Question

Hey everyone!  My husband and I recently adopted a puppy, does anyone have recommendations for pet insurance?Hey everyone! My husband and I recently adopted a puppy, does anyone have recommendations for pet insurance?  

Answer 1

Love Healthy Paws! Will never own another pet without it! Your pup looks young enough you shouldn’t have to worry about any pre-existing conditions. I will say, we have never told our vet or orthopedic surgeon that we even have coverage. Orthopedic surgeon is the only one who specifically asked. I feel like if you tell them they will start billing you for all kinds of extra stuff since you aren’t as concerned with the finances. We see the ortho dr every 3-4 months for x-rays and follow up exams and they don’t charge us, which I’m sure they would if they knew we had the insurance. Then again if they did the insurance would cover the xrays- just not the exam.  

Comments

Yes I second healthy paws!  

Answer 2

Sinking fund.  

Answer 3

Embrace pet insurance. Has an endorsement you can add for wellness (shots, medication, etc)

Answer 4

We adopted last week and we opened a savings account for him

Answer 5

I don't have any idea, but just wanted to say she's adorable!  

Answer 6

I read these post and I am so thankful for my small town vet! We have $125 per month pet budget. That covers food vet, etc for 4 dogs (2 large breed, 2 small breed). We use our emergency fund if it falls out of normal annual vet care. And honestly, we must be very lucky. We have had 7 dogs in our adult life and no big costs even with the large breed being hunters.  

Answer 7

I use Trupanion. I’ve heard horror stories and I don’t want to chance it. Plus I think if I have health insurance (which I’m paying an arm and a leg pre-tax at work), then he should too. But that’s just my opinion

Answer 8

Sorry no recommendations but that is one cute puppy!  

Answer 9

We have Healthy Paws. And currently be reimbursed for a nearly $3000 vet bill. About 65% reimbursement. But honestly, depending on the breed and habits, it's going to be one of my sinking fund. Example: My perfect and beautiful love of my life pure bred w/papers (rescued) doberman is about 125 a month. And worth every penny. She is a hot mess of a dog (as I believe all pure bred are) but also, being a dobie. bloat is always on my mind, even though she's tacked. She is also always getting hurt cause she loves to run and jump. My boy, another rescue, but a mutt of pit/boxer/hearder/god knows what else. is amazing and in perfect health and never needs anything other than standard vaccines. So for him, I wonder if it's worth it or just put it in savings. His is about $80 a month, we've had him for 6 years. so it adds up. Pet insurance is usually a reimbursement system, so you'll still need have savings. Also check with your vet and see who they have had the most success with!  Most importantly, congrats on your new baby! Ps: doggy daycare is a game changer ♡♡

Answer 10

Healthy Paws!  

Comments

Second that!  

Answer 11

Sometimes insurance won’t cover a pet if they have preexisting issues. We use the spca. It’s about $64 a month for two cats and it covers majority of our vet visits. shots/ check up etc. My precious babies developed health issues in old age and it definitely would have been nice to have some cushion on their medical bills. We pay out of pocket for the vet visits but then get reimbursed after submitting a claim which covers 80-90% of the bill. Definitely shop around for a rate that’s best for you tho! Good luck! Something very special about the love of a pet. ❤️

Answer 12

I use PetsBest. I have their accident only insurance for 2 dogs and a cat. $288/annual. They have the other plans but I just have a sinking fund for their annual checkups and vaccines. I have the insurance in the event of an emergency.  

Answer 13

Don't bother. I found that anything that happens is considered "preexisting condition". Instead I put the $50/ month in a savings account for them. I might as well earn the interest on it.  

Answer 14

I’ve heard bad thing about nationwide. Follow @paleomg on Instagram and see if you can catch her horror story of nationwide customer service recently.  

Answer 15

Trupanion has been fantastic for us. We have 3 dogs and over the past couple years, having Trupanion has saved us from having to use credit on some big bills.  

Answer 16

You may be better off with a sinking fund.  

Answer 17

No advice, but just came here to say what a cutieeeeeeeee!  

