Pet insurance

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Baby Get Shaky!
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# 2064278 28-Jul-2018 17:25

Just thinking about it we have insurance for our Dog but not the Cat... The Cat *touch wood* has never needed more then flea/worming for the last 6 years. Now that she's over 6 she becomes a lot more expensive to insure so anything she needs in the future within reason will come out of the rainy day savings. The Dog's insurance has been worth it several times over. He likes to swallow things he shouldn't or scratch things he shouldn't etc. We've never had a claim declined. As a Dog that once jumped out of a 2nd story window onto the concrete below I'd rather the peace of mind of having insurance to *hopefully* fall back on than not. Believe we are through Southern Cross Pet Insurance now after the debacle with PetPlan last year.

lNomNoml

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# 2064296 28-Jul-2018 18:25

I have pet plan costs around $28 a month for a moggy kitteh, only had to take her to the vet once for some eye infection so far but then again, she is only 11 months old, $150 later, pet insurance didn't cover it as for as far as I can understand "it wasn't expensive enough"

so, so far hasn't helped having it, problem is if I cancel it and I need it, it's too late...

I tired getting a quote for pet doctors, but they never returned any of my enquiry’s

There will always be that one time you need it.

DaveB

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# 2064658 29-Jul-2018 18:59

kingjj:

Just thinking about it we have insurance for our Dog but not the Cat... ...

I'd rather the peace of mind of having insurance to *hopefully* fall back on than not. Believe we are through Southern Cross Pet Insurance now after the debacle with PetPlan last year.

Now for the million dollar question. Do you have health insurance for yourselves?

kingjj

Baby Get Shaky!
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# 2064933 30-Jul-2018 12:59

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DaveB:

kingjj:

Just thinking about it we have insurance for our Dog but not the Cat... ...

I'd rather the peace of mind of having insurance to *hopefully* fall back on than not. Believe we are through Southern Cross Pet Insurance now after the debacle with PetPlan last year.

Now for the million dollar question. Do you have health insurance for yourselves?

Yup. Wife is on a company plan, daughter and I are through a work association. Wife and I are on the top coverage plans whereas the daughter is on the surgical level plan (will upgrade her when she is over 13).

tripp

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# 2064940 30-Jul-2018 13:08

The way i look at it.

I don't have kids and my cat is family, i don't want to be in a place where i have to say good bye because I can't afford the vet bill. I'm with southern cross pet insurance at about 32 a month.

I had insurance on my last cat and broke even on payments vs claims. With my current cat i have claimed more than i have paid. In my mind it's worth it.

Horseychick

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# 2064942 30-Jul-2018 13:11

I have 3 dogs. I don't have pet insurance. I costed out pet insurance for 3 dogs and nearly needed to use my own health insurance! If I had 1 dog I would probably have pet insurance, but I'd still be looking closely at the price as others have said.

Last year we paid out $2.6k for cruciate ligament surgery for the Rottie *gulp*. More than 50% chance he will do the other one according to the vet and pet insurance co. told me they wouldn't pay for the second even if they paid for the first. Initial quotes for the surgery started around $6.5k, but after a few phone calls I found a vet that was much more reasonable. So my advice is find a vet practice where they don't charge extortionate amounts. Luckily, one of the benefits of living in Auckland is that there are plenty of vets around, both the ones that make you take out a second mortgage and those that really want to help animals and appreciate caring owners. Try to find the second type ;-)

kryptonjohn

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# 2064947 30-Jul-2018 13:25

I keep hearing similar stories about "yuge" disparities between vet fees in different locations... in particular anywhere outside of Auckland. Friend's border collie had same knee surgery as you mentioned and I think they paid well over $5k for it. Brother in law's lab had to have pills for it's bad back/hips (don't the all?) and same thing - the pills cost so much less from the vet in Whangamata, hundreds of dollars less per year.

MikeAqua

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# 2064959 30-Jul-2018 13:46

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If you are going to self-insure, you need to figure out what your annual premium cost would be, probably double it and save that amount every year. Have some in long term, and some on call and not touch those savings. And then you need to not get unlucky too soon.

I've never had the Cahones or discipline to do it, myself.

