You enter into a certain amount of madness when you marry a person with pets. ~~ Nora Ephron ~

Almost thirty years ago, I processed insurance at a (people) clinic and was surprised a well-to-do client had no health insurance. He was in trouble with the IRS (and banned by insurance companies) because he'd enrolled the family dog on their health insurance policy. I think he did this for tax purposes because I can't imagine how he'd pull it off in medical cost savings, but maybe he had a creative plan. This was before pet insurance was available in the U.S. and I remember thinking, medical insurance for pets, what a crazy idea. But, veterinary medicine has changed drastically in years since, and brings, along with almost the same care available for people, medical insurance.

For decades, in Europe, approximately 25% of the pet population, especially in England, has carried pet insurance, as compared with less than 1-2% in the U.S. (figures as of 2008). Rather than better care by pet owners, the difference in popularity could be due to how differently human health care is handled.

Until it's possible for a pet owner to predict the future of his or her pet, the question is, is it worth it? My daughter's 3 year old Mastiff mix needed ACL surgery (the most common-and expensive--orthopedic surgery for large dogs) on both knees. Had he been insured, premiums would have been well worth it. But, one veterinary professional I spoke with said that, between premiums and reimbursements, most insurance carriers probably break even.

Since there's not as much consumer demand in the U.S., pet insurance companies tend to come and go, so it's important to choose one well established and more likely to stay in business. A search provided me a list of thirteen companies in the U.S. I found navigating the complexities of pet insurance to be as daunting as people insurance so I contacted three (by phone, to test their customer service availability) for information.

I learned that pet insurance isn't like human insurance in that veterinarians don't accept third party or insurance payments; the pet owner is responsible for paying for treatment and then filing an insurance claim to be reimbursed. (Generally, there is a 2-3 week turn-around.) And, insuring cats is less expensive than dogs.

Like human insurance, most pet companies have an annual deductible ($100, $250, $500, $1,000...) to apply to each pet. Most also offer a discount of 5-10% if more than one pet is enrolled. Some have a maximum reimbursement allowable per year or a maximum on particular treatments. Generally, most insurance companies will cover between 80-100% of care, procedures, and treatments.

Individual pet factors to consider when deciding on an insurance package include:

1. Age: It would be more cost-effective to opt for Preventative (Wellness) care for a puppy because of the frequency of vet visits for vaccines, routine checks and spaying/neutering. Adult and senior dogs may be more economically covered under Major Medical, though that probably wouldn't include dental coverage.
2. Breed: Insurance companies will look at hereditary factors inherent in a breed, along with breed reputations. One insurer told me that Chihuahua premiums are usually the lowest, while insuring a Pit Bull is the highest. (With a mixed breed, it's a good idea to run the rates on more than one breed in the mix.)

The following three companies I called were very responsive:

1. VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance) is one of the oldest, if not the oldest (they originally insured the dog who played Lassie). http://www.petinsurance.com/; 888-899-4874. There is no Co-pay; coverage is 100% (with annual maximums) and there is a 5% discount for 2-3 pets; 10% for 4 or more.
2. AKC Pet Healthcare Plan http://www.akcpethealthcare.com/ 866-725-2747: 80/20 Co-pay. In business since 2003; underwriter has been insuring pets since the 1980's. Co-pay is 80/20 and there is a 5% discount for more than one pet.
3. Purina Care: http://www.purinacare.com/ 877-878-7462. 80/20 Co-pay. Scott (at Extension 0475) called back right away and provided answers to all my questions. The insurance division of Purina has been in business for 4 years. There is a 5% discount for 2 pets and a 10% discount for 3 or more.

A website called Pet Insurance Review: http://www.petinsurancereview.com/index.asp provides customer reviews on 12 companies in the U.S. The reader can also use the site to get rates, coverage and quotes from individual companies. Before signing on with any company, be sure to read fine print and know what is excluded!

If you would like to learn how to become a dog groomer, our classes begin the second Tuesday, of every month. Please contact our Dumfries School at 703-221-3647.

Salon News: We're happy that Mari Bever's wrist has healing and she's back at work.

Our Chantilly salon needs a part-time receptionist at $10.00/hour.

Jay-Jay has Toy Poodle puppies due on 12/1/11; they will be black with white markings, at $500 each, and CKC registered.

~ Written by Rebecca Nilson ~ nilsonowensrebecca@gmail.com

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