Trupanion Pet Insurance Review

[SphynxMomma16]

So I have hopped on the band wagon with the Pet Insurance and enrolled my little baby today I've read other posts on pet insurance on this site but on this forum I thought I would do a review on Trupanion for anyone in Canada.

It is VERY extensive and lengthy as I did LOTS of research bedore enrolling, so I thought I would share all the little ins & outs and small print stuff.

Trupanion is a company that I've seen many pet owners use for years. I have heard good things and our veterinary clinic recommends them. They offer a free 30 day trial for your pet and you can get a certificate trial at your veterinary appointment. It has to be activated within 24hrs (I believe) from your appointment, and it is very easy allowing you to phone it in to activate it or directly on-line. I was impressed with how easy it was to activate the trial, and there is no obligation after the trial is up.

The benefits of the trial:
-it is activated right away ( either on-line or by phone)
-There is no waiting period (normal plan waiting periods are 5 days from activation no accidental coverage is included and 30 days from start date no medical conditions will be covered as they are considered 'pre-existing')
-On the kitten/puppy trial there is no waiting period so your pet is covered from the start...just not pre-existing
-the customer service is available toll free 24/7 and the reps are very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
-the reps are honest, they don't "trick" you into anything and they lay all the facts on the table.
-if you sign up and enroll for a monthly plan BEFORE your 30 day trial expires then your coverage is fluid, meaning there is no wait period. (If you sign up 3 weeks after the trial ends or months after you will have to wait 5 days for accident coverage, and 30 days for medical)

Benefits of converting the trial to the monthly plan:
-your coverage continues; no wait
-it is activated right away
- you can pick your deductible and monthly payment ( there are 4 suggested deductibles and payments but you can play around with the numbers to get the exact amount that fits into your budget)
-you can pay monthly with credit card withdrawls or by entering your bank account information and it will come directly out of your account if you prefer not to use credit
-you can cancel at anytime with no penalty
-you can change your deductible at any time and adjust your monthly payments (BUT if you lower your deductible and change your plan that way you have to wait the 5 day accidental and 30 day medical waiting period...but you can increase your deductible at any time with no waiting period)
-there is no cap to how much you can claim
-they pay 90% of the cost
-you can cancel your plan once you have signed up within 30 days and get FULL refund (monthly fee and activation
-if you cancel after 30 days of signing up you won't get charged any penalties (you just won't get a refund)
-you can arrange with your vet to have the insurance company pay the vet directly (if your vet is willing) and that way you won't have to pay upfront for the care, just your 10%
-if you are unsure which conditions they will cover and won't/what is pre-existing then you can 1.sign up 2.request a "pawprint" be done from the insurance company where they will go through your pet's entire vet history and send you a PDF email as to what they will cover and what they won't 3. If you are unsatisfied you can cancel within 30 days and get full refund.
-you can claim veterinary care from your regular veteranarian, emergency hospitals or specialists. It will also work at different veterinary hospitals.
-covers hcm testing, care/diagnostics
-covers dental extractions
-one deductible per condition, once it is paid then you don't have to pay it again for claims for the same condition..so if it is an ongoing life-long condition then it would be worth it.

CONS on the monthly plan:
-activation fee (one time fee~$37)
-doesn't cover "pre-existing"...(so if you bring in your kitten to the vet first visit and it has a heart murmur..they won't cover that condition for it's lifespan.)
-requires annual vaccines unless your vet indicates that it is not needed due to a medical condition. As long as you do FVRCP & Rabies then you will keep your coverage
-does not pay the exam fee
-your monthly fees/deductibles may change if you move
-doesn't include preventative care ( ie. Diets, dental cleanings/chews/treats, cost vaccines, deworming etc)
-if you lower your deductable you have a waiting period
-the deductible is only paid once per condition...but must be paid every time for "accidental" conditions and claims

Hope that helps! I hope I made a good decision. I have requested a "pawprint" and his medical history to be reviewed and I will then be able to determine if it will be beneficial for him long term.

Please let me know your personal experiences with trupanion if tou've dealt with them or feel free to share

 

[admin]

So I have hopped on the band wagon with the Pet Insurance and enrolled my little baby today I've read other posts on pet insurance on this site but on this forum I thought I would do a review on Trupanion for anyone in Canada.

