I am due to get a pup from reputable breeder, with healthy lines/hip & elbow scores etc. So, a health pup expected.

Some have advised me: save money in account. But when i do the maths, it will take several years to accumulate the amount i could need in first few years, should something go wrong (ACL Repair for e.g.). And my family have a habit of throwing expensive curve balls my way that can deplete savings fast! weddings etc.

I'm after a recommendation for a good insurance policy for a new pup. That will cover all.
For those of you who have insurance that you have claimed from, any recommendations of who is good, who is not so good?
What premiums can i expect to pay for this top level of cover?

In Vic,Australia

If you have a breed prone to genetic issues then it could be a good idea.

Then again, the premiums could be higher for those breeds.

Some will just put the cost of premiums away "just in case".

Just more to think about.

Shelle,

This fellow, living on the east coast of the US, doesn't have much of a grasp of Australian pet insurance options but a quick search yielded the following insurance companies/comparisons available to you:

http://top10petinsurance.com.au/

The insurance coverage and cost will depend on the breed.

We used to carry insurance on the mutts but it turned out that simply setting aside the equivalent premium was a much more cost effective approach, and actually saved us cash over the years.

Good luck.

Hi, if i do the maths on link, the save your own, is definately better price!
However, one of the better ones, i have my own health insurance with, so may get a discount on it.

Thanks
definately more to think on
the breed of pup is a belgium malinois, a rare(ish) breed here so far. And not known yet, for injury prone, like my other breeds rottie and gsd. Which sure does hike up the price, as stated!

I have both a high deductible insurance plan and a savings account.

Insurance costs me about $22/month/dog.

I also have $25/pay period go into a separate savings account.

I'm comfortable with this as I know if something major happens I don't need to worry about how I'm going to pay for it. And I've got half the money to use as I need to if I never need the insurance.

Most plans have deductibles....also have fee schedules for procedures (called: usual and customary fees) that may or may not alien with fees in you area. Also incident & annual caps & lifetime caps.

Not all that much different than people health insurance.

Savings accounts are usually better.

I did not have pet insurance when my dog broke a canine. She needed a root canal that cost over $2000, and if she had been a younger, competitive dog, I would have wanted to spend another $1400 on a titanium cap. The dental surgeon suggested I apply for a credit line with a well known corporation that has accounts specifically geared toward health care and pet care.

I easily qualified for a line that equaled the estimate for services, and have since paid the balance off. I now have the full line available again in case of emergency, and could probably get an increase if necessary. I am very grateful that this was suggested to me.

If you would like the name of the creditor, send me a pm and I will respond.

Speaking from multiple personal experiences, go with the insurance. The ONLY one I have found that truly pays for literally everything (vet recommended-supplements including natural, joint,fish oil, probiotcs, etc) chiropractic,acupuncture,rehab, behavior modification, wheelchairs,homeopathy, naturopathy, is Trupanion they are truly unbelievable!They have deductibles you can pick from and pay 90% after that. No limits per incident or per year. You pay exam fees and routine expected care. In the last 5 years, they have paid out over 45k in claims to us. 3 cancers (radiation/chemo/surgeries/diagnostics),1 amputation, 2 acl's, eating things, fighting, behavior modification, illness. They have never denied, do not raise your premium as your pet ages or has claims. They usually process claims and have the money in my account in 4-5 days. I have 6 animals insured and I gladly pay $300/month. Different breeds have different premiums. My rottweilers are higher, but my pitbulls are pretty inexpensive. I could never have done what I've been able to do for my dogs without Trupanion.

Forgot to note-if your dog doesn't have a history of/signs of a problem, including hip displasia, they will cover your. They even cover kidney transplants for cats!! Lol! The younger you enroll them the cheaper their premiums will be throughout their lives.

Michelle, with the number of animals you have owned and the treatments you have had covered, your insurance has probably paid for itself. Some people that own one or two dogs and don't have chronic issues may not spend as much on vet care as they do on premiums. With the one root canal and regular vetting over six years, and no major incidents with my previous dogs, I have still spent significantly less than I would have on insurance premiums over that same time period. I believe that is why some people with smaller pet loads advise saving the money as opposed to paying premiums. As you stated, what the insurance covers can also affect its value.

If I had a dog with a chronic issue, I would consider insurance. If I find a cancer insurance for dogs that is reasonable, I'd definitely consider that. However, being a one-dog man who has fortunately avoided chronic issues, insurance would be a losing proposition.

JMO