What do you get the pup that has everything? “Health insurance,” she responded with zeal never before witnessed by her loved ones.

When I first became a doggie mommy, pet health insurance was not even a glint in the eye of some brilliant underwriter. Way back in the dark ages, we paid as we went in regards to veterinary care. Annual examinations, inoculations, heart worm medication, emergency care and all other medical treatments necessary to our furry friends’ well being required cash, credit cards or an advance agreement with the health care provider.

Today, Pogo proudly carries his VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) card right next to his Platinum Visa. He feels secure in the knowledge that should some unforeseen illness crop up, VPI covers all but the forty-dollar deductible per visit charge. In truth, I wish there was a comparable policy available for the two-legged critters in this household. The insurance company offers additional optional coverage for routine care, yearly booster shots, prescriptions and double benefits for cancer treatment at extremely reasonable rates.

I became familiar with the concept of pet health insurance while working at an Animal Emergency Clinic in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Members of our clinic staff met with a representative of one of the first pet health insurance agencies to offer comprehensive medical coverage for companion pets. It was an idea too long in the development stage. Witnessing the combined stress suffered by humans bringing in their traumatized pets; wanting the best care possible and wondering where the money will come from to pay for the life saving treatment is a nightmare.

Owners were often forced to make medical decisions for their pets based on the availability of funds instead of being able to come to a decision determined by what was best for their animal.

All too frequently, owners chose euthanasia rather than incur a substantial debt. The unexpected costs for emergency treatment and in many cases, the inevitable long-term care that follows, placed many families in the position of saying goodbye to a beloved pet. In too many cases, medicinal or surgical management may very well have been a viable option.

At the time I learned about the availability of pet health insurance, our little family was in the process of recovering from the loss of our precious Little Babe. She passed away suddenly with no signs of illness serving as a warning or permitting us the chance to prepare ourselves for the inevitable. Thanks to the generosity of my employers, our dogs always received the finest veterinary care at little or no cost. Had her heart condition required experimental or lengthy medical care, there would have been no question. That luxury was unavailable to most pet owners until the advent of Pet Health Insurance.

When Babe, Little Babe’s mother, was diagnosed with lymphoma and leukemia three years later, her medical expenses were covered with a comprehensive policy purchased from Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI). We were able to choose the necessary surgeries and chemotherapy without worry. Even Babe’s prescription medications, second opinions, radiology, blood and other lab work were covered. Our total out of pocket expense from initial diagnosis to the drugs necessary to make her last days comfortable came to three hundred dollars. We knew we had done everything humanly possible to help our beloved Babe.

A Touch of VPI History:

Founded in 1982 by veterinarian, Jack Stephens, VPI (headquartered in Anaheim, California) is listed as the oldest pet health insurance provider on record. The brochure explaining the various policies available credits Dr. Stephens with the following quote:

“ Insurance not only helps a pet owner handle the unexpected costs after an accident or illness but it also assists with the costs of routine medical procedures, including preventive care that helps to ensure a long, healthy life for their cat or dog.”

Facing the Facts

The sad truth is that veterinary and medical practices are businesses. Humane care and treatment are paramount considerations but when it comes down to the heart of the matter; a healthy bottom line keeps the practice running. Many animal care professionals spend long hours raising funds slated for indigent pet care but donations are generally few and far between.

A number of veterinarians do try to work with their regular patients’ owners by setting up payment plans and in rare cases, taking collateral as security to guarantee payment. All too often, once the patient recovers or passes away, the debt serves as a sad reminder and often goes unpaid. Because of these and other similar scenarios placing many animal hospitals in the red, veterinarians are finding it harder and harder to keep those debts in house. Imagine the frustration experienced by companion pet care professionals when, because of the pet owner’s financial concerns, a pet is denied care that could mean the difference between life and death.

In an article on pet health insurance, Pets.com® discusses this issue: “In 1997, DVM Newsmagazine surveyed a number of small animal veterinarians and found that 26 percent of their clients requested limited treatment because of cost. And 14 percent opted for no treatment. The same survey also reported that $576.00 is the average amount clients will spend before making a decision to end treatment for their pet or to have the animal euthanized.”