It is VERY extensive and lengthy as I did LOTS of research bedore enrolling, so I thought I would share all the little ins & outs and small print stuff.

Trupanion is a company that I've seen many pet owners use for years. I have heard good things and our veterinary clinic recommends them. They offer a free 30 day trial for your pet and you can get a certificate trial at your veterinary appointment. It has to be activated within 24hrs (I believe) from your appointment, and it is very easy allowing you to phone it in to activate it or directly on-line. I was impressed with how easy it was to activate the trial, and there is no obligation after the trial is up.

The benefits of the trial:
-it is activated right away ( either on-line or by phone)
-There is no waiting period (normal plan waiting periods are 5 days from activation no accidental coverage is included and 30 days from start date no medical conditions will be covered as they are considered 'pre-existing')
-On the kitten/puppy trial there is no waiting period so your pet is covered from the start...just not pre-existing
-the customer service is available toll free 24/7 and the reps are very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
-the reps are honest, they don't "trick" you into anything and they lay all the facts on the table.
-if you sign up and enroll for a monthly plan BEFORE your 30 day trial expires then your coverage is fluid, meaning there is no wait period. (If you sign up 3 weeks after the trial ends or months after you will have to wait 5 days for accident coverage, and 30 days for medical)

Benefits of converting the trial to the monthly plan:
-your coverage continues; no wait
-it is activated right away
- you can pick your deductible and monthly payment ( there are 4 suggested deductibles and payments but you can play around with the numbers to get the exact amount that fits into your budget)
-you can pay monthly with credit card withdrawls or by entering your bank account information and it will come directly out of your account if you prefer not to use credit
-you can cancel at anytime with no penalty
-you can change your deductible at any time and adjust your monthly payments (BUT if you lower your deductible and change your plan that way you have to wait the 5 day accidental and 30 day medical waiting period...but you can increase your deductible at any time with no waiting period)
-there is no cap to how much you can claim
-they pay 90% of the cost
-you can cancel your plan once you have signed up within 30 days and get FULL refund (monthly fee and activation
-if you cancel after 30 days of signing up you won't get charged any penalties (you just won't get a refund)
-you can arrange with your vet to have the insurance company pay the vet directly (if your vet is willing) and that way you won't have to pay upfront for the care, just your 10%
-if you are unsure which conditions they will cover and won't/what is pre-existing then you can 1.sign up 2.request a "pawprint" be done from the insurance company where they will go through your pet's entire vet history and send you a PDF email as to what they will cover and what they won't 3. If you are unsatisfied you can cancel within 30 days and get full refund.
-you can claim veterinary care from your regular veteranarian, emergency hospitals or specialists. It will also work at different veterinary hospitals.
-covers hcm testing, care/diagnostics
-covers dental extractions
-one deductible per condition, once it is paid then you don't have to pay it again for claims for the same condition..so if it is an ongoing life-long condition then it would be worth it.

CONS on the monthly plan:
-activation fee (one time fee~$37)
-doesn't cover "pre-existing"...(so if you bring in your kitten to the vet first visit and it has a heart murmur..they won't cover that condition for it's lifespan.)
-requires annual vaccines unless your vet indicates that it is not needed due to a medical condition. As long as you do FVRCP & Rabies then you will keep your coverage
-does not pay the exam fee
-your monthly fees/deductibles may change if you move
-doesn't include preventative care ( ie. Diets, dental cleanings/chews/treats, cost vaccines, deworming etc)
-if you lower your deductable you have a waiting period
-the deductible is only paid once per condition...but must be paid every time for "accidental" conditions and claims

Hope that helps! I hope I made a good decision. I have requested a "pawprint" and his medical history to be reviewed and I will then be able to determine if it will be beneficial for him long term.

Please let me know your personal experiences with trupanion if tou've dealt with them or feel free to share

Thanks for the review - very thorough. Here are a few more threads on pet insurance - Search Results for Query: trupanion | Sphynxlair

 

[Hairless Blessing]

Seems like many Sphynx owners have it.
Sounds like a great insurance. 90% coverage. That's great.
Seems the pro's out weigh the con's.

