This is when you should rely on your veterinarian's expertise and... Read more →

Top 10 North American Pet Insurance Claims of 2013

The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) just released the Top 10 Claims list of 2013 gathered from proprietary data in its State of the Industry Benchmarking Report. Dogs: $40,606 Hip Dysplasia - 3-year-old female Border Collie Cross $36,485 Pleural Effusion (build-up of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura outside the lung) - 1-year-old male Rottweiler $29,173 Insulinoma; Post-Op Pancreatitis / Biliary Obstruction - 7-year-old male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier $27,142 Toxic Myelodysplasia (serious blood condition) - 8-year-old female Beagle $25,442 Spay Complication / Systemic Infection - 1-year-old female mixed breed Cats: $17,685 Inflammatory Bowel Disease -... Read more →

A Industry Insider's Viewpoint On Rising Pet Insurance Premiums And What Can Be Done About It

In my last post, I discussed an article by a pet owner who received her pet insurance renewal letter and discovered the premium was increasing 52%! I ended the post asking this question, "What strategies can pet insurance companies put in place to greatly reduce the need to increase premiums dramatically at one time or is it simply unavoidable from time to time?" I've called on Dr. Jack Stephens, the veterinarian who founded the first successful pet insurance company in the United States (VPI) in 1982 and a second company (Pets Best) in 2005, to answer that question. In this... Read more →

Yikes! My Pet Insurance Premium Went Up 50% - Why And What To Do?

Laura Bennett, the CoFounder and CEO of Embrace pet insurance company recently posted a link to an article written by a pet owner who received her pet insurance renewal letter and discovered the premium was increasing by 52%! This article is perhaps the most well thought-out response to the issue of increasing pet insurance premiums I've ever seen. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by both the veterinary community and the pet insurance industry. The fact is, several companies have raised premiums at rates similar to those cited in this article. If not addressed, pet insurance may... Read more →