Answer 18

I've had good experiences with Trupanion so far. They saved me $6k last month

Answer 19

Pet plan worth it ! Didn’t like nationwide beacuse it doesn’t cover pre existing condition How would I know if they ever have one

Answer 20

No. Sinking fund

Answer 21

We don’t have insurance necessarily but we have the Banfield pet plan since we have a Petsmart nearby. Its $35 a month and covers any time we go to the vet for a check-up, as well as vaccines. She is a pup now and when we move we may look into actual insurance but right now the pet plan covers it!  

Answer 22

I do Banfield for the first year since it covers everything including the spay/flea/tick/interceptor. After that, I use a sinking fund for routine care like shots, antibiotics, and dental care. I also have a golden, so we're prepared for things like dysplasia or cancer.  

Answer 23

This is the EXACT same thing that I have been back and forth about. My dog is turning 4 years old on March 25th and luckily we have had no major health issues with him. But I do worry about later down the line when he’s a senior. I know people have said to just start a sinking fund or that if he’s healthy not to bother. However in my opinion, say for example my dog gets cancer and his vet bills accumulate to thousands and thousands of dollars- a sinking fund is not gonna cut it. If I put away $100 every month for a year in a sinking fund I’ll only have $1200. It would take me forever to build up a substantial sinking fund for my dog. Yes he’s healthy now but that doesn’t mean problems won’t arise when he’s older. I want to be as prepared as possible for those situations and I don’t ever want to make a heartbreaking decision because of money. So I’m leaning towards Trupanion because our vet accepts direct payment from them so I don’t have to pay up front and wait to be reimbursed. That’s a HUGE plus because with other insurance if you don’t have the money to pay the bill up front then you’re screwed since you have to wait for reimbursement.  

Answer 24

Trupanion or Healthy Paws. I have both.  

Answer 25

Savings acct (sinking fund)

Answer 26

Pet insurance is absolutely worth it. i had mine on my 1 1/2 year old puppy since before her spay, got most of my money back from the surgery and other shot appointments, was about to take it off but couldn’t remember my password so i ended up forgetting to do it, and found out a month later she needs a $6k knee surgery that will be completely covered by surgery. why use sinking funds if you don’t need to? or why deplete them when you need to use them when you have the option of getting a check back for most of what you used?  

Comments

It will especially come in handy when they get older. they have such short lives that things WILL begin to happen very quickly and once the issue is preexisting you can’t use the insurance towards anything involving that issue if you were to try to add it on later. it just saved my parents from completely paying a $4k cancer surgery along with the $500/month chemo pills until he passes.  

Answer 27

I don’t have it but Trupanion is the provider of choice for most of my friends with it. Btw - your pup is adorable! Best of luck!  

Answer 28

Trupanion is what we got for our 5 month old pup. If you get it early in their life then it will be cheaper. Ours is going to be about $29/month with a $700 deductible. We could have done about $45 for a $250 deductible but the numbers made more sense for the $700 deductible. Plus $700 isn’t bad for a pet emergency like cancer treatment.  

Answer 29

Too cute!  

Answer 30

Trupanion. Love them!  

Answer 31

I have Healthy Paws and love them

Answer 32

Our vet recommends Trupanion and if we did the sign up with them - they get a kick back and we get a discount. If you know what vet office you are going to use maybe call and see if they have any in particular that they work with :)

Answer 33

Thank you everyone, we really appreciate everyone’s input and advice!  

Answer 34

Our dog just had a $6K surgery and we didn’t have it. Definitely wish we had. Depleted our EF.  

Answer 35

We like Healthy Paw!  

Answer 36

HES SO CUTE! Good luck   

Answer 37

Healthy Paws is what I have.  

Answer 38

Embrace pet insurance

Answer 39

Aspca insurance

Answer 40

Your fur baby looks just like my fur baby! lol

Comments

@diamine omg yes! Too cute

Answer 41

CareCredit has pet insurance. Cute pup

Answer 42

I used the ASPCA insurance. I have 2 dogs and it's around $68 per month, although I cant remember at the moment what my deductible is.