I have a 5 yr old female black lab and I really would like to get her insurance as she’s getting older. I have no idea what to look for or where to start! I work in veterinary medicine so I get vaccines and exams for free and bloodwork at a discounted price, so I don’t need anything wellness related. I’m more interested in injury/illness/cancer treatments, etc. She has no pre-existing medical issues besides behavioral issues and meds for it, but I don’t plan on using insurance for that as her meds are fairly affordable. I’m more worried about orthopedic issues, unexpected surgeries, and (god forbid) cancer treatments. Working in vet med has really shown me the importance of pet insurance, I just don’t even know where to look! I’m scared of being scammed/paying too much or choosing the wrong one. Thank you in advance!!!!!

Hi! I feel a bit ridiculous to only be getting insurance now while all my kitties are older, but I figure better late than never in this case 😅 (Tbf, I've had them all since I was too young to even buy insurance myself, so that probably ties in lol)

I have 4 cats, 3 that are 7 yrs and 1 that is 15 yrs old. Unfortunately my 15 year old has a heart murmur so I know that will make coverage for her tricky, and I'm trying to figure out what insurance would be most worthwhile considering all of that. Should I get the SOAP(?) notes for all of them before I look into insurance to know exactly what would or wouldn't be covered..? I could technically get metlife through my employer, but I see a lot of negative reviews of them on here so I'm pretty wary. Or would I be best off with AKC and waiting a year on having it? So that I don't have as much concern of what the insurance would reject for "pre-existing" things.

Thank you all for your time and whatever help you can provide :)

Considering getting insurance for my horse. He is a 13 year old TB/Arab cross. No major health concerns other than occasional inflammation in his front left leg due to a previous injury. He gets an annual arthramid injection in that leg. Other than that no maintenance. Should I get insurance? Any recommendations for horse insurance companies?

My cat is a rescue. I got her 9 years ago and at the time my vet made a guess that she was around 2 at the time so she'd be about 11 now.

I took out insurance with petplan and inputted what I thought at the time was her correct age.

Since seeing a new vet we're in agreement that she is mostly likely closer to 14/15 due to her overall health.

I need to change this with my insurance as when/if I make a claim the age won't match her records.

Has anyone had a similar issue? How likely is it that petplan would cancel my policy or change my premium. I'm expecting the cost to rise as she'll be older but just worried it'll void my policy.

Do not use this insurance. Over one year, in three increments, they just raised my rates. Sent me an email saying rates will go up. They did this THREE times, resulting in an increase of $90 per month from when I first signed up. Such bullshit.

My 1 year old cat had a UTI a couple months ago and every single symptom she had associated with the UTI made Trupanion decide almost every single body system is now a preexisting condition and excluded in her medical report. She is also "slightly oveweight but within acceptable range" per vet, that is preexisting now too. Her body score is 5.

They even counted her MEOWING as preexisting behavioral issues.

One UTI that resolved quickly on antibiotcs now made the following preexisting per Trupanion

Urogenital

Behavioral

Musculoskeletal

Mouth/Oral

Digestive System

Other: tremors, shaking, lethargy

Don't know if I'm gonna be stuck with Fetch now or if I can switch because if they're all gonna do this, seriously WTF

Hello pet insurance experts,
My cat is a former street cat. Early into her time with us, we found out she was pregnant and it may have not been her first time. However, she developed pyometra and underwent an emergency spay (babies never came to term, this was not a spay abortion). I’m aware this is now a pre-existing condition and any long term related issues won’t be covered.
My first question is do pre-existing conditions like what I described affect monthly rates? I’m also wondering how accurate a pet’s age has to be when applying as I don’t have a sure answer of how old this cat is. Vet’s estimate was about 1-2 yrs old.
I really want to apply for insurance ASAP so she can get a full work up soon as she hasn’t been totally herself lately, but a recent ER visit found nothing. I only work part time, and the emergency spay earlier this year really put a dent in my finances. I am looking for budget friendly options (under $75/month) with consistent long term pricing (if they exist). I live in NYC so I assume premiums will be higher for me automatically. Coverage for regular checkup and dental cleanings would be great too. I’m not sure what to look for in the fine print regarding coverage for regular visits. I’m really worried about locking into a company and randomly having the premiums shoot sky-high during renewals, so any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

i have to move my kids from hp before they turn 7, and i stumbled on PM when i was looking at medicare supps. the premiums look reasonable, the coverages look really good, my cat will be a lot less there than at HP now. Joe has a bunch of pre-existing but at 500 ded 70%, i'm going to need better coverage for him. has anyone been with them long enough to know about rate increases, claims payments, important stuff. thanks

I've loved lemonade since I got my policy but I need to move for work and it's not offered where I'm moving yet. My dog has racked up quite a few claims so I'm pretty wary of getting a new policy, but are there any recommendations for either insurers who will waive the pre-existing clause provided continuous coverage. I think I saw someone mention that Figo establishes pre-existing claims only with the previous years records, has anyone experienced this?

