Who has pet insurance for their birds?

[LittleRedHen]

I'm looking at getting pet insurance for my birds, and I want to hear about the experiences of others. What company did you use? Was it easy to submit claims? What did it cost? Did you feel it was worth it?

thanks in advance!

 

[noodles123]

I'm looking at getting pet insurance for my birds, and I want to hear about the experiences of others. What company did you use? Was it easy to submit claims? What did it cost? Did you feel it was worth it?

thanks in advance!

I don't but honestly, I think about this often and I totally feel like I should...Not sure why I don't. I have researched it and I get intimidated by it (because I am worried I will get scammed when I shop the different packages/companies online)..That having been said, many years ago a decent insurance plan, would have paid for itself because my bird had an unknown liver condition when I adopted her from her previous owner and that ended up being expensive..
I guess I would just make sure you know exactly what is covered and if you have to use a certain provider...But it could provide peace of mind if you knew you were on a decent plan--- heck, I'd happily pay $25 a month to know that if there was an emergency surgery or something, that it would be covered...

Now I am thinking about it again...

Sorry that wasn't much help!

 

[chris-md]

Only one place offers it here in the US. I feel like there’s a reason for that, which doesn’t bode well for customers. Exotic care is o expensive it’s not worth it for insurance companies to cover. Being hard to find in an otherwise insurance rich country is VERY telling.

You’re much better off just setting up a savings account.

 

[noodles123]

Only one place offers it here in the US. I feel like there’s a reason for that, which doesn’t bode well for customers. Don’t know what it so, but being hard to find in an otherwise insurance rich country is VERY telling.

You’re much better off just setting up a savings account.

Really? Like I said, I have always been too scared to do it, but what company are you familiar with? I know I have seen it advertised at vets, but I guess it could all be the same company...Have you looked online (are none of those legit?)--if there really is only one, THEN OP--LOOK INTO THIS (I DK, LIKE I SAID).

I thought I saw quite a few online (not that everything on the internet is safe LOL)-- I was worried they could be sketchy (even though they seemed legit) so I didn't ever do it, but if I could find a good one, I probably would.

I guess the thing is, $25 to $50 a month in a savings account wouldn't cover an unexpected surgery or insane testing/imaging bill 6 months down the road. Again though, I DO worry about all of the fine print w/regard to services covered, providers/ in-network vs out etc.

 

[chris-md]

It’s nationwide, I believe. Like 80% sure of that.

 

[fiddlejen]

My workplace offers a bunch of weird options that you can have included to take out of your pay, and pet insurance was one. Dogs & cats you could self-sign-up for but others (like birds) you had to call for a quote.

I got my quote but not without having to deal with his salesmanship of "oh peace of mind" etc etc. He managed to get me to sign up but luckily I was able to back out the next day since I had Not submitted my full annual benefits re-enrollment yet.

So the only plan I was offered (1) did Not cover regular Office Visits. So each of those broken feathers was gonna Not be covered. Then there was (if i recall correctly) some deductible and some max benefit which made me question whether it was worth paying for.

But further -- regarding that "Peace of Mind." The insurance does NOT work like health insurance. That is, the vet does Not do the service and submit to the insurance and you pay your portion. RAther, you pay the vet as required or as you agree with the vet, and then you submit to the insurance, and IF they approve it they pay you back.

So yeah. In my opinion, for my little Sunny plus budgies. IF there is a major expense and I can afford it I will. And sure, in such a case it would be nice to hope for reimbursement from an insurance company. But for me, that is Not peace of mind.

Because, if in some terrible circumstance I canNOT come up with funds for some horrendous expense -- the pet insurance will NOT provide me with funds. At least not until after the fact. So IF i lack sufficient funds for some expensive treatment -- I will Still Lack those Funds.

I understand that for others, potential reimbursement of an expense might be enough for Peace-of-Mind. For me, i would call it that, if it meant that I would be Able to get her whatever unexpected care she needs, Despite my AVAILable funds. For me, an after-the-expense reimbursement does Not give me peace that I could provide her with care. I still have to have the funds Available in the first place.

So with the peace-of-mind a non-factor I looked at my costs & policy costs versus Probable expenses that could be Actually Reimbursed, and for me I concluded definitely Not worth it.

I don't have the figures anymore, and maybe yours are different. But I definitely suggest doing the math on the details of the policy you're considering, before deciding whether to go for it or not.

 

[noodles123]

my workplace offers a bunch of weird options that you can have included to take out of your pay, and pet insurance was one. Dogs & cats you could self-sign-up for but others (like birds) you had to call for a quote.

I got my quote but not without having to deal with his salesmanship of "oh peace of mind" etc etc. He managed to get me to sign up but luckily i was able to back out the next day since i had not submitted my full annual benefits re-enrollment yet.

So the only plan i was offered (1) did not cover regular office visits. So each of those broken feathers was gonna not be covered. Then there was (if i recall correctly) some deductible and some max benefit which made me question whether it was worth paying for.

But further -- regarding that "peace of mind." the insurance does not work like health insurance. That is, the vet does not do the service and submit to the insurance and you pay your portion. Rather, you pay the vet as required or as you agree with the vet, and then you submit to the insurance, and if they approve it they pay you back.

So yeah. In my opinion, for my little sunny plus budgies. If there is a major expense and i can afford it i will. And sure, in such a case it would be nice to hope for reimbursement from an insurance company. But for me, that is not peace of mind.

