Anyone use PetPlan or VIP? will we no longer be covered?

[Neko]

Not sure if anyone seen my previous posts, but my new pup has a missing toe due to birth or early injury and also giardia infection.

After reading insurance review, it sounds like we will not get covered for giardia because it will be pre-existing and also will not have any coverage for his foot when surgery is needed down the road because that will be pre-exisitng as well? Since we don't know much about the toe injury we don't know if its a birth defect or early injury.

I wish I got the insurance before our first trip to the vet, I feel like I am now screwed =(

Could anyone land any feedback or experience with such issue?

[Mary Beth]

That is too bad about your pup. I do agree with you that it is best to get the insurance right away. I have VPI and I am pleased with it but I knew it didn't cover pre-existing conditions before I bought it. Your situation isn't clear and you may able to contest it. You may also want to look into other policies that would cover your pup's condition.

[Cheyanna]

Fiona had a pre existing condition, tonsillitis, when I bought Vpi. They only excluded it for 6 months. Call and ask them.


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[kr16]

It may not be pre existing, if it was never diagnosed by a professional vet. How were you supposed to know, call petplan and ask them. Not sure how they will answer it, good luck. Call them and just ask them the general question as you are a new dog owner considering getting insurance. Dont call VPI they probably do not pay for it no matter what anyhow.

All you VPI owners please read what I wrote up about them. Your taking a risk if you do not know what their schedule of benefits covers and does not cover. Also what they pay per condition and what they do not pay. I have written a few things on this forum with examples.

Here is what is in your contract and policy. Please read the whole thing and if you need it explained pm me.

http://www.petinsurance.com/images/V...%20Pkt_NCC.pdf

[kr16]

Originally Posted by Cheyanna

Fiona had a pre existing condition, tonsillitis, when I bought Vpi. They only excluded it for 6 months. Call and ask them.


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What did the tonsillitis cost to take care of? Did they do surgery?

[Neko]

Kr16, I believe I have seen your post! and ruled our a few insurances after research. I am looking at healthy paws and petplan now. I would love your opinion and I will look at the post again. I have been researching, but its such a headache being a first time pet owner, well kinda. Now it's "my dog" type of thing. My family/parents had pets but in another country so this is all new.

Besides the two current things with my pup, I am not too concerned about hereditary problems. We did our research before getting him and he comes from a great set of parents =) Actually an amazing pedigree.
I would like to have some sort of coverage, but not sure where to start. I was going to do banfield wellness, but was not happy with our location =( you can almost never see the vet... and the vet we found we like allot!

[Heidigsd]

I was going to do banfield wellness, but was not happy with our location =( you can almost never see the vet... and the vet we found we like allot!

I don't have any first hand experience with Banfield but from what I heard it's not very good. I was talking to a lady not too long who had it and she had to put her toy breed puppy down because it broke it's leg and it wasn't covered. The surgery was going to be $4,000 and she couldn't afford it

Michaela

[kr16]

Originally Posted by Neko

Kr16, I believe I have seen your post! and ruled our a few insurances after research. I am looking at healthy paws and petplan now. I would love your opinion and I will look at the post again. I have been researching, but its such a headache being a first time pet owner, well kinda. Now it's "my dog" type of thing. My family/parents had pets but in another country so this is all new.

Besides the two current things with my pup, I am not too concerned about hereditary problems. We did our research before getting him and he comes from a great set of parents =) Actually an amazing pedigree.
I would like to have some sort of coverage, but not sure where to start. I was going to do banfield wellness, but was not happy with our location =( you can almost never see the vet... and the vet we found we like allot!

I wrote this up about healthy paws last time. I never did get their contract to rip it apart. But im so into petplan I wouldn't consider anyone else

Healthy Paws

So far this plan looks good, very small amount of exclusions. The deductible is calendar year, that's good also. Prices are in line with others. I really need to see the declaration page since it is part of the contract without that I cannot give a thumbs up or down. But by what I see so far I like it.
This is an important piece to this policy, "the declarations page". This is no where to be found on their website. This may have maximums per sickness, no idea until I see this. Also the hips are something it reads they do not want to cover although they say they will. No one should consider this if the dogs over 6 years old. Also working dogs need not to apply.

Do you limit claims annually or per incident?
One of the many benefits of our plan includes no annual or per incident limits to your claims. This is especially important for those unexpected, serious conditions like cancer or kidney failure

LIFETIME LIMIT
: The maximum amount you may claim while coverage is in force with respect to any one pet

for
veterinary treatment over the lifetime of that pet. The Lifetime Limit is shown on the declarations page.

Subject to the maximum lifetime limit, there are no limits per claim or per year.


15 day waiting period

Illness
related to hip dysplasia that occurs or recurs within the first twelve (12) months following the pet policy

effective date

LIMITATIONS
a. A
pet less than six (6) years of age on the date of enrollment must have undergone a complete clinical
examination. The exam must have taken place either in the twelve (12) months prior to the pet’s policy
effective date, or within fifteen (15) days following the pet’s policy effective date. A pet six (6) years of age
or greater on the date of enrollment must have undergone a complete clinical examination. The exam must
take place either within thirty (30) days prior to the pet’s policy effective date, or within fifteen (15) days
following the pet’s policy effective date. Your failure to submit your pet to a complete clinical examination

may void the policy. If the policy is voided, the policy premium will be refunded.
b. For a
pet less than (6) years of age on the date of enrollment, no coverage shall apply for illness related to
hip dysplasia, unless the pet has undergone a complete physical hip exam as required by us within twelve
(12) months following the pet’s policy effective date.
c. For pets six (6) years of age or greater on the date of enrollment, no coverage shall apply for illness related
to hip dysplasia.
d. For working pets, no coverage shall apply for any condition resulting from activities related to racing,

breeding, law enforcement, guarding or for any commercial use.

[mego]

I was really sad because we were about to get pet insurance and Lara got one ear infection, then ALL the insurance companies pretty much listed that as preexisting and so if she ever even developed allergies they said it may be related so its not covered. ugh.

[kr16]

Originally Posted by mego

I was really sad because we were about to get pet insurance and Lara got one ear infection, then ALL the insurance companies pretty much listed that as preexisting and so if she ever even developed allergies they said it may be related so its not covered. ugh.

Not sure which company told you that but that's an ear infection and those are not what pre existing conditions apply for usually. Thats a low cost item that wouldn't meet your deductible anyhow. An ear infection has nothing to do with allergies. Its all how you vet writes up the chart. Your vet needs to be on board with this its to their benefit.

Here is what petplan states on their faq sheet


At Petplan, we recognize there are two types of pre-existing conditions: those which can be cured, and those which cannot be cured. Some examples of a curable condition include, but are not limited to: respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, vomiting, diarrhea and bladder infections. If your pet has experienced a curable condition previous to enrolling in a Petplan pet insurance policy, the condition, while pre-existing, may be eligible for coverage after an exclusionary period. Providing your pet’s medical history shows no further episodes of the condition subsequent to the initial episode, coverage for the condition may be restored