I just paid $2700 for surgery to my cat. Someone mentioned to me that I should look into pet insurance. I did a quick internet search and it appears that the average is $30/month. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with pet insurance as well as your opinions. I've never believed in it, but after this bill it leaves me thinking...
Pet Insurance
- Thread starter GMBoy
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Insurance works on the principle of having a large enough pool of customers that actuarial statistics can be applied. Without insurance, you are basically taking the chance that you won't have to make any payouts. In the case that you have to make a payout (which you did), you can't spread that cost to anyone else.
I had two cats that cost a lot in vet costs towards the end of their lives. When my daughter decided to get a dog, I made sure we had pet insurance. We've made perhaps 3 claims in six years, so we're under water in terms of how much I've paid to insurance vs. the benefits received. However, the dog is still young...
I had two cats that cost a lot in vet costs towards the end of their lives. When my daughter decided to get a dog, I made sure we had pet insurance. We've made perhaps 3 claims in six years, so we're under water in terms of how much I've paid to insurance vs. the benefits received. However, the dog is still young...
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Not to be crass, but thing about pets is... they're replaceable if the surgery costs too much.
So the kind of people who buy pet health insurance are likely to be really nuts about their animals, want the best for them, expensive hip replacements etc, that would cause less-devoted others to put their animal down for good.
This will screw the actuarial tables up so if you're not ga-ga over your animal, it won't be worth it.
So the kind of people who buy pet health insurance are likely to be really nuts about their animals, want the best for them, expensive hip replacements etc, that would cause less-devoted others to put their animal down for good.
This will screw the actuarial tables up so if you're not ga-ga over your animal, it won't be worth it.
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
Originally Posted By: Al
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
"Twenty-seven thousand bucks for a kid? You gotta be kidding."
Doesn't sound so nice when you turn it around, does it? (Price adjusted for hospital greed and patient species, of course.)
My cats are my friends, not child substitutes. They depend on me. When my late Maine Coon developed liver problems and then diabetes toward the end of his life, the balance on my Visa card looked like the national debt of a small South American country. But I paid it, because there's a special corner of H*e*l*l* reserved for people who just dump their animals, and I'm sensitive to heat.
My older lady cat is 10 -- she could be older -- and soon things will begin to go wrong. And the Siberian is 1.5, and she's already got gingivitis. I wonder if pet insurance can turn you down for pre-existing conditions . . .?
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
"Twenty-seven thousand bucks for a kid? You gotta be kidding."
Doesn't sound so nice when you turn it around, does it? (Price adjusted for hospital greed and patient species, of course.)
My cats are my friends, not child substitutes. They depend on me. When my late Maine Coon developed liver problems and then diabetes toward the end of his life, the balance on my Visa card looked like the national debt of a small South American country. But I paid it, because there's a special corner of H*e*l*l* reserved for people who just dump their animals, and I'm sensitive to heat.
My older lady cat is 10 -- she could be older -- and soon things will begin to go wrong. And the Siberian is 1.5, and she's already got gingivitis. I wonder if pet insurance can turn you down for pre-existing conditions . . .?
I agree with Al. However, I have always paid the bill with my animals. Funny thing is that as unintelligent as it appears to me, I just cannot give up on my animals. I told my wife I didn't want any because I get to attached. She pushed me and now hates them. Not a chance they are leaving. So far I am ahead of the game by not having insurance, but have had a couple of $500 bills here and there. I guess I prefer to save my money myself and take the chance. Plus, I keep saying I would walk away from something that would take such a large bill. I know I am lying to myself, but it makes me feel better to believe it.
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Kestas
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How much should you spend to keep your pet alive and healthy?... tough call.
But I agree that one should stay away from pet insurance... self-insurance is cheaper.
One question... At what point does the insurance company give up on your pet? They must draw the line somewhere.
I'm lucky my 14 year old beagle is still rather healthy.
But I agree that one should stay away from pet insurance... self-insurance is cheaper.
One question... At what point does the insurance company give up on your pet? They must draw the line somewhere.
I'm lucky my 14 year old beagle is still rather healthy.
I buy insurance only when I can't afford the consequences of not having insurance. So home and auto insurance are all I go for. Otherwise, I'd rather bank my money and not have to deal with insurance companies.
How old is the cat? After 10 years, you'd have put $3600 (plus interest) toward insurance.
When my health is failing I don't want to be kept alive by medicine or medical procedures, so I wouldn't do that for my pets either. But most people want to live as long as they can, at any cost, despite physical ailments. If that's your view, then it only makes sense to apply that view to the animals you love. "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you."
