Health insurance is difficult to find for dogs over a certain age (usually eight years). Age limits also change from time to time. The American Humane Society supports the concept of pet health insurance because it often means the difference between euthanizing a pet and treating him.
For commentary on pet health insurance, you can read, "Insuring the Health of Your Pet," John Cargill and Susan Thorpe-Vargas, authors.
These companies offer pet insurance:
Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) 1-800-872.7387 (an older, established company). The following "testimonial" for Veterinary Pet Insurance was posted to the Senior-L list in 1998:
"We are very pleased with Veterinary Pet Insurance. It has saved us an awful lot of money. Both our policies have already paid for themselves several times. A fine example is the $750 check I am waiting for in response to Dublin's $1500 laryngeal paralysis surgery. It also is covering the Adequan shots for his arthritis. If you have a senior dog who is still rather healthy, you can get a policy; however, they do not cover 'pre-existing conditions.'"
Pet Assure Inc., 1-888-789-7387 (New York based) Pet Assure supposedly enrolls all pets, regardless of age, infirmity, or species.
Petshealth, 1-800-799-5852 (a relative newcomer -- 1998 -- to the pet health insurance business)
Medical Management International, Inc. 1-503-256-7299 (based in Portland, Oregon)
Petsmart also offers an "Optimum Wellness Plan", which is not "insurance" per se, but rather an annual-fee-based program that covers regular exams and offers unlimited free office visits.
In December 2000, we note that Reader's Digest was about to enter the market with "Pethealth, Inc." For details, E-mail: Glen Tennison, CFO of Pethealth.
