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Pet insurance can be a life saver for your beloved family pets. In fact, pet insurance can add significant protection for your pet and your finances alike.
However, not all pet insurance providers are the same. Coverages range from long lists of tailored options to one-stop plans; from accidents-only to routine health exams. TopConsumerReviews.com reviews and ranks the best pet insurance providers available today.
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Thanks to modern medicine, veterinarians can perform once unheard-of operations and treatments to suffering dogs and cats, significantly increasing both their life expectancy and their owner's happiness. However, these latest procedures can come with an expensive price tag.
Tests, examinations, and procedures can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Even a routine examination with vaccinations and preventative tests can cost from $200 to $400 or more. If that hasn't busted your budget, you can only imagine the reality of chemotherapy and hip replacement for a pet in bad shape.
Pet Insurance allows a caring master to continue to enjoy their pet for years to come without facing the financial burden and difficult decision between helping their loved one, or putting it to sleep as a result of cost. A number of pet insurance companies exist today that can greatly relieve the burden of life saving procedures and care. However, these companies all vary in services
covered, cost, customer service, and claim reimbursement.
Before selecting a pet insurance provider you should consider the following:
• Coverage. What procedures and services does the plan cover? Is their flexibility in selecting the plan that meets your needs? What services are excluded?
• Customer Service. Will someone answer the phone if you call in an emergency? When is the company open for assistance?
• Insurance Premiums. How much will your premium be for the pet insurance that best meets your needs?
We hope you find this information helpful in selecting the right pet insurance provider for you and your pet!
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Premium:
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$10.00 and up per month dependant on breed and amount of coverage
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When we began our examination of Embrace Pet Insurance, we quickly became impressed with the level of pet insurance they provide. Embrace sets the standard for all pet insurance companies by providing excellent, cost-effective service that meets the needs of most dogs or cats in all 50 states.
Embrace specifically identifies upfront what they will cover and won't cover so that no confusion exists when you submit your claim. Some of the notable coverages include:
• Claims paid based on your veterinary bill - not what they think the charge should be
• Covers congenital and hereditary conditions
• Covers routine and wellness care
• Covers specialists charge with no additional fees
• Pays claims quickly and with no hassle
• Customizable plans
• Covered therapy
The website is very easy to maneuver to find specific information about the cost of pet insurance. You simply
enter your pet's name, zip code, age, and any preexisting conditions. A quote instantly appears and shows you the range of monthly
premiums. The final cost is dependant on a range of factors including how much annual coverage you want, the amount of deductible, and your per-visit co-pay. We found their prices very competitive, especially since they actually pay what you are entitled to with no hassle or confusion.
We found the customer service team top-notch. In the event that you have any questions with either starting your pet insurance or making a claim, their staff is both knowledgeable and helpful. You may either reach them via email, toll free number, or live chat.
Overall, Embrace provides excellent pet insurance tailored to meet
your specific needs. Premiums are competitively priced and allow for convenient monthly payments. We found a multitude of positive reviews on Embrace as well as numerous reports of hassle-free claim payments. If you're looking for affordable pet insurance for your loved one, Embrace earns our top recommendation.
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Premium:
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Plans start at $9.95 per month - dependant on deductible and breed of animal
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Trupanion currently offers pet insurance in Canada and across 30 US States and is in partnership with PetCo, a large nationwide pet store chain. Trupanion insures dogs and cats between the ages of 8 weeks and 14 years. You can select the amount of annual deductible associated with your pet insurance in order to determine your monthly premium.
Getting a pet insurance quote was simple on the Trupanion website. You simply input your zip code, pet's name, pet age, gender, and breed. Once your quote is generated you will see a cost range. The actual price of your pet insurance can be higher or lower based on the deductible you select, between $0.00 and $1,000. Trupanion also provides a price comparison of other pet insurance
providers
which can be helpful.
Trupanion has a wide range of covered items including:
• Hereditary disorders (i.e. hip dysplasia)
• Congenital disorders
• Surgeries
• Tests for diagnosis
• Medications
• Chronic or recurring conditions
Meanwhile, some items not included are:
• Routine care
• Vet exam fees
• Pre-existing conditions
Trupanion Pet Insurance offers a convenient online billing system for participating veterinarians. This allows for vets to enter your claim online - you only pay the co-payment instead of waiting for your reimbursement check.
In the event that you have a customer service question, you may call Trupanion 24 hours a day. The representatives were generally helpful and able to answer our questions when we called.
Overall, Trupanion is a trusted pet insurance provider that offers good coverage and protection for both your pet and your bank account.
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Premium:
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Some policies start as low as $6.67 per month but vary greatly based on the coverage you select.
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Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) allows you to choose your vet as well as your specific coverage to meet your needs. VPI offers six selections to choose from including: Common problems, Panic Moments, Expensive Problems, Routine Care, Additional Care and Enhanced Cancer Care. You may select coverage in all categories or just one - whatever meets your needs.
VPI has a very helpful website with an easy quote process. You simply identify the basics of your dog, your location and then select the coverage you need. Quotes are provided instantly and allow for updates and changes as you determine necessary.
The customer service representatives were very helpful and knowledgeable. You may reach them via email or toll free number between 5 am and 7 pm, 7 days a week.
We found accounts of very happy customers but also a few that complained about the claim process. The complaints centered around VPI
disputing the veterinarians charges and only reimbursing at a rate that VPI felt was reasonable. For those that use expensive doctors you may find it beneficial to call VPI first and talk with them about what specific charges they consider reasonable.