Mike

MikeAqua

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# 2064960 30-Jul-2018 13:48

kryptonjohn:

I keep hearing similar stories about "yuge" disparities between vet fees in different locations... in particular anywhere outside of Auckland. Friend's border collie had same knee surgery as you mentioned and I think they paid well over $5k for it. Brother in law's lab had to have pills for it's bad back/hips (don't the all?) and same thing - the pills cost so much less from the vet in Whangamata, hundreds of dollars less per year.

Vets generally need quite a lot of space and need car-parking as well. Can't be cheap in a larger centre.

Mike

kryptonjohn

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# 2064963 30-Jul-2018 13:51

MikeAqua:

kryptonjohn:

I keep hearing similar stories about "yuge" disparities between vet fees in different locations... in particular anywhere outside of Auckland. Friend's border collie had same knee surgery as you mentioned and I think they paid well over $5k for it. Brother in law's lab had to have pills for it's bad back/hips (don't the all?) and same thing - the pills cost so much less from the vet in Whangamata, hundreds of dollars less per year.

Vets generally need quite a lot of space and need car-parking as well. Can't be cheap in a larger centre.

That's certainly true.

Still, it costs more than double to take my cat to its vet than it costs to take me to my doctor!

Horseychick

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# 2064965 30-Jul-2018 13:54

MikeAqua:

Vets generally need quite a lot of space and need car-parking as well. Can't be cheap in a larger centre.

Whilst the theory of that sounds correct in practice around Auckland friends and I with numerous animals between us have found that there appears to be a 'monopoly' principle involved as well. If you are the only vet practice within 5kms because you've bought out the other vets who used to be in the area then you must charge way more than other practices who are more than 5kms away because the majority of pet owners in the the area will use you without considering the cost first.

MikeAqua

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# 2064984 30-Jul-2018 14:30

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DaveB:

Now for the million dollar question. Do you have health insurance for yourselves?

Oh yes. I've used it several times for screening for potentially life endangering issues. I've used it for ENT issues impacting my kids' education. Wouldn't be without it. You get timely, competent care/screening in the private system vs the die-while-you-wait public system. Even when you are doing the public health system and another person a huge favour and the prioritise you, it's an admin nightmare to deal with.

I do sometimes feel guilty that private healthcare draws resource away from public - but I lay that at the feet of specialist colleges who artificially restrict the number of specialists in their field practising in NZ.

Mike

allio

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# 2064986 30-Jul-2018 14:34

We took out insurance for the cat after she got in a fight and needed $250 worth of stitches.

Three days after I applied, she wandered inside with a slightly watery eye. Ended up being a $600 overnight stay at the emergency vet, without which she would have apparently lost the eye. That one claim was worth a year and a half of premiums. Together with a few other urgent visits we've got our money's worth for the next year at least.

If she was an indoor cat I wouldn't bother. Most of the routine stuff (vaccinations, check-ups etc) is excluded.

networkn

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# 2064995 30-Jul-2018 14:56

I have to say we have pet insurance with pet insure. We have 2 Moggies and a German Shepherd. We have been surprised at how much they have covered. I won't promise a similar experience, but our experience is they will deny clear cut cases of exclusions, but they have been excellent if we have been able to argue something should be covered, and in some cases I have seen them fudge the odd thing to get it covered. We have probably broken even, maybe slightly ahead, so I'd say it's been ok for us.

I'd like to consider myself pragmatic and able to put my cats or dog to sleep if the cost to keep them alive was massive, but it's one thing to say it, a whole other thing to do it. I think I would find it much easier if it's a matter of quality of life.

mattwnz

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# 2064999 30-Jul-2018 15:03

allio:

We took out insurance for the cat after she got in a fight and needed $250 worth of stitches.

Three days after I applied, she wandered inside with a slightly watery eye. Ended up being a $600 overnight stay at the emergency vet, without which she would have apparently lost the eye. That one claim was worth a year and a half of premiums. Together with a few other urgent visits we've got our money's worth for the next year at least.

If she was an indoor cat I wouldn't bother. Most of the routine stuff (vaccinations, check-ups etc) is excluded.

Was the watery eye related to the earlier fight? Sounds odd they would have initially missed that. What did the $600 get you, that sounds massive? I have taken a cat to the emergency after hours vet before and it was only a small fraction of that.

I do wonder if some will charge more if it is an insurance job, due to more admin etc. eg Doctors will often ask if you have insurance before they will give you a price for a procedure.

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