How old is the cat? After 10 years, you'd have put $3600 (plus interest) toward insurance.
When my health is failing I don't want to be kept alive by medicine or medical procedures, so I wouldn't do that for my pets either. But most people want to live as long as they can, at any cost, despite physical ailments. If that's your view, then it only makes sense to apply that view to the animals you love. "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you."
Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
Originally Posted By: Al
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
"Twenty-seven thousand bucks for a kid? You gotta be kidding."
Doesn't sound so nice when you turn it around, does it? (Price adjusted for hospital greed and patient species, of course.)
My cats are my friends, not child substitutes. They depend on me. When my late Maine Coon developed liver problems and then diabetes toward the end of his life, the balance on my Visa card looked like the national debt of a small South American country. But I paid it, because there's a special corner of H*e*l*l* reserved for people who just dump their animals, and I'm sensitive to heat.
My older lady cat is 10 -- she could be older -- and soon things will begin to go wrong. And the Siberian is 1.5, and she's already got gingivitis. I wonder if pet insurance can turn you down for pre-existing conditions . . .?
Thank you - you saved me from having to explain..
Originally Posted By: Al
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
"Twenty-seven thousand bucks for a kid? You gotta be kidding."
Doesn't sound so nice when you turn it around, does it? (Price adjusted for hospital greed and patient species, of course.)
My cats are my friends, not child substitutes. They depend on me. When my late Maine Coon developed liver problems and then diabetes toward the end of his life, the balance on my Visa card looked like the national debt of a small South American country. But I paid it, because there's a special corner of H*e*l*l* reserved for people who just dump their animals, and I'm sensitive to heat.
My older lady cat is 10 -- she could be older -- and soon things will begin to go wrong. And the Siberian is 1.5, and she's already got gingivitis. I wonder if pet insurance can turn you down for pre-existing conditions . . .?
Thank you - you saved me from having to explain..
A girl, I work with, goes through this alot and said she was considering insurance, but you have to buy it when they are young. I wouldnt know because Iam one of those people who have a reserved section in a warm area( I guess,avoid the rush) because I beleve animals are companions, for our pleasure. Ive had dogs, since I was a kid, slept with them, ate with them, lived with them. I paid $300 in vet bills once when I was 19, the dog didnt get better. I shot her and buried her myself. If my dog gets sick, I will take her to the vet but if its more than the cost of a new dog, I will terminate the animal and replace it with a new one, theres too many dogs out there that would be happy t be your new BFF. You spent $2700 on a cat, that is still probably sickly. How many perfectly healthy cats were terminated at the local humane soecity, and ae every day. Animals are animals, we eat them, we breed them, we use them. When they're used up, we replace them and give another one a life.
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I beleve animals are companions, for our pleasure.
I paid $300 in vet bills once when I was 19, the dog didnt get better. I shot her and buried her myself.
If my dog gets sick, I will take her to the vet but if its more than the cost of a new dog, I will terminate the animal and replace it with a new one,
we breed them, we use them. When they're used up, we replace them and give another one a life.
Don't always agree with you but but you explained perfectly my sentiments as to why I said:
Originally Posted By: Al
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
I beleve animals are companions, for our pleasure.
I paid $300 in vet bills once when I was 19, the dog didnt get better. I shot her and buried her myself.
If my dog gets sick, I will take her to the vet but if its more than the cost of a new dog, I will terminate the animal and replace it with a new one,
we breed them, we use them. When they're used up, we replace them and give another one a life.
Don't always agree with you but but you explained perfectly my sentiments as to why I said:
Originally Posted By: Al
2700 bucks ...for a cat?...You have to be kidding.
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Iam glad your cat is doing fine. The girl I work with spent $1800 on a operation for her cat and a week later the same vet suggested she put the cat down. She took it for second opinions and they say the first vet should not have attempted the operation. I feel alot of vets use the persons love of the animal to rape the owner. if the vets really love animals, I think they could work cheaper, since 90% of the bill is labor. Iam sure veternarians dont have to carry as much liability insurance or as much school costs as doctors, yet they want to command similar pricing.
Vets incur similar school costs and time to human doctors, and they have to lean about many different species.
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
I paid $300 in vet bills once when I was 19, the dog didnt get better. I shot her and buried her myself. If my dog gets sick, I will take her to the vet but if its more than the cost of a new dog, I will terminate the animal and replace it with a new one, theres too many dogs out there that would be happy t be your new BFF. You spent $2700 on a cat, that is still probably sickly. How many perfectly healthy cats were terminated at the local humane soecity, and ae every day. Animals are animals, we eat them, we breed them, we use them. When they're used up, we replace them and give another one a life.