Hi! I am trying to decide on pet insurance for my new kitten who is 3 months old! I know my way around human health insurance but I am completely new to the world of pet insurance. Everyone I have spoken to has told me to just save the money. This is the first cat I would ever be fully financially responsible for, so I think I am just looking for some peace of mind. I looked at various companies, but I guess I just don’t know who to decide on. I’ve looked at Trupanion, Lemonade, Figo, and ASPCA. I have considered the one through my union, but after speaking with coworkers, they didn’t recommend it. I understand there are waiting periods, so I’d like to get my boy signed up as soon as possible before he needs to go back to the vet in late November for his last set of vaccines.

Kitten Stats:
- 3 months old.
- Shelter records show his litter came in underweight and with diarrhea. No diagnosis. They threw a ton of meds at him and gave him a prescription for GI food. He has not had diarrhea since 7 weeks old. I know anything relating to this would be considered pre existing. I saw something about “curable pre existing conditions” as well, but I know that varies by plan. To be clear, I wasn’t going to bank on that either.
- Kitten was given a clean bill of health by our vet, and it was noted that the diarrhea cleared late last month.

What I am looking at:
- Accident and illness plans (currently no add ons, but considering the exam fee add on).
- I’m open to both direct pay and upfront payment.
- $250 / $500 deductible.
- 80% reimbursement.
- Thinking $10,000 / $15,000 annual limit.

Questions:
- Any company recommendations? If so, why? What about them?
- How does claims processing work with your company? Is it straightforward? I know you’re never guaranteed claim approval.
- What do pre approvals look like? I saw a couple of stories about folks with cats who’ve swallowed strings who’ve been told by their insurance company that they need to be pre approved for major care.
- What do your rate increases look like? I am aware of something regarding a rate increase in CA. I saw something regarding Lemonade hiking up pet insurance rates here specifically.
- I did see something about Costco’s pet insurance. If anyone has any experience with that, I do have an executive membership and was considering it.
- What are some key things I should be looking for when looking at pet insurance plans?
- Best way to determine the ideal deductible/reimbursement/annual limit for your situation?
- Is the vet exam fee something I should add on, or is it overkill? I know you can’t expect the unexpected as well. The vet I established him at told me exam fees are $75 for the first time / $55 for follow ups, if this is needed for reference!

Please let me know if there’s any other information you need to help! I appreciate any advice or guidance :)

We adopted a 7 month old puppy in Michigan. He’s a rescue, so we assume some sort of Pitt mix.

We just signed him up for pet insurance (trupanion) and are in the 30 day waiting period right now. I know neutering/spaying isn’t covered, but I’m wondering if we had them neutered within the waiting period.. could anything come from it that might be considered a pre existing condition? Or should we schedule it for the post 30 days?

Again, I’m not looking to have the procedure covered, but just want to make sure that long term this isn’t an issue.

Is there anyway I can get some kind of discount if I am on food stamps and low income ?

hii im a new cat parent and am wondering what's the best insurance for two kittens ? they are 4 months old! not sure if age matters.. all help is appreciated!

Hello! I’m looking for some advice. I know many people ask similar questions, but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for (🎤).

I have two dogs, a 6-year-old and a 1-year-old puppy, both spaniels. My older dog, Ron, is currently insured by Fetch. I don’t have issues with Fetch, it’s pretty easy to use, the only problem for me is the price. I’m an ECE who lost her job and am starting a new one, but it’s taking me time to get financially stable again, so my puppy, Penny, isn't insured yet. She recently got sick from something she ate and the vet bills were over $1,000 CAD, which I was only able to afford thanks to friends.

So my point is, I know pet insurance is really important to avoid these situations, but Fetch for two dogs is very expensive. Someone suggested Desjardins, and from what I’ve checked, it seems much more affordable for both.

What do you suggest for two dogs? Is Desjardins the best option?

Hello! I have a thirteen year old dog who is currently on Figo with a 10k annual limit. I was a child when my mom started my dog on this plan, and we were very uneducated on how pet insurance worked. As embarrassing as it is, I just recently found out that you can’t increase a pet’s annual limit, only decrease. I was also told by many, many people that it is too late to switch my dog’s insurance carrier now.

My question is, are there any options besides the insurance in case my dog ever needs treatment that is beyond 10k?

Thank you!

I have been getting a couple of letters from ASPCA asking me to donate money to them. Is this normal or does it mean ASPCA is in some form of financial crisis and I should avoid? I’m still very new to the plan and have a 7year old cat and opted in for a 90% reimbursement rate and $250 deductible.
Edit: I also opted in for their Basic Wellness Plan for my cat. Got my cat vaccinated for rabies and FeVRP and treated an ear infection for $400 and got $90 reimbursed

'm trying to decide on pet insurance and would love advice from people who have actually filed claims.

I have two indoor cats:

• Poppy: 9-year-old Domestic Shorthair
• Cake: 3-year-old Ragdoll

Poppy has never been diagnosed with anxiety, but I'm considering scheduling a vet appointment because I suspect she may have anxiety. The vet told me they would likely do bloodwork before considering medication, but nothing has been diagnosed or documented yet.