 

[Toa and Ross]

Good research and great review. Thanks!

 

[nijunet]

I am in the US but, I can say that Trupanion has been a life saver for me. I have almost reached $30,000 in medical bills for my boy and they have been AMAZING!! So far no claim has been denied and they have paid 90%. I don't know what I would have done had I not gotten insurance.

 

[Xandria]

Fabulous review! Brava. Nice to see some Canadian relative content!

If you don't mind, I'm just going to tag onto this and offer a review of Pet Plan (gopetplan.ca). I use them for Max and the one claim I made was accepted without question. Their plan is a little more variable and a little different from TruPanion. I had a difficult time deciding between TruPanion and PetPlan. I hope you don't mind my rambling rationale.

Reimbursement Cap

The biggest difference between TruPanion and PetPlan is that TruPanion has no limits for reimbursement (y) whereas PetPlan does have a reimbursement cap per year . If you have any concerns, and money isn't a huge issue, then TruPanion is likely the way to go.

PetPlan's Gold plan has a cap of $20,000 per year on vet bills. My feeling is that it's unlikely to need more than that, especially in the first 5 years of Max's life. After speaking with my vet's office, they said unless there is cancer or the need for many MRI or CT scans, total annual bills should not amount to more than $20,000. Still... it's food for thought. We all know how things can happen quickly with our nakeds.

Extras Coverage

TruPanion does have a nicer website :happy:, and their trial is a fabulous idea. They're business model is seamless and professional.

PetPlan's Gold plan (which honestly is only a dollar or so more per month than the Bronze or Silver) does cover (with limits, of course ):

• Boarding fees if you are laid up in the hospital for more than 4 days
• Advertising and reward if pet is stolen or lost
• Loss due to theft or straying
• Death from illness or injury
• Vacation cancellation expenses

TruPanion charges extra for the above. Again, is this important to you? It may be irrelevant. It requires some consideration.

PetPlan also includes :joyful:, which TruPanion charges extra for:

• Alternative and holistic therapies
• Hydrotherapy

Again, is the above important?

When I spoke with PetPlan, they indicated that Sphynx illnesses such as HCM are covered. TruPanion does as well, I'm sure. I've always had great conversations with the people at PetPlan.

The policies between TruPanion and PetPlan are really quite comparable in terms of coverage (with the exception of the two noted above which may or may not be relevant to each person). PetPlan does not have a one time administration fee, but that's pretty negligible.

Dollars and Cents?

TruPanion reimburses 90% (with NO limits), with a $200 deductible, for a rate of $53.55 per month. +$6.38 per month for holistic and hydrotherapy coverage +$4.95 per month for boarding, advertising, death, and vacation cancellation.

PetPlan reimburses 90% (with a $20,000 annual cap), with a $200 deductible, for a rate of $20.83 per month.

It's a tough call. Deciding factors are:

• Is $20,000 per year enough coverage in your opinion? Talk to your vet about potentials. Personally, I'm comfortable with that cap for now. Although my vet suggested we have this discussion again in a few years.
  
• What can you personally afford?

Breakdown of PetPlan's Gold Plan

PetPlan offers 80%, 90%, and 100% reimbursement. They also offer $50, $100, and $200 deductible. I'm only taking into account the Gold plan as the different between Gold, Silver, and Bronze is so minor except that with the Gold you "get more".

For 80% reimbursement:

• $200 deductible = $18.50 per month
• $100 deductible = $26.75 per month
• $50 deductible = $36.67 per month

For 90% reimbursement:

• $200 deductible = $20.83 per month
• $100 deductible = $30.08 per month
• $50 deductible = $41.25 per month

For 100% reimbursement:

• $200 deductible = $25.33 per month
• $100 deductible = $36.42 per month
• $50 deductible = $50.00 per month

Some food for thought:

If you view insurance as great for truly unexpected situations that could get out of control, then 100% reimbursement with a $200 deductible is quite inexpensive ($25.33 per month).

I've been wanting to reevaluate our coverage (so very grateful for this thought provoking post), so I did some number crunching :bookworm: this afternoon (instead of working ). I came up with the following data.