If you only see an animal as some object to throw away, then what is the point of having one? Unless you hunt, need protection, or need a dog for some other reason, why bother having one if each dog is just like the next to you? It sounds like a huge waste of time and money to have a dog if they mean nothing to you.
I have bonded with my cat, and he has bonded to me. He responds to me differently than he does to other people. If he doesn't consider me just another human, why should I consider him just another cat? In owning him, I have taken on a responsibility to care for him within reason. If he needs an operation that will make his life better, he will get it. If there is no hope for his life improving, or if it would be unfair to him to keep him alive, then I will put him down. I'm not just going to throw him away the next time I need to put more into him than the cost of food and general care though.
I paid $300 in vet bills once when I was 19, the dog didnt get better. I shot her and buried her myself. If my dog gets sick, I will take her to the vet but if its more than the cost of a new dog, I will terminate the animal and replace it with a new one, theres too many dogs out there that would be happy t be your new BFF. You spent $2700 on a cat, that is still probably sickly. How many perfectly healthy cats were terminated at the local humane soecity, and ae every day. Animals are animals, we eat them, we breed them, we use them. When they're used up, we replace them and give another one a life.
If you only see an animal as some object to throw away, then what is the point of having one? Unless you hunt, need protection, or need a dog for some other reason, why bother having one if each dog is just like the next to you? It sounds like a huge waste of time and money to have a dog if they mean nothing to you.
I have bonded with my cat, and he has bonded to me. He responds to me differently than he does to other people. If he doesn't consider me just another human, why should I consider him just another cat? In owning him, I have taken on a responsibility to care for him within reason. If he needs an operation that will make his life better, he will get it. If there is no hope for his life improving, or if it would be unfair to him to keep him alive, then I will put him down. I'm not just going to throw him away the next time I need to put more into him than the cost of food and general care though.
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If he doesn't consider me just another human,
Within this statement is the start of an argument that could easily get out of hand. Like, religion, sex, and politics, how one values pets is probably best left "to each his own". As a tolerant person, I respect both values, regarding pets.
IMO, to "humanize" animals, is not right, either. I don't think your cat has the ability to "consider you" with the same thought process that humans possess. Children's movies that depict animals with human traits simply go against nature.
If I am reading Panzerman's thread correctly, I think he values pets as not throw away possessions. But, like me, he doesn't confuse them as being human also.
If he doesn't consider me just another human,
Within this statement is the start of an argument that could easily get out of hand. Like, religion, sex, and politics, how one values pets is probably best left "to each his own". As a tolerant person, I respect both values, regarding pets.
IMO, to "humanize" animals, is not right, either. I don't think your cat has the ability to "consider you" with the same thought process that humans possess. Children's movies that depict animals with human traits simply go against nature.
If I am reading Panzerman's thread correctly, I think he values pets as not throw away possessions. But, like me, he doesn't confuse them as being human also.
Where does one draw the line regarding animal "relations"?
I often ask this question in these arguments: What do you do when mice or rats invade your home. If I believe popular children's movies, I should live trap the mouse, it's spouse, and it's "children" and move them to the country so they can continue their happy mouse life.
Most of the time the mice die by anticoagulant poison that causes their lungs to fill with blood or their necks are snapped in a trap!
What's the difference between a mouse, a dog, and a cat that isn't made up in human minds/perception.
I often ask this question in these arguments: What do you do when mice or rats invade your home. If I believe popular children's movies, I should live trap the mouse, it's spouse, and it's "children" and move them to the country so they can continue their happy mouse life.
Most of the time the mice die by anticoagulant poison that causes their lungs to fill with blood or their necks are snapped in a trap!
What's the difference between a mouse, a dog, and a cat that isn't made up in human minds/perception.
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Originally Posted By: doitmyself
Where does one draw the line regarding animal "relations"?
What's the difference between a mouse, a dog, and a cat that isn't made up in human minds/perception.
Right now we have a cute little rat that comes up to our window and eats seeds out of our bird feeder. He's cute and I like him. But tomorrow I'll poison him.
Where does one draw the line regarding animal "relations"?
What's the difference between a mouse, a dog, and a cat that isn't made up in human minds/perception.
Right now we have a cute little rat that comes up to our window and eats seeds out of our bird feeder. He's cute and I like him. But tomorrow I'll poison him.
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