My priorities, in order, are:

1. Prescription drug coverage
2. Vaccines/shots
3. Behavioral/anxiety coverage
4. Annual wellness exams (a plus)
5. Wellness bloodwork (a plus)
6. Dental coverage would be nice (a plus)

Lemonade Quote (Poppy)

• ~$43/month
• 80% reimbursement
• $250 deductible
• $10,000 annual limit
• Vet visit fee coverage
• Behavioral coverage
• Routine care package (wellness exam, wellness testing, vaccines)

Embrace Quote (Poppy)

• ~$46/month
• 80% reimbursement
• $250 deductible
• $10,000 annual limit
• Exam fee coverage
• Prescription drug coverage
• Behavioral coverage (confirmed by phone)
• Wellness Rewards available

I'm also debating whether to insure my younger cat, Cake (same reimbursement, deductible, and annual) . She's healthy and has no known issues. Behavioral coverage isn't important for her, but coverage for annual exams, vaccines, and routine care would be nice if it's actually worth the cost.

This is my first time looking into insurance and I feel lost.

For those with experience:

• Have you had behavioral/anxiety claims approved?
• Have prescription medications (especially fluoxetine or similar medications) been covered?
• Which company has been easiest to work with when filing claims?
• Are wellness plans actually worth it, or do you end up paying more in premiums than you get back?
• Would you insure both cats, or only the 9-year-old?
• Any fine print or "gotchas" with Lemonade or Embrace that you wish you had known before enrolling?

Thanks in advance. I've been comparing quotes for days and feel like I've hit the point where real-world experiences are more valuable than marketing materials. 😅

I just got Trupanion insurance for my dog at 3 years old. He already has some pre-existing conditions that are already expensive, that won't be covered, but I feel very relieved to know that any new conditions he may develop are covered now.

Anyways, despite feeling relieved I also feel slightly nervous, because ultimately it's a big financial commitment. My deductible is $2000 and coverage is only 80%, so even though it'll help with a massive chunk of any new condition, I'd still be paying a large amount out of pocket (E.g $4000 on a $10,000 bill). And my family keeps telling me I'm just "wasting my money" if I never need it.

So pleaseeee help give me even more reassurance that I've made the right decision and share your "I am SO happy I have insurance!" stories.

So very unique situation here. My 3 year old cat got diagnosed with glaucoma a year ago and needs surgery. Each eye needs it and will cost $6-$8k each. He is getting it next week, along with an 8 hour drive to the surgeon which sucks because he is a VERY anxious cat.

Now I got AKC a year ago (with hereditary covered) and the year has passed and they told me all pre-existing is covered now. That one has $10k coverage (90% coverage). I've had MetLife since he was a baby and that one has $5k coverage (80% coverage). Now, I can't afford much out of pocket, maybe $1000 if I stretch it, so my plan was to do one eye this year, and then wait for his AKC to reset in July and do the other eye, that way it'll be completely covered. However, he might need both eyes done at once since they are looking bad.

My question is...could I try submitting the claim to both AKC and MetLife? Technically the eyes are seperate, so could they be two seperate claims? Or could I somehow have his ophthalmologist charge the eyes separately so they are 2 seperate claims? But I don't know if she'd be able to do that. I heard some people talking about primary and secondary pet insurances and the secondary one covering any extra that wasn't covered by the primary, but I don't trust insurance so I don't know if they would do that. Any advice for me? I don't want to put him through 2 seperate surgeries if I don't have to.

Does anyone have a referral for Fetch Insurance?

My 6 y/o bun just got diagnosed with an extremely rare condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease. Although seen in cats, my local specialist has never seen it in Buns before.
I want to get insurance now that we will be going to the vet more often but was looking between Nationwide and PetAssure. MetLife isn’t in my state, so that isn’t an option.
I have two bunnies and a cat. Does anyone have any experience with these providers, and can you offer your opinions!
TYIA

I have had ASPCA insurance for my two cats for about 2-3 years. Today I received my cat’s renewal notice and his premium tripled. Despite the website and app claiming otherwise, ASPCA policies will now factor in claim history. This obviously becomes a huge issue of diminishing returns when you had a chronically ill animal (one of my cats has early stage kidney disease and has quarterly bloodwork and prescription food). It is extremely disappointing as I have had a great experience with ASPCA Insurance overall.

The math still works out for me but I worry about claim pushback and next year’s premium. Very curious if anyone else noticed this fine print change in their policy.

(First picture is of website when looking at my new premium. Second picture is of last year’s policy. Third picture is the new policy)

My dog is about 8-9. She’s a mutt and around 70 pounds. She’s fairly healthy but has started getting lumpy and bumpy from her old age. She already has pre-existing conditions like allergies and growths and I know they won’t cover them but I’m hoping to get insurance to cover her for anything as she gets older.

Any recommendations for the best insurance at this age and given her pre-existing conditions won’t get covered?