Some sample vet bills for one incident in one year. I compare the deductibles and reimbursements, plus factor in annual cost for one year. Obviously, and hopefully, we have years without incident, in which case, bear in mind the costs for each plan noted above.

This substantiates my thought that for really costly affairs, a 100% deductible is pretty sweet. For less expensive bills the difference between reimbursement percentages isn't massive but you really pay a premium for a smaller deductible (and honestly, what's $150 if the vet bills are huge?).

I'm of a mind that I'd sooner pay a $200 deductible and have 100% coverage. That's only $25.33 per month. I think I know how I'm going to change Max's plan now.

Well, that killed 2 hours of my time.

What a useful distraction. Thank you, @SphynxMomma16, for this inspirational post. You gave me a good reason to do some serious thinking on this subject. And again, nice to have some Canadian pet insurance feedback. Now I have to get back to work... maybe.:depressed:

 

[SphynxMomma16]

Wow good job @Xandria with the review!!! That's amazing I'm glad to see someone else has done their extensive research! Lol It helps to know all the facts and what to expect of pet insurance for us 'bookworm' types. Haha It is a nice way to set out some comparison for us Canadians! Thank you for that, you rock!

Ps. I forgot to mention what I ended up going with. So I picked a 350$ deductible, all taxes in 28.22$/month, 90% coverage, no cap as to how much you can claim.

Hope this thread helps anyone who has been thinking about joining but didn't know where to start.

 

[Hairless Blessing]

Fabulous review! Brava. Nice to see some Canadian relative content!

If you don't mind, I'm just going to tag onto this and offer a review of Pet Plan (gopetplan.ca). I use them for Max and the one claim I made was accepted without question. Their plan is a little more variable and a little different from TruPanion. I had a difficult time deciding between TruPanion and PetPlan. I hope you don't mind my rambling rationale.

Reimbursement Cap

The biggest difference between TruPanion and PetPlan is that TruPanion has no limits for reimbursement (y) whereas PetPlan does have a reimbursement cap per year . If you have any concerns, and money isn't a huge issue, then TruPanion is likely the way to go.

PetPlan's Gold plan has a cap of $20,000 per year on vet bills. My feeling is that it's unlikely to need more than that, especially in the first 5 years of Max's life. After speaking with my vet's office, they said unless there is cancer or the need for many MRI or CT scans, total annual bills should not amount to more than $20,000. Still... it's food for thought. We all know how things can happen quickly with our nakeds.

Extras Coverage

TruPanion does have a nicer website :happy:, and their trial is a fabulous idea. They're business model is seamless and professional.

PetPlan's Gold plan (which honestly is only a dollar or so more per month than the Bronze or Silver) does cover (with limits, of course ):

• 
  
  
  • Boarding fees if you are laid up in the hospital for more than 4 days
  • Advertising and reward if pet is stolen or lost
  • Loss due to theft or straying
  • Death from illness or injury
  • Vacation cancellation expenses

TruPanion charges extra for the above. Again, is this important to you? It may be irrelevant. It requires some consideration.

PetPlan also includes :joyful:, which TruPanion charges extra for:

• 
  
  
  • Alternative and holistic therapies
  • Hydrotherapy

Again, is the above important?

When I spoke with PetPlan, they indicated that Sphynx illnesses such as HCM are covered. TruPanion does as well, I'm sure. I've always had great conversations with the people at PetPlan.

The policies between TruPanion and PetPlan are really quite comparable in terms of coverage (with the exception of the two noted above which may or may not be relevant to each person). PetPlan does not have a one time administration fee, but that's pretty negligible.

Dollars and Cents?

TruPanion reimburses 90% (with NO limits), with a $200 deductible, for a rate of $53.55 per month. +$6.38 per month for holistic and hydrotherapy coverage +$4.95 per month for boarding, advertising, death, and vacation cancellation.

PetPlan reimburses 90% (with a $20,000 annual cap), with a $200 deductible, for a rate of $20.83 per month.

