I just wanted to share our experience with Kasey's pet insurance this past week for anyone who is thinking about getting it. We took out a policy for him in February of 07 when he was 6 months old. We read all the fine print, got a quote and compared different companies - we thought we had done a thorough job of making an informed decision.

He started having allergy problems in May of 07, several months after taking out the policy. We only saw the vet for them a couple of times because we were already very familiar with what to do and didn't want to go the drug route - so we didn't send in any claims due to the fact that there is a $75 deductible and the claim was less than that.

Jump ahead to last week. We took him to the dermo vet for evaluation and skin testing - $850 plus. We called the insurance co. beforehand and verified that they cover these kinds of expenses. So we send in the claims and SURPRISE! - not covered. When asked why, we are told that his allergies were a pre-existing condition. We had never taken him to the vet prior to getting the policy for allergies. Come to find out, they requested the vet records and found in April of 2007 he had an anal gland infection - true. The infected anal glands bothered him so much, that he was biting around the anal area and that caused 'dermatitis' or rash of the skin which got infected because of where it was (around infected anal glands). Anything in a vet record that says 'dermatitis' can be inferred to mean atopic/allergy skin. So we are now out all the money we paid into the policy plus we pay for all the allergy skin testing and serum!You have no recourse if it says something in writing in the vet records.

I share this to warn everyone who is thinking about getting pet insurance, to make sure you read your dog's vet records before getting the insurance so you know what the vet has written in there. I had no idea they had recorded anything that had to do with skin issues for an anal gland infection. But because they did, we're screwed! I cancelled the insurance and we'll save the monthly premium in our own account and use it for his medical stuff.

Good info.
As these sort of policies become more popular, people need to become well-informed.

Your post is a good heads-up to would-be buyers, to know how to prepare for purchasing a plan, or why not to do it at all.

I would take them to court myself or demand all payments returned. These pet insurance companies get away with this because they have so far without being sued.

I realize this won't help you now but having the vet clarify the medical record, in writing, is always worth a shot. Especially in a case like this where we're talking about 2 totally different conditions.

Many vets write up a file using short hand, the meaning of which can be completely (deliberately?) misunderstood.

I feel your Derm vet pain.

That is too bad. I hate insurance companies. I know someone who works in the Ins business, and he told me they noticed how much money vets were making lately, so they wanted to jump on the bandwagon. They stay in business by denying and denying. That is just my opinion. Pet Ins. "sounds" good, but I would never get it.