Because, if in some terrible circumstance i cannot come up with funds for some horrendous expense -- the pet insurance will not provide me with funds. At least not until after the fact. So if i lack sufficient funds for some expensive treatment -- i will still lack those funds.

I understand that for others, potential reimbursement of an expense might be enough for peace-of-mind. For me, i would call it that, if it meant that i would be able to get her whatever unexpected care she needs, despite my available funds. For me, an after-the-expense reimbursement does not give me peace that i could provide her with care. I still have to have the funds available in the first place.

So with the peace-of-mind a non-factor i looked at my costs & policy costs versus probable expenses that could be actually reimbursed, and for me i concluded definitely not worth it.

I don't have the figures anymore, and maybe yours are different. But i definitely suggest doing the math on the details of the policy you're considering, before deciding whether to go for it or not.

very good to know!!!

 

[Charliesmom]

I have a credit card called care credit that most vets ive come across take. It's come in handy a few times....
It's specifically for things like vet visits

 

[wrench13]

We have a well care thing for Tinker, our Cairn Terrier. I think its $350 a year and covers standard office visit fees, and a small discount on meds. It does not cover any surgeries and the like, She had to have a tooth extracted and a small tumor like growth removed last year, and it did diddly for that.

You'd really need to look closely at the benefits on a bird insurance policy. Salty's recent trip to Dr Hoefer was $240, for a full exam, wing and nail trim, meds and a gravage feeding. I prefer to keep a small slush fund going for such visits. that covers toys, Dr visits, food and such. we add about $100 per month, and it usually gets used up periodically. This month, June, it went in the red, because we made 130 baggies of chop, a batch of new toys, and this med expense. THis is why the experienced members on the board advise newbies that the cost of a parrot is not the up front purchase price - its the up keep and care that can easily, very easily, exceed the price of the bird itself. I know for Salty, it does that almost on a yearly basis. Money well spent though.

 

[SailBoat]

We long ago learned to simply budge a monthly amount for Amazon Care. Same as we do for costs that our health insurance does not cover. And, that is a subject, I'm staying far away from...

With years of IRS Income Documents that look more like mid-sized novels, one can see trends in expenditures (FYI: If you fall-out of a normal trends, that's what the IRS looks at to schedule a visit). Point being, we have long tracked Avian Vet Costs (no not deductible) and like most costs they follow a fairly consistent outlay year to year with a major hit every five to eight years. Track the high marks and set your budget around it. And yes, a savings account for those costs not spent in any prior year, which is called an emergency account.

NOTE: Most all Avian Clinics have an individual that handles the organizations accounting. You should know that person by name and if you are at all regular in your visits, set up a yearly visit. This individual can provide you last year and possible several prior year expenditure with them. Two points, #1, someone in their organization knows you are a regular and that your are worth working with regarding costs, available insurance they work with and what they offer and #2, in their organizations, your name (more like your Parrot's name comes up as part of the important group called regulars!!!

 

[wrench13]

As an aside, 'Boats, I claim Salty's expenses as a business expense against the band income. What self respecting pirate band doesn't have a parrot? Listed as a stage prop in the returns. Arrrgh, there be more 'n one way ta skin a cat!

 

[SailBoat]

As an aside, 'Boats, I claim Salty's expenses as a business expense against the band income. What self respecting pirate band doesn't have a parrot? Listed as a stage prop in the returns. Arrrgh, there be more 'n one way ta skin a cat!

Hmmm, I think that falls under creative Accounting!
But true, so very true!!! A Parrot is a Must Have Prop.

 

[LittleRedHen]

Ok, so I bought pet insurance with Nationwide today. I'll use this thread if I have any experiences with it worth sharing.

I will say, that it's just under 50 a month for my 2 birds and I got a very comprehensive plan. I'll go over it in detail when I get the dec sheet in the mail

 

[Stitchthestitch]

I have insurance for albie. I pay £18 a month with 5k cover per condition, for majority of treatments (routine beak and nail trimming, routine annual health checks with no tests or meds are not covered). He is also covered for escaping and theft and death (not Teflon related deaths though)

It absolutely gives me peace of mind knowing that all I have to pay is £35 and the rest is covered by my insurance and my insurer pays directly to my vet so I don't need to go through the stress and hassle of finding the money for a 2k treatment and then chasing the insurance to get the money back. He is on life time cover on the highest bracket meaning that the 5k per condition renews each year. The life time vcover also covers any lifetime condition, so if he developed arthritis, he would be covered for the rest of his life up to 5k each year which would include his meds and health tests and vet visits.

I would hate to be in a position where I couldn't choose to get albie treated and have to opt for Euthanasia because wits the only option that I could afford.

My dog was insured and his last night he got hospitalised, I know I would never have been able to afford that if he wasn't insured. I was able to say do what you can to save him, he's insured up to 7k so do what ever is needed. He still passed away but I have comfort in that I was able to do that.

For me being on a limited income, insurance is an absolute must for part of my pet care. I've done the math and even if I was able to put away all my disposable I come to one side (providing for albie come under essentials) it would come no where near the 5k. If I wasn't able to get albie insured I would never have bought him with my financial situation, as I wouldn't have been able to cover any vet bills.

I hope I never have to use it. And if I don't it's still £18 am month well spent in my opinion.