It's a tough call. Deciding factors are:

• 
  
  
  • Is $20,000 per year enough coverage in your opinion? Talk to your vet about potentials. Personally, I'm comfortable with that cap for now. Although my vet suggested we have this discussion again in a few years.
  • What can you personally afford?

Breakdown of PetPlan's Gold Plan

PetPlan offers 80%, 90%, and 100% reimbursement. They also offer $50, $100, and $200 deductible. I'm only taking into account the Gold plan as the different between Gold, Silver, and Bronze is so minor except that with the Gold you "get more".

For 80% reimbursement:

• 
  
  
  • $200 deductible = $18.50 per month
  • $100 deductible = $26.75 per month
  • $50 deductible = $36.67 per month

For 90% reimbursement:

• 
  
  
  • $200 deductible = $20.83 per month
  • $100 deductible = $30.08 per month
  • $50 deductible = $41.25 per month

For 100% reimbursement:

• 
  
  
  • $200 deductible = $25.33 per month
  • $100 deductible = $36.42 per month
  • $50 deductible = $50.00 per month

Some food for thought:

If you view insurance as great for truly unexpected situations that could get out of control, then 100% reimbursement with a $200 deductible is quite inexpensive ($25.33 per month).

I've been wanting to reevaluate our coverage (so very grateful for this thought provoking post), so I did some number crunching :bookworm: this afternoon (instead of working ). I came up with the following data.

Some sample vet bills for one incident in one year. I compare the deductibles and reimbursements, plus factor in annual cost for one year. Obviously, and hopefully, we have years without incident, in which case, bear in mind the costs for each plan noted above.

View attachment 64979

This substantiates my thought that for really costly affairs, a 100% deductible is pretty sweet. For less expensive bills the difference between reimbursement percentages isn't massive but you really pay a premium for a smaller deductible (and honestly, what's $150 if the vet bills are huge?).

I'm of a mind that I'd sooner pay a $200 deductible and have 100% coverage. That's only $25.33 per month. I think I know how I'm going to change Max's plan now.

Well, that killed 2 hours of my time.

What a useful distraction. Thank you, @SphynxMomma16, for this inspirational post. You gave me a good reason to do some serious thinking on this subject. And again, nice to have some Canadian pet insurance feedback. Now I have to get back to work... maybe.:depressed:

100% reimbursement, $200.00 deductible @ $23.33 monthly
I think that would be hard to beat.

 

[Yoda mom]

Great info
Kudos for all the research done!

I opted out for insurance bcz I am sure with my older adoptees something would be pre-existing sniffle or something-
Crossing my fingers ... I have not paid pet insurance in 30 yrs with several pets and rationalizing what I have spent total over the years out of pocket vs what all the premiums for 30 yrs would have added up to be - always had the rescues or adoptees so didn't get insurance bcz afraid of the small print pre existing when I started looking at policies awhile back

If I ever have a brand new baby kitty I will definitely be revisiting the awesome info everyone provided!

 

[CathyO]

Fabulous review! Brava. Nice to see some Canadian relative content!

If you don't mind, I'm just going to tag onto this and offer a review of Pet Plan (gopetplan.ca). I use them for Max and the one claim I made was accepted without question. Their plan is a little more variable and a little different from TruPanion. I had a difficult time deciding between TruPanion and PetPlan. I hope you don't mind my rambling rationale.

Reimbursement Cap

The biggest difference between TruPanion and PetPlan is that TruPanion has no limits for reimbursement (y) whereas PetPlan does have a reimbursement cap per year . If you have any concerns, and money isn't a huge issue, then TruPanion is likely the way to go.

PetPlan's Gold plan has a cap of $20,000 per year on vet bills. My feeling is that it's unlikely to need more than that, especially in the first 5 years of Max's life. After speaking with my vet's office, they said unless there is cancer or the need for many MRI or CT scans, total annual bills should not amount to more than $20,000. Still... it's food for thought. We all know how things can happen quickly with our nakeds.

Extras Coverage

TruPanion does have a nicer website :happy:, and their trial is a fabulous idea. They're business model is seamless and professional.

