I am not quite as enthusiastic about the VIP Dog Insurance programs and policies as many other people seem to be. When I first heard about the insurance plan I was actually laughing and trying to understand why anyone would sign up for something as over the top as health insurance for a pet. This just seemed to be pretentious and an over advertised luxury that only people who had lost their senses would consider in the first place.

Pet Insurance On A Budget

Of course you need to remember that this was some years back when even dog sweaters and booties were considered “a bit much” by a lot of folks. Anyway things like vet care were still in the affordable and expected category on my budget. Then there was an accident between my dog and a car and suddenly I found out what that new emergency vet clinic was all about.

Pet protection: Unexpected Things Can Happen

When it comes to an accident and your pet is suddenly hanging to life by a thread your world is thrown upside down. However, I had no idea what I was in for on this roller coaster ride. The vet told me that my beloved pet had internal injuries and might not make it and then asked if I wanted them to put her down or do everything possible to save her life.

Well, of course I wanted them to try to save her, and instantly, this small little cubicle had the folding door pulled back and was transformed into an emergency operating theatre capable of saving any human in distress. While this was certainly cool, I became aware that this was going to run into thousands of dollars that I had just not anticipated. My idea of what they were going to do was nothing like the high tech and efficient set up that I was looking at.

The thought of that really inexpensive VIP Dog Insurance program did run across my mind fleetingly, but I was pretty sure that I was just a little too late to qualify this injured animal for any of their coverage. The vet did a good job, and although the right front leg was never able to be completely corrected, my beautiful pet recovered and led a wonderful life for many happy years. I was right about the cost; the bills were almost $5000 by the time recovery was completed.

What VIP Dog Insurance Does With That Pre-Existing Clause

My disillusionment began with the VIP Dog Insurance plan when I attempted to get coverage after this accident and surgery. They would accept my pet on a health care plan but just about everything was going to be considered a pre-existing condition. Because my dog had abdominal surgery, no GI events in the future would ever be reimbursed even if they had nothing to with the accident.

Even her dislocated right front leg meant that anything occurring with that limb would not be covered including any treatment for breaks, cuts, sprains, or arthritis in her old age. Heck, even if a rabid raccoon should grab her and injure that right front leg the company was telling me that they could not cover it.

Now I think you will agree that this is carrying a pre-existing condition a bit too far. In all honesty I think that the VIP Dog Insurance policies are pretty decent, but only if you take it out early on a pet that is peak condition. For those of you with animals that are already having problems with their health, you should make sure that you understand everything that is going to be excluded. You will find that the company can manage to exclude almost everything important if they can relate it to any type of pre existing event.