I just ran a quote through VPI pet insurance for my dogs. Without any routine care coverage it came to a total of about $42 a month (and from what I saw they only cover about 60% of most expenses). I'm thinking that instead of giving the money to the insurance company, I could put $50 a month into a seperate bank account/investment account like maybe ING? Any other suggestions for a good place to set up this type of account?
I wouldn't plan on using the money in the account for routine check-ups. Does this make sense? Does the amount make sense? The dogs are 2 and about 3.5.

 Quote: kiersten lippman

from what I saw they only cover about 60% of most expenses...

Does this make sense? Does the amount make sense? The dogs are 2 and about 3.5.

Kiersten, we purchased either VPI or the other one (PetsHealth??) for a couple years a few years ago. After our encounter with back and jaw surgery for the mini-dachshund, I learned that the coverage was 60% of "reasonable fees" or "average fees" associated with the surgeries. Well, we must have chosen the most expensive vet surgeons on the planet because the coverage was more like 40-50% of our costs. I finally concluded, like you, that I could do better saving myself than paying all of the insurance employees to save for me.

That was just my experience. Hopefully, other's have had better...

Kiersten,
I do just that.
Set aside so much a month for doggie incidentals.
I try to not use it for routine check ups, insurance wouldn't cover that anyway...i have it for anything above and beyond the normal yearly check ups.

That is what we do as well, I do $25 a month per dog, plus extra if I have it.
I am so glad we did, since we cleaned it out and then some for Nico's surgery last year.

 Quote: rob abel

After our encounter with back and jaw surgery for the mini-dachshund, I learned that the coverage was 60% of "reasonable fees" or "average fees" associated with the surgeries. Well, we must have chosen the most expensive vet surgeons on the planet because the coverage was more like 40-50% of our costs. I finally concluded, like you, that I could do better saving myself than paying all of the insurance employees to save for me.

Huh. This is such a timely thread for me, since the bill for the credit card I put Oscar's recent emergency hospital stay on arrived just this week... I obviously knew it was coming, but ouch. The payment will come out of savings, and I even opted for one big check, vs the zero interest "care credit" plan I was offered at the e-vet, so we could get it over with and not carry the debt around for ages.

Oscar is a relatively healthy guy, but he's accident prone - it's not cumulative little things with him, it's catastrophic hits to the wallet every few years - I keep toying with the idea of health insurance for him, but we haven't done it yet, and based on the insights here, I think putting money aside on our own is really a just as good, if not better, solution (at least it's worked for us all this time). Assuming one is responsible enough to maintain some form of savings account, even if it ended up a wash in terms of dollars spent, at least you'd be in 100% control of the money.

Thanks for helping me develop some resolution on this!

~Natalya

When I decided I wanted to get a dog, I started an "emergency fund" so that by the time I had figured out what kind of dog I wanted, gone to see a few breeders, put my name on 2 wait lists and actually picked up my puppy, I had over $2000 in the account. I have an ING account and $100 a month is automatically transfered to the account. I pray I will never need the money but I sleep well at night knowing the money is there if needed.

Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｉｔ　ａｌｓｏ　ｄｅｐｅｎｄｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｕｍｂｅｒ　ｏｆ　ｄｏｇｓ　ｙｏｕ　ｈａｖｅ．　　Ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　４　ｄｏｇｓ，　Ｉ　ｄｅｃｉｄｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｕｙ　ｉｎｓｕｒａｎｃｅ　ｏｎ　ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅｍ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｍｙ　ｙｏｕｎｇｅｒ　ＧＳＤ　ｃｈｉｐｐｅｄ　ｈｅｒ　ｍｏｌａｒ　ａｎｄ　ｉｎｃｕｒｒｅｄ　ｏｖｅｒ　＄４０００　ｉｎ　ｄｅｎｔａｌ　ｖｅｔ　ｆｅｅｓ．　Ｈｅｒ　ｐｅｔ　ｉｎｓｕｒａｎｃｅ　ｅｎｄｅｄ　ｕｐ　ｃｏｖｅｒｉｎｇ　７５％　ｏｆ　ｉｔ (since it was injury related)．　　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｗｅｌｌ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｗｈａｔ　Ｉ paid in premium/year. When I renewed her policy the following year, her premium only went up by ａｂｏｕｔ 10%, much less than what I　ｈａｄ　ｅｘｐｅｃｔｅｄ．　

Ａｐｒｉｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｙｅａｒ，　ｍｙ　ｙｏｕｎｇｅｒ　ＧＳＤ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｖｏｍｉｔｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ，　Ｉ was worried she was going to bloat, the e-vet visit (with x-ray) ran close to $400, her insurance took care of 60% of it (she had a $100 deductible). Turned out she just had an upset stomach.

My senior GSD developed a tumor on his paw 5 months after I bought his pet insurance, it was $1100 for the surgery to remove it and to do the biopsy (turned out to be benign). The insurance covered 40% of it (we opted for a higher deductible for him). What the insurance covered was pretty much what we paid in premium/year for him.

We are paying about $120/month for the 4 dogs, I　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｃａｎ’ｔ　ｓａｙ　ｏｎｅ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｏｒ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｈａｖｅ　ｐｅｔ　ｉｎｓｕｒａｎｃｅ，　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　like　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅａｃｅ　ｏｆ　ｍｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｋｎｏｗｉｎｇ　that for whatever reason, should the dogs need medical care at the same time (fingers crossed), they are covered．　　　　　

Some interesting prespectives on the topic. I too have gone around and around with this decision, the thing that always holds me back from purchasing the insurance is the pre-existing conditions and 'breed tendency non coverage ailments', plus that average rate thing that Rob mentioned. I am very hesitant to buy a plan and just keep putting away money in an account just in case.

For human drugs prescribed for the the dogs I will get at the human pharmacy vs the vet depending on the cost and length of prescription need.

The main thing is that some kind of fund is saved for in the event you never see coming. Even with the insurance we have, you still have to have the money up front and the insurance has to reimburse you after the whole thing is reviewed etc.

That said, it all depends on your own personal finances and ability to save the money.

I pay $62 a month for two dogs, and I believe it covers either 75-80% of emergent and injurous situations.
It sure came in handy when my female had a freak accidental trama (FCE) and it covered a very decent portion of the bills.

Also, it helps in cases where you have multiple pets, as expenses multiply as well.

It just requires dedicated savings, as things can and do happen when you least expect it.
Just my 2 cents.