PetPlan's Gold plan (which honestly is only a dollar or so more per month than the Bronze or Silver) does cover (with limits, of course ):

• Boarding fees if you are laid up in the hospital for more than 4 days
• Advertising and reward if pet is stolen or lost
• Loss due to theft or straying
• Death from illness or injury
• Vacation cancellation expenses

TruPanion charges extra for the above. Again, is this important to you? It may be irrelevant. It requires some consideration.

PetPlan also includes :joyful:, which TruPanion charges extra for:

• Alternative and holistic therapies
• Hydrotherapy

Again, is the above important?

When I spoke with PetPlan, they indicated that Sphynx illnesses such as HCM are covered. TruPanion does as well, I'm sure. I've always had great conversations with the people at PetPlan.

The policies between TruPanion and PetPlan are really quite comparable in terms of coverage (with the exception of the two noted above which may or may not be relevant to each person). PetPlan does not have a one time administration fee, but that's pretty negligible.

Dollars and Cents?

TruPanion reimburses 90% (with NO limits), with a $200 deductible, for a rate of $53.55 per month. +$6.38 per month for holistic and hydrotherapy coverage +$4.95 per month for boarding, advertising, death, and vacation cancellation.

PetPlan reimburses 90% (with a $20,000 annual cap), with a $200 deductible, for a rate of $20.83 per month.

It's a tough call. Deciding factors are:

• Is $20,000 per year enough coverage in your opinion? Talk to your vet about potentials. Personally, I'm comfortable with that cap for now. Although my vet suggested we have this discussion again in a few years.
• What can you personally afford?

Breakdown of PetPlan's Gold Plan

PetPlan offers 80%, 90%, and 100% reimbursement. They also offer $50, $100, and $200 deductible. I'm only taking into account the Gold plan as the different between Gold, Silver, and Bronze is so minor except that with the Gold you "get more".

For 80% reimbursement:

• $200 deductible = $18.50 per month
• $100 deductible = $26.75 per month
• $50 deductible = $36.67 per month

For 90% reimbursement:

• $200 deductible = $20.83 per month
• $100 deductible = $30.08 per month
• $50 deductible = $41.25 per month

For 100% reimbursement:

• $200 deductible = $25.33 per month
• $100 deductible = $36.42 per month
• $50 deductible = $50.00 per month

Some food for thought:

If you view insurance as great for truly unexpected situations that could get out of control, then 100% reimbursement with a $200 deductible is quite inexpensive ($25.33 per month).

I've been wanting to reevaluate our coverage (so very grateful for this thought provoking post), so I did some number crunching :bookworm: this afternoon (instead of working ). I came up with the following data.

Some sample vet bills for one incident in one year. I compare the deductibles and reimbursements, plus factor in annual cost for one year. Obviously, and hopefully, we have years without incident, in which case, bear in mind the costs for each plan noted above.

View attachment 64979

This substantiates my thought that for really costly affairs, a 100% deductible is pretty sweet. For less expensive bills the difference between reimbursement percentages isn't massive but you really pay a premium for a smaller deductible (and honestly, what's $150 if the vet bills are huge?).

I'm of a mind that I'd sooner pay a $200 deductible and have 100% coverage. That's only $25.33 per month. I think I know how I'm going to change Max's plan now.

Well, that killed 2 hours of my time.

What a useful distraction. Thank you, @SphynxMomma16, for this inspirational post. You gave me a good reason to do some serious thinking on this subject. And again, nice to have some Canadian pet insurance feedback. Now I have to get back to work... maybe.:depressed:

I know this is an older post but I am glad to see I am not the only “keener” *wink,wink* who uses a spreadsheet to compare things haha I do it on cat food too lol

I use PetPlan with my 9mo ragdoll and the process of deciding between using it again or try Trupanion for my 6mo Sphynx. I went through the same thought process and each of my cats are diff in how they appear to get “sick”. My raggie tends to have more non-routine vet exams that end up being clear of any illness while my sphynx rarely ever shows issues (knock on wood). PetPlan seems to check my major concerns for her which are vet exams being covered and with downtown Toronto being more expensive I can start getting reimbursed after just 3 visits.
Downsides with Petplan is extra long reimbursement period of over a month and they asked for full medical records for just 1 vet exam claim where my cat ended up being ok. Just the usual digestive issue from food change after adoption. Also, u cannot increase your coverage once ANY claim process has started. The free online vet they have for minor Qs anyone can get separely via PetCoach.

