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Vernon Said:

Pet insurance - stupid question?

We Answered:

You pay the first £60 or so of any claim, so when a vet consultation for a booster jab costs about £40, you don't get to claim.

I had a little dog who I didn't insure (would have been about £150 a year)
He was never ill. He got attacked by a bigger dog, (and consequently died, age 5. Should have lived to 16) and I had about £350 of vet bills to pay. So, I figure that was cheaper than having him insured for the 5 years I had him.

My friend has a cat which is insured, and always at the vets being treated for all sorts (pedigree feline) and I think because the vet knows it is insured, they plumb loads of extra costs on to get their costs back.

If you dog is likely to bike someone, get insurance. If not, don't bother. It's an unnecessary expense, in my experience.

Janet Said:

Does Pet insurance cover attacks on humans? People with Pet insurance or Legal pet question?

We Answered:

look into renters insurance and see if they would cover a problem if your dog bit somebody and what the stipulations are, biting someone in hallway, within your apartment, in the parking lot, off apt premises, etc.

I think the landlord is being too picky

I have lived in many apartments with pet and never have run into what you are running into, most apartments just ask for pet deposit,

is landlord flexible--can landlord handle you not doing what she/he wants?, if not look into what I say above,

consider living somewhere else in the future, this problem should have been discussed before you signed lease and I blame this on landlord

article below about a neat pet insurance company in Ohio

Neil Said:

What is the best kind of pet insurance?

We Answered:

I think pet insurance is a good idea. It's not "absolutely necessary" for any pet, but I think it's good to have when you don't have a huge budget to spend on veterinary bills.

I have Trupanion for my dog so I don't know all about all the other companies, but here is what they cover:
Any accident or illness that happens AFTER you sign up for the insurance and that isn't related to any condition that occurred prior to getting insurance. So they pay for the diagnostic tests, the treatment/surgery, and all the medications.

Watch out for companies that have "benefits schedules" which means they have a list saying how much things should cost, ex: allergy treatment - $200, so if your vet charges you $800, then you would only get reimbursed for $200 of it.

Trupanion covers 90% of the entire bill, and I honestly chose them because they don't have claim limits, so no matter how much your bill costs.

No matter what company you go with, I'd steer clear from "routine coverage" because it's not worth the money. You're just paying the same (and usually MORE) through the middle-man (insurance company) for basic check-ups. Best to pay for stuff like that yourself.

Hope this helped!

Andy Said:

How much does pet insurance cost and what does it cover?

We Answered:

There are usually two coverage levels to most plans, including an accident plan and basic maintenance coverage. The basic plans protect dogs and cats from accidental injuries, emergencies and illnesses, and also covers office visits, prescriptions, diagnostic tests, x-rays, lab fees and more. For a little more, you can also add optional benefits toward routine treatments and procedures your pet will need throughout her life to maintain good health which provides reimbursements for preventive care including physical exams, flea and heartworm preventive, vaccinations, dental cleaning or spay/neuter, and much more. Depending on the plan, they work as a co-pay program or a reimbursement program, and usually have an annual deductible and a maximum benefit attached to them.

One thing to keep in mind is that insurance for pets in the U.S. is much like insurance for people - except that it DOES NOT cover pre-existing illnesses. None of them out there do, which can be very frustrating for someone seeking coverage to offset expensive treatments for long-term or life-threatening illness, such as diabetes or congenital diseases or defects.

There are a few reputable companies out there that offer good pet insurance plans in the U.S., including VPI, PetFirst, and PetsBest. The ASPCA also started offering a pet insurance plan this year. Prices range from roughly $20-30/month for a dog and $15-20/month per cat for accident coverage, and a little more to include the maintenance options. Most companies will offer payment options such as monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual payment of premiums, and will almost always provide multi-pet discounts.