We liked many aspects of VPI, including the history of this large pet insurance provider. We would have liked to have seen fewer concerns with claim reimbursement as this is, in the end, what the pet insurance comes down to.
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Premium:
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Discount programs staring as low as $6 per month
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This plan is unique because it is not strictly pet insurance, but rather a pet medical savings plan. You pay a monthly fee in order to receive a discount on veterinary services at select clinics around the nation. If you chose this service you have to select a vet from their network in your area, or convince your veterinarian to join their network.
By going to one of the vets on their network you automatically get a 25% discount on
all visits, exams, shots, surgery, in-network hospitalization, and elective procedures such as dental work. Food, flea products, non-medical boarding, grooming, some medications, and outside services such as lab work are at the veterinarian's discretion to discount or not.
There are several advantages to this plan. The first is that you do not have to pay the whole vet bill and then wait to be reimbursed as
you do with some other programs. Also, any pet is eligible, regardless of their age or pre-existing conditions. There is an additional safety feature that provides your pet with a specialized ID number and Pet Assures Lost pet recovery number engraved on a tag that you then attach to your pet's collar.
There are two drawbacks we see to this program. The first is that you are limited in who you can take your pet to. You may or may not find a vet in your area that is in their network. The second is that the 25% you save upfront with
this program may not equal the amount you would be reimbursed with the other plans.
While this plan adds value to an aging pet or one with pre-existing conditions that would otherwise make it uninsurable, we prefer the higher ranked providers for most pet's insurance coverage needs.
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Premium:
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$17.00+ per month depending on breed, another $17.00 per month for the Best Wellness Plan
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Pets Best sells themselves as a customizable pet insurance provider but we had a tough time finding much flexibility given some limitations of the website. However, Pets Best provides a very straightforward plan that allows you to choose any vet with a straight 80% reimbursement after the deductible. The deductible can range from $75 to $300 with a large lifetime limit of $42,500
to
$100,000 depending on which plan you choose.
We also were disappointed with the additional fee to protect the cost of our premium for an aging pet. For that extra fee your premium remains the same until your pet reaches age 10.
Claims are now accepted via online, which greatly expedites the process. Pets Best does a good job of simply paying their portion without arguing what the actual costs should have been.
For an additional $17.00 each month you can add Best Wellness to your pet insurance. This covers wellness
exams, teeth cleaning vaccinations, spay/neuter and other maintenance-related items.
The website is very basic but does provide an immediate pet insurance premium quote. Pets Best does have several situations they do not cover that the higher ranked providers will. For example, Pets Best does not cover the following:
• Preexisting conditions
• Cancer
• Allergies
• Hereditary conditions
• Congenital conditions
• Heartworms
• Preventable diseases
Customer service is limited to an 8-5 Monday - Friday toll free number in the event that you have a question regarding your pet insurance or benefits.
Pets Best didn't provide any clear reason to choose them over a higher ranked pet insurance provider. The pet insurance exclusions were worrisome as most of those illnesses or conditions would be very expensive, thus wasting your pet insurance premiums.
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Premium:
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Plans start at $10.95 to $62.90 and up - monthly premium is dependant on coverage selection
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Quick Care provides seven different plans. These plans range from very basic broken bone pet insurance to "full" coverage at either 70% or 90% of the total bill. The more pet insurance coverage you select, obviously the higher price. We found that Quick Care was generally a little more expensive than our higher ranked companies.
Obtaining a quote on Quick Care's website is simple and fast. You simply
input the details of your pet and instantly receive the cost per plan. Once you select the pet insurance plan you're interested in you may click on it for more details. However, we were concerned when we couldn't easily find out what was not included in the pet insurance coverage. The higher ranked sites were very upfront about exclusions.
Outside of Quick Care being a relatively unknown provider we had another concern with the customer service availability. If you have a question or urgent concern you have to email or write
the company. Hopefully your pet isn't laying on the operating table and you are waiting to find out if you can afford the surgery or not.
Despite the flexibility of plan options we felt that Quick Care didn't put us at ease as a pet insurance provider should. We didn't like that Quick Care was not upfront about exclusions, difficult to find on the internet, and unreachable by phone when needed. Our suggestion: pass by Quick Care, and find peace of mind with one of our top-rated providers.
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Pet Insurance in the News
Dog who ate beehive wins unusual pet insurance award - Reuters
Publ.Date : Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:02:21 GMT+00:00
Jeff Burton on RCR's Progress This Tear, Track at Atlanta, Making The Chase ... - Auto Racing Daily
Publ.Date : Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:31:30 GMT+00:00
Bills about fur labeling, declawing, pet insurance and animal neglect are ... - Los Angeles Times (blog)
Publ.Date : Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:55:42 GMT+00:00
Don't Expect Jeff Gordon to Shop at Walmart - Auto Racing Daily
Publ.Date : Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:44:15 GMT+00:00
Race Tickets Cost Escaped Convict His Freedom - Auto Racing Daily
Publ.Date : Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:15:12 GMT+00:00
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Emory Healthcare 500 at Atlanta - Race Line-Up - Auto Racing Daily
Publ.Date : Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:14:52 GMT+00:00
Robert Rector: Beck orates, Obama redecorates - Pasadena Star-News
Publ.Date : Sun, 05 Sep 2010 06:28:20 GMT+00:00
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