If PetPlan continues to be “inconvenient” like this, I will choose the lowest amount I can get with Trupanion as the last thing I want is “paperwork” if something happens to my cat. My vet does direct billing with Trupanion. I think the annual cap and exam fees are the two major decision factors that can sway one between PetPlan and Trupanion.

 

[Yoda mom]

@CathyO , keep us updated !
When I looked at insurance I asked for a copy of the policies to read the small print .
Some required certain vaccines . In sphynx contracts many will be void if Felv and FIP vaccines are given .

The other “spread sheet “ analysis I did was #of pets, for #of years , $ total spent of vet bills for all of them over those years .

Then I did monthly plan $ cost, #of pets , over #of years ...

Along with reading the small print of insurance policies to make an informed decision .

Keep us updated!

 

[Condo commando]

I love that you guys are using spreadsheets. I use them all the time. I have my raw food recipes on spreadsheets that calculate everything I can possibly want to see. I don't want to worry you guys but I'm a tech geek just FWIW

 

[CathyO]

I love that you guys are using spreadsheets. I use them all the time. I have my raw food recipes on spreadsheets that calculate everything I can possibly want to see. I don't want to worry you guys but I'm a tech geek just FWIW

#goals I have yet to be more consistent in linking my spreadsheet formulas. That is such a good idea. I remember one night time looking for all the scribbles I did on a pet food receipt. No fun!

 

[CathyO]

@CathyO , keep us updated !
When I looked at insurance I asked for a copy of the policies to read the small print .
Some required certain vaccines . In sphynx contracts many will be void if Felv and FIP vaccines are given .

The other “spread sheet “ analysis I did was #of pets, for #of years , $ total spent of vet bills for all of them over those years .

Then I did monthly plan $ cost, #of pets , over #of years ...

Along with reading the small print of insurance policies to make an informed decision .

Keep us updated!

Good to know about the FIP and FeLV - who knew! It didn't seem they have this exclusion as PetPlan's fine print seems straightforward and they even say it so although it does make me a bit paranoid when it sounds too good to be true. I mean they even cover, if applicable, the adoption fee if your pet passes away before age 6. Not that any pet guardian would want that but I'm sure it does help lessen any financial stress that none of us need. So I just got the Vet Exam claim approved and it took exactly 26 days from start to finish and they asked for FULL medical record proof TWICE via a separate email (outside their website). Apparently, this was in their fine print that they will ask for FULL medical records the first time you submit a claim. For my Sphynx here in my area, it's a choice between $29 PetPlan vs $42 Trupanion for the same deductible for $20k vs unli coverage respectively. Haven't used Trupanion, but you can request for PetPlan to email you after a chat your chat convo. I may continue to go with the cheaper one for now for my Sphynx and not do a Vet Exam claim on her so if I need to switch to Trupanion at age 2 or 4 I can do a coverage overlap while transitioning to the other insurance.

 

[Luna112]

So I have hopped on the band wagon with the Pet Insurance and enrolled my little baby today I've read other posts on pet insurance on this site but on this forum I thought I would do a review on Trupanion for anyone in Canada.

It is VERY extensive and lengthy as I did LOTS of research bedore enrolling, so I thought I would share all the little ins & outs and small print stuff.

Trupanion is a company that I've seen many pet owners use for years. I have heard good things and our veterinary clinic recommends them. They offer a free 30 day trial for your pet and you can get a certificate trial at your veterinary appointment. It has to be activated within 24hrs (I believe) from your appointment, and it is very easy allowing you to phone it in to activate it or directly on-line. I was impressed with how easy it was to activate the trial, and there is no obligation after the trial is up.