While six hundred dollars or less seems a reasonable amount to spend for the recovery of a beloved family member, often this amount is simply the beginning. Diagnostic procedures (x-rays, ultrasound, laboratory tests, initial examinations, etc…) can easily run into hundreds of dollars. Treatment (surgery, transfusions, intravenous fluids, medications, Intensive Care, isolation units, etc…) can send the costs skyrocketing up to thousands of dollars in a very short time. Add in specialists’ fees, second opinions and care in a trauma unit; the expenses become astronomical.

Caring for a healthy pet is a considerable expense. Confront an emergency or unforeseen serious illness and families find themselves facing insurmountable debt. The cost effective solution is pet health insurance.

Coverage

Presently, the only companion animals covered by VPI are cats and dogs. The company plans to add coverage for birds within the coming year. VPI insures pets from the age of six weeks on up through the life cycle. Two basic plans are offered which cover over six thousand possible illnesses and emergencies.

Not covered by this insurance are hereditary and congenital defects or diseases, elective procedures and pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions may be covered if they have been considered cured and no treatment has been required for at least six months.

Both the Gold Plan and the Advantage Plus Plan cover the same conditions. The Gold Plan’s per Incident Benefit Maximum ranges from $2,000 to $2,500 and the Annual Benefit Maximum ranges from $7,500 to $9,000. The higher priced Advantage Plus Plan’s per Incident Benefit Maximum ranges from $4,000.00 to $4,500.00 and Annual Benefit Maximum ranges from $12,000.00 to $14,000.00. The range in figures is determined by the state you live in and other package benefits determined at the time of enrollment.

Both plans cover:

• Accidents, Poisonings and Illnesses
• Diagnostics
• Anesthesia
• Surgery
• Hospitalization
• X-rays
• Specialists
• Emergency Treatment
• Chemotherapy and Radiation Treatments
• Cat Scans and MRI
• Prescriptions
• Lost and Found Registration
• Optional Double Cancer Benefits
• Optional Vaccination and Routine Care Coverage
• Veterinarian of your choice
• Ten Day Money Back Guarantee

Premiums

As an example, I input the required information to obtain a quote for Pogo, my fourteen-year-old neutered (sorry little guy) male. The annual premium for the Gold Plan came to $272.00 or $22.61 if I choose to pay on a monthly basis. I then input the necessary information to obtain a quote for my mother’s eighteen month old spayed female dog and the premiums were as follows: $130.00 paid annually and $10.83 paid monthly. The monthly premium includes a one-dollar monthly processing fee. All policies include a $12.00 fee for Lost and Found registration. (As a prerequisite, many pet insurance providers require a letter from your veterinarian stating that your pet has a clean bill of health at the time of enrollment.)

For an additional premium, optional coverage for Vaccination & Routine Care - $99.00 (Monthly: $8.25) which includes vaccines, spay/neuter, prescription flea control, heartworm medication, annual examinations, etc… and the Double Cancer Benefits Endorsement - $77.00 (Monthly: $6.42) can be added to the basic policies. (Prices quoted are not necessarily what you will pay. These are the figures generated from my quote request for a fourteen-year-old neutered dog. The cancer benefit premium is reduced significantly for younger animals.)

For those families with more than one pet, VPI offers their Pet Buddy Discounts of five percent for two or three pets enrolled and a ten percent discount for four or more pets.

To find out what the annual premium is for your pet, visit the VPI Online Quote Center and fill out the simple five-step questionnaire at:

http://www.petinsurance.com/enrollmentcenter/enroll/default.cfm?do=getpetinfo&js=1&session_id=05050A04060F06080A0100030405

Peace of Mind at a Premium

Part of being a responsible pet owner is taking into account all the possibilities. Pet Health Insurance gives us the opportunity to take advantage of the advances veterinary medicine has made over the years. The premiums for younger pets and our geriatric friends are reasonable when you take into account the rapidly rising expense of emergency and general care. The $99.00 annual fee for routine care is more than reasonable; my dog’s annual examination including inoculations and laboratory tests usually runs at least $120.00. Knowing that I have a nest egg of sorts, in cases of illness or emergency definitely puts my mind at ease. I know that in any possible situation, Pogo will receive all necessary treatments without my having to weigh the benefits versus the cost. VPI lets me choose the veterinarian and specialists which means I have control. When it comes to caring for my furry loved ones, that is what I have – peace of mind and control. Thank you VPI!



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