Looking at pet insurance
So far this year, Kale has cost us somewhere over $2500 in non-routine vet fees. He's only a year and a half old. The gamble is whether he will be healthy from now on, or if there are likely to be more non-routine vet visits in his future.
They do not cover pre-existing conditions - however, his urinary tract blockage is fixed and his diet has changed and the vet right now would not predict a repeat, so I do not think this can be considered a pre-existing condition. Perhaps if it happens a few more time they could declare it chronic, but so far it's a one-time illness. (They do actually require the pet's medical history.)
I got quotes online from four of the more popular, higher rated plans: Petplan, Embrace, PurinaCare and Trupanion. Petplan's quotes beat the others by a mile, with both the lowest price and the lowest deductibles. Their cheapest plan covers all non-routine and non-cosmetic medical care for non-pre-existing conditions. $140 annually (for just one cat) with a $200 deductible and 80% coverage and max reimbursement of $8000 per year. The others all wanted at least $13 per month ($156) for a $500 deductible and 80% coverage. Then there are plenty more plans that cost more and cover everything under the sun, but I'm not even considering any of those.
So here's the question: If Kale were your cat, would you pay $140 a year for 80% coverage and a $200 deductible? If we had the insurance two weeks ago, they would currently be writing us a reimbursement check for $1500.
They do not cover pre-existing conditions - however, his urinary tract blockage is fixed and his diet has changed and the vet right now would not predict a repeat, so I do not think this can be considered a pre-existing condition. Perhaps if it happens a few more time they could declare it chronic, but so far it's a one-time illness. (They do actually require the pet's medical history.)
I got quotes online from four of the more popular, higher rated plans: Petplan, Embrace, PurinaCare and Trupanion. Petplan's quotes beat the others by a mile, with both the lowest price and the lowest deductibles. Their cheapest plan covers all non-routine and non-cosmetic medical care for non-pre-existing conditions. $140 annually (for just one cat) with a $200 deductible and 80% coverage and max reimbursement of $8000 per year. The others all wanted at least $13 per month ($156) for a $500 deductible and 80% coverage. Then there are plenty more plans that cost more and cover everything under the sun, but I'm not even considering any of those.
So here's the question: If Kale were your cat, would you pay $140 a year for 80% coverage and a $200 deductible? If we had the insurance two weeks ago, they would currently be writing us a reimbursement check for $1500.