The benefits of the trial:
-it is activated right away ( either on-line or by phone)
-There is no waiting period (normal plan waiting periods are 5 days from activation no accidental coverage is included and 30 days from start date no medical conditions will be covered as they are considered 'pre-existing')
-On the kitten/puppy trial there is no waiting period so your pet is covered from the start...just not pre-existing
-the customer service is available toll free 24/7 and the reps are very helpful, knowledgeable and friendly.
-the reps are honest, they don't "trick" you into anything and they lay all the facts on the table.
-if you sign up and enroll for a monthly plan BEFORE your 30 day trial expires then your coverage is fluid, meaning there is no wait period. (If you sign up 3 weeks after the trial ends or months after you will have to wait 5 days for accident coverage, and 30 days for medical)

Benefits of converting the trial to the monthly plan:
-your coverage continues; no wait
-it is activated right away
- you can pick your deductible and monthly payment ( there are 4 suggested deductibles and payments but you can play around with the numbers to get the exact amount that fits into your budget)
-you can pay monthly with credit card withdrawls or by entering your bank account information and it will come directly out of your account if you prefer not to use credit
-you can cancel at anytime with no penalty
-you can change your deductible at any time and adjust your monthly payments (BUT if you lower your deductible and change your plan that way you have to wait the 5 day accidental and 30 day medical waiting period...but you can increase your deductible at any time with no waiting period)
-there is no cap to how much you can claim
-they pay 90% of the cost
-you can cancel your plan once you have signed up within 30 days and get FULL refund (monthly fee and activation
-if you cancel after 30 days of signing up you won't get charged any penalties (you just won't get a refund)
-you can arrange with your vet to have the insurance company pay the vet directly (if your vet is willing) and that way you won't have to pay upfront for the care, just your 10%
-if you are unsure which conditions they will cover and won't/what is pre-existing then you can 1.sign up 2.request a "pawprint" be done from the insurance company where they will go through your pet's entire vet history and send you a PDF email as to what they will cover and what they won't 3. If you are unsatisfied you can cancel within 30 days and get full refund.
-you can claim veterinary care from your regular veteranarian, emergency hospitals or specialists. It will also work at different veterinary hospitals.
-covers hcm testing, care/diagnostics
-covers dental extractions
-one deductible per condition, once it is paid then you don't have to pay it again for claims for the same condition..so if it is an ongoing life-long condition then it would be worth it.

CONS on the monthly plan:
-activation fee (one time fee~$37)
-doesn't cover "pre-existing"...(so if you bring in your kitten to the vet first visit and it has a heart murmur..they won't cover that condition for it's lifespan.)
-requires annual vaccines unless your vet indicates that it is not needed due to a medical condition. As long as you do FVRCP & Rabies then you will keep your coverage
-does not pay the exam fee
-your monthly fees/deductibles may change if you move
-doesn't include preventative care ( ie. Diets, dental cleanings/chews/treats, cost vaccines, deworming etc)
-if you lower your deductable you have a waiting period
-the deductible is only paid once per condition...but must be paid every time for "accidental" conditions and claims

Hope that helps! I hope I made a good decision. I have requested a "pawprint" and his medical history to be reviewed and I will then be able to determine if it will be beneficial for him long term.

Please let me know your personal experiences with trupanion if tou've dealt with them or feel free to share

Working in the veterinary field for the last ten years I have dealt with Trupanion a lot. I’ll start off by saying I’m in the United States so I’m sure it varies from state to state. Trupanion is one of the most expensive insurances out there. They also have a deductible per condition which if you have a $250 deductible(which is the standard) you are looking at $1000 in deductibles per year if you take your cat in for 4 different things: ears, eyes, gastrointestinal, upper respiratory infection. That’s just $1000 in deductibles, that’s not including the 10% you’re responsible for, and the physical exam costs which is $40-$65(non emergency).
The vet direct pay is a cool feature, IF your vet is set up with Trupanion express as part of their software. And most vets, other than emergency vets will not allow you to use it for small normal ailments. Assuming your vet does allow you to use it, if it’s a condition that hasn’t been paid out on yet, they take time to review the records and policy, so you’ll be waiting at the vet for some time to get the go ahead to pay the 10%(assuming you’ve met your deductible).
I only ever recommend Trupanion when some one has it already and the pet would have “pre-existing” conditions if they change policies.
This is completely my experience and OPINION on Trupanion in south Florida.

 

[Sheldon13]

I can’t recommend enough Healthy Paws insurance. Look into it.


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