Conference misery::feline_v1

    Is there any info as to the company and the cost for this insurance.
    It sounds interesting.
    
    Sandi
    

    Extracted from an article in TIME Magazine:
    
    " Professional animals have been covered by insurance for years.
     But who foots the growing medical bill for the high-tech treatment
    of pets?  Many clinics provide advanced cancer treaments at a reduced
    fee to dogs and cats as part of collaborative studies with nearby
    medical schools.  To pay for more traditional therapies, owners
    in some areas can now purchase pet health insurance, startin at
    $44 a year for puppies.  The plans do not cover such routine care
    as vaccinations or neutering, but they pay claimms of up to $1000
    for fractures, cancer treatments and cardiac surgery.  The  Veterinary
    Pet Insurance Co. of Garden Grove, Calif., formed in 1982 currently
    boasts 50,000 policies in 27 states and expects to add 13 more states
    by mid-1988.  Few people doubt that they will make their goal: medical
    costs for animals climbed 183% from 1981 to 1986, in contrast to
    only about 59% for their masters."
    
    By Christine Gorman.  Reported by Suzanne Wymelenberg/Boston.
    

    Has anyone any information on who to contact for Pet insurance in the
    UK?  I have a feeling that Sophie is going to generate some pretty big
    vet bills in the future and would like to have her medically insured.
    
    -Ruth.

    There are usually loads of leaflets at the vets. I haven't bothered
    with insurance (despite the fact that Percy costs me 20 pounds a month
    on average cos of all his fights :-)
    
    Let me know what you find out!
    
    
    
    Lisa.
    
    

    I looked into that in the US and decided it wasn't worth the cost.
    At the time it would have cost about $90/yr per cat and cats age
    9 and older were only covered for injury!  In your case that might
    help out, but (at the time) $270/yr for three indoor cats - where only
    one would be covered for illness just wasn't worth it.  
      N
    

    RE: .5
    
    And they don't cover "pre-existing conditions". Because of all of
    Argus's FUS trouble, I was looking into getting insurance for him
    and I discovered that because he was known to have a problem, FUS
    problems wouldn'tbe covered.
    
    Deb

    My gut reaction is "What a rip-off!"

    I'm still after the names of any insurance firms which have such
    policies in the UK.  
    
    I would expect the policy not to cover problems which existed before the 
    policy was taken out (doesn't BUPA do exactly the same with us humans???). 
    I'm not prepared to write-off Pet Insurance until I've had a look at the
    policies available in the UK.  Surely they can't all be a con...?

    
    PETplan and Pet Protect are two that I've heard about.
    
    Sorry, I haven't any names and addresses, but Vet surgeries usually
    hold the leaflets.
    
    We thought about it, but didn't bother as it excluded the first 15
    pounds or so of each visit. Most of our visits cost below this, just
    sorting out the battle scars.
    
    Geoff

    Hmm.. I have Pet Insurance on my kids.. mine is like Blue cross/ Blue
    shield.. when Pookie had her eye surgery it helped alot!!!!!!!.. 
    and it helped with her leg surgery.. "Daddy" thought I was sending
    my money to a "prairie hole in Neb.."until he saw the savings from
    her 2 surgeries.. it was relativiely inexpensive.. now if I can just
    remember the name....and Yes Mummy pays the premiums.. we all
    know that there is no way that Pookie is going to pay them..
    I mean really!!!!.. I must admit I was concerend when
    Pookie asked if we could take out Life insurance on Happy,
    and SHE wanted to be beneficary.. :*).
    Kate

    
    Now have a copy of Cat World magazine in front of me
    
    Pet Plan Ltd
    FREEPOST
    10-13 Heathfield Terrace,
    London
    W4 4BR
    
    They show an freephone number of 0800 282250
    
    The ad specifically relates to their Kitten Cover scheme, but states
    that they are the UK's largest pet insurance Co.
    
    Geoff
    
    

    Thanks for the info, Geoff.  I'll phone them and ask for a leaflet, and
    see how I go from there.  I might post up their terms and conditions
    etc. if anyone's interested......
    
    -Ruth.

    The Animal Health Insurance Agency, Inc.
    P.O. Box 2567
    Danbury, CT 06813-2567
    1-800-345-6778
    In Connecticut: 1-800-742-5678
    
    Pet Health Insurance
    Meets all the standards of American Veterinary Association
    Provided by Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
    
    Plan A
    Comprehensive Illness and Injury Health Coverage
    $99 annual premium per pet
    Pets 3 months through 9 years of age:
    $1,000 insurance per injury or illness
    $50 deductible*
    Pets age 10 and over: $1,000 insurance per injury only
    $50 deductible*
    
    Plan B
    Catastrophe Illness and Injury Health Coverage
    $42 annual premium per pet
    Pets 3 months through 9 years of age:
    $2,500 insurance per injury or illness
    $250 deductible*
    Pets age 10 and over:
    $2,500 insurance per injury only
    $250 deductible*
    Premium subject to change without notice.
    
    *Regardless of the number of pets insured per family, or the number of
    claims per year, your deductible fees will not exceed three deductibles
    per year if your pets are enrolled in the same plan.
    
    Coverage available for dogs and cats only.

    Another company:
    
    Veterinary Pet Insurance
    Santa Ana, CA
    1-800-USA-PETS
    
    Yearly premiums of $22 to $69; 80% coverage of the first $180 and
    100% of the remainder up to $750 per incident or $5,000 a year; $20 to
    $40 deductible; depending on plan.