Do you carry Pet Insurance on your Birds or Other Pets?

[Kevin]

Was reading some stuff on the newswire and came across Veterinary Pet Health Insurance for Dogs and Cats from Pets Best , Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) - Dog Insurance, Cat Insurance, Pet Health Insurance , Pet Health Insurance from the ASPCA. Coverage you can Trust for your Dogs and Cats and I am just curious how many people carry pet insurance on your birds or animals in general?

I noticed they didn't cover birds but trying to find one that does...


Also if you do carrry a plan to protect your pets, curious how its working out for ya? How you like it? Pro's, Con's ?

[Nazir's]

Absolutely not!

IMO pet insurance is a rip off. I've had these discussing on several other boards before. We weighed the pro and cons. In the long run the cons always outweighed the pros. Most decided that they'd reap better benefits from assigning a special savings account specifically for their pets. That is exactly what I've done now for many years.

Unlike pet insurance you can use your money whenever (and with a debit card) where ever needed, and as many times as your savings will allow. It gains interest and there are no fine prints that will specify what condition, terms, or medical treatment is or isn't covered. In the event of an emergency (such as Katrina), lost, or a deceased pet--YOUR money is still gaining interest, is available to you to do with it as you please. In such an event that something was to happen to you, these funds could double up as a trust for your beloved pet as well.

[birdsnreps]

one of our vet's offices has pet bird medical insurance. I personally dont think its necessary. i would just set aside some money every month just in case something does happen, but honestly, i think if you are careful with your birds and you keep a close eye on them, feed them the best diet you can feed, and your bird doesnt have anything chronic or geneticly wrong with him, your bird should stay perfectly healthy and just need his annual checkup. Geriatric birds might benefit from having some type of medical insurance (hey, birds' bodies start to break down as they get older too).

[Macaaaw]

There is a company that covers macaws. It is 350 dollars a year and has a thousand dollar deductible. Do that math project and you soon discover it does not add up very well in your favor.

[Grillis]

Well I live in sweden and I have pet insurance for all of my three birds. I have two budgies and a poicephalus. They all cost the same and its about I think $19 each a year and ( I dont know the word for it, perhaps deductible?) what you have to pay if it costs more is about $59. It is definetly a benefit for me. In sweden its definetly a good thing to have your pet insured.

[Lisa B]

this is an old article, and some might get tired of seeing it, however, here ya go.
It was written about me.
do I carry it,Yes. I do now. Do I suggest Grey owners carry it because of the higher rate of Aspergillosis and Plucking in Greys? Yes. If you can afford it, I suggest JUST the medical part. I pay 14.95 a month for one grey. If I had the money, they would ALL have it.


I have VPI. I havent used it, but the relief of knowing it's there the times I have come close.......is unspeakable once you read my story and find out why.
Dont ever think, You have money on your credit card reserved....you have a bank account or alternate funds. I did too....and it was gone in a matter of weeks.

ParrotChronicles.com

[Nazir's]

Saving has worked for me. I've saved for years when it comes to my animals. Being that I've been saving way more than I've had to dish out over the past 12 years, I doubt that any one pet could exhaust the funds before passing (God Forbid). But just to think that I could have been paying that amount to an insurance company only to get a small portion of it back in an event of an emergency and then having to pay a deductable before getting just that has not ever set well with me.
The only insurance that I've ever saw worth it is those that will cover what you otherwise couldn't. But the odds of that happening are not likely if you pay yourself (account) first in accordance to what you'd expect to spend in any such event and build a stroing relationship with your vet.

Many vets don't except pet insurances unless it's from a company that they are receiving incentives from; especially, if the vet offers an insurance of their own. Most vets require their payment in full at the times that services are rendered. Should there be an option to bill the insurance company, most vets will hike up their prices while knowing that the insurance company will only cover up to a certain amount, that they deem reasonable for certain procedures. Though VPI is a top ranked pet insurance, it’s not favored by most for many reasons.
My thing is—you still have to pay the total amount out of your pocket up front before the insurance company will reimburse only a portion of those fees. What if you can’t afford to pay it all in the first place, at that moment? In order to assure that you would be able to one still must have something saved up and reserved somewhere to the side.

If a strong and reliable relationship is built with your vet, that's all the insurance that you'd need. Most will be willing to accept payments on most excessive procedures. I make a point to ask for a payment plan and/or a new payable account from any new vet that I may visit who I wish to continue business with. I’ve even gave other vets as a references to attest to my creditability. I ask for that even with small amounts (they’d be more willing to say yes). I do this to prove that I care and will always pay by my debts. It’s sort of like building credit or creditability in most vets eyes. Also, I make a point to stop by and visit my vet, send Christmas (holiday) cards, and pictures to my vet. Every year I even receive a personal response Christmas card back. This was something that I was taught to do by my mentor very early on when I begin to show dogs. With being responsible and caring for many dogs/pets at one time, those recommended measures were life saving and has come in handy more than once, in the past.

Those are just my opinions and experiences. Hopefully, I'll not ever have to experience anything that will be mind/life changing. Though, I can’t imagine that there are many situations that would fall into the mind changing category.

[Lisa B]

the payment plan is a good one with your vet if they are able to do it, meaning they OWN the hospital. Most Avian vets/Emergency and or refferal hospitals round here are employees of the hospital and can not accept anything but full payment. So the fees and payments are non negotable.

I too have an excellent relationship with several of my vets, one even spending a few nights at my house after flying in for seminar I was chairing.


but the thing is to try to be prepaired to the best of your ability. I spent nearly 7,ooo between Oct 21 and Dec 7th....


In the end, he died anyway.

[Beaks]

it would be impossible for me to carry insurance on all of my birds and the insurance that is out there doesnt cover jack squat anyway.

[Lisa B]

Originally Posted by Beaks

it would be impossible for me to carry insurance on all of my birds and the insurance that is out there doesnt cover jack squat anyway.

orrrrrrrrr..everyone just needs to know a friend like Beaks(lol)
thats when we first started emailin, when my Sam was so sick