‘What to ask a pet insurance provider’ Series…#3
In an effort to help you all out when looking into pet insurance, I am continuing my series on questions to ask potential pet insurance providers. Here is my third set of questions.
7. Will this provider reimburse services provided by my veterinarian or am I required to use a veterinarian in this provider’s network?
I really only know of one or two companies that require you to use a veterinarian within their provider network. Since most pet insurance reimburses the pet owner, the pet owner can see whichever veterinarian they choose. However, make sure to double check when picking out a provider.
8. Does this provider have an appeals process I can use if my claim is denied?
Many pet insurance providers will offer you the opportunity for you and/or your veterinarian to appeal a denied claim. This usually gives the veterinarian (if they’re willing) the chance to further explain the pet’s history or chosen treatment. Some providers will then even send the claim and appeal to a third part group of veterinarians for review. I think this is a good system to have in place, and offers pet owners extra peace of mind.
Again, please feel free to ask questions or embellish on anything I have mentioned here.
I have ASPCA pet insurance and it is NOT very good. In fact, I’ve been turned down for more claims than I’ve had accepted. Geez, what’s the point.
And if your pet has an accident or something that needs follow up, pray you have it happen before the next policy year starts. They won’t cover an incident with a dog that happens in one policy year to the next. So, if it happens in December and the policy expires and renews in January, nothing after Jan 1 is covered related to that incident. WHAT??????????
You wouldn’t find that in people’s medical insurance.
I think that’s ABSURD. Run away from this insurance for your pet. My sister’s a lawyer and it’s been a headache to get things covered.
They won’t cover xrays that shows a tooth needing to be pulled because I did the xrays. Preventive xrays without a reason aren’t covered for teeth. The vet is just supposed to be a psychic and should just know when a tooth is bad without xrays. It’s like putting the cart in front of the horse. Had to do two letters to get the xrays covered. They also cut down the maximum allowed for procedures. My vet isn’t expensive, the pet insurance is!
Plus the payments take a very long time to process. And regarding the dental, they have a dental plan, but again, it doesn’t cover xrays unless he broke a tooth or something OBVIOUS is showing. So your dog can suffer with a bad tooth for months waiting for it to show?
It’s $100 a month for what they consider great coverage. It won’t cover a lot of things like accupuncture, rimadyl for all body arthritis because he has hip dysplasia (which was diagnosed AFTER getting the insurance, it wasn’t pre-existing).
AND if the arthritis isn’t CURABLE in 180 days, even if he didn’t have the hip dysplasia, they won’t cover any treatment or meds because any condition is only covered for 180 days. Like any dog is ever cured from arthritis. Considering it is the ASPCA, I thought they would have more of a HEART than they do about our good animals. Good grief!
I also have (actually, as of today, had) ASPCA pet insurance for our dog. We got it a little over one year ago, thinking the dog is getting older, and if anything will go wrong it would be nice to have a piece of mind. We only went for one regular check up in the beginning when we got the insurance, and then did not use it for anything until recently, when dog started limping. Vet told us that dog blew out both ACLs. We haven’t even got to a surgeon yet, and the bill is already almost $500. ASPCA denied everything (did not pay a single dollar) because they consider it to be pre-existing condition (on our first visit to a vet we mentioned that once in a while dog seems to limp. Vet said it was most likely arthritis, and dog just needs to loose some weight. We put the dog on a diet, and problem went away). I will try to appeal it but chances are slim that anything would be covered.
I canceled the insurance- I am better off just putting premium money into savings account in case I need it for my dog’s treatment…
I have had Pet Care Insurance for years. They have paid every claim I ever submitted, to the tune of thousands of dollars. They recently changed their name to Pet Health Inc.
,..] blogs.dogster.com is other must read source on this subject,..]