Comments on: VPI Pet Insurance

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:45:32 +0000

VPI’s not the best, but not the worst. Do the homework before submitting a claim so you don’t accidentally lump something together when it ought to be claimed under several different diagnoses. Make sure you have a copy of their list of conditions/treatments showing the “reasonable and customary” amounts before you start filling out the paperwork. That makes it easier to give them the diagnosis they need so they can match it with a “code.” Also send an itemized receipt from your vet along with the claim form. You have to be very, very specific. Our Lab has had several abdominal surgeries and is allergic to everything in the world… He has to have regular B-12 shots, allergy (VARL) shots, etc. WE found that B-12 should be filed as a treatment for “anemia,” not as treatment for Short Bowel Syndrome. With a dog who has had so many major health problems, we’ve done OK with VPI. Some rembursement amounts have been laughable due to “reasonable and customary,” but that’s a common complaint I’ve heard about almost every company. The bad stuff about VPI is about comparable to the bad stuff I complain about with my own “Human” insurance. We had our other dog on PetPlan for a year, but they are leaving the pet insurance visit.

By: Judy

Judy — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:11:04 +0000

VPI is the biggest rip off ever. I have been fighting them for 2 months to get reinbursed for my dog’s emergency bladder stone surgery. They
said that the stones were a pre-existing conditon becuae she got needed the surgery 3 weeks after I paid for a whole year of insurance. I said how was I suppose to know what is going on inside her. She can not talk!!
They DO NOT CARE! So if I have the coverage and she is diagnosed with
cancer they can say she had it all along! She sprained her leg jumping
of the deck, when I first told them about it they were ok with it.
Now that she has a bladder condition they have added her bones to the
darn exclusion list. DO NOT BUY THIS COVERAGE. RIP OFF RIP OFF RIP OFF

By: Charlie

Charlie — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:22:52 +0000

I’ve called VPI on two occasions trying to get more information on what this insurance is all about. Each time, the phone call would be rushed and then I would get a lecture on the fact that my questions were useless, that I should just get the darn insurance if I really loved my pet. Seriously? Everyone loves their pet, why would you insure your pet in the first place if you weren’t thinking about their well being, which I believe stems from love? I called my vet and they mentioned VPI or Trupanion. I think VPI needs to get new reps, not just a bunch of bums sitting around trying to guilt you into buying their insurance. Additionally, after reading all the comments from the people above, it clearly shows that older is NOT better. I’m surprised VPI hasn’t gone out of his business in this day and age where 1. people want value and quality for what they’re paying for; 2. stability and trust in things like insurance! and 3. customer service. Thanks for the info everyone, never again will I ever consider VPI for anything.

By: Willow

Willow — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:00:51 +0000

VPI covered 20% of my $1,000 bill for a common but severe urethra problem that my cat had. I do not suggest them!

By: SCJohnson

SCJohnson — Tue, 18 May 2010 15:04:15 +0000

The problem with VPI is that they have a arcane and archaic schedule of what they will pay out. For example, if a procedure at the vet costs you $200.00, VPI may consider “reasonable and customary” costs are $125.00. So, 90% of $125.00 minus your deductible is the best you will get.

My late newfie had oral melanoma. His bills came in at roughly $5,100.00. I carried a cancer rider on him which is supposed to pay double. They paid me roughly 50% or $2,600.00.

I will never use VPI again.

Please do your homework before purchasing pet insurance.

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:52:46 +0000

Furthermore.. to you people COMPLAINING that you never had a need to use the pet insurance and it was a waste of money.. You are among the lucky few that have had a healthy pet! But INSURANCE is usually there to cover the unexpected/unplanned. You are paying a small amount monthly to insure you are covered if something big happens.

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:47:59 +0000

In response to Karlys -
You can’t seriously think someone is going to give you an answer, can you? What’s “good” for one person, may not be good for your individual concerns. You need to do the research yourself, so that you can’t say “nobody told me” down the line, like Sara did. RESEARCH people! Print out some different plans, so that you can look at them on paper. Highlighters help!

By: Bobshoe

Bobshoe — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:11:58 +0000

My experience is that VPI automatically denies each and every claim. After paying for over a year, when my dog got pneumonia they said it was for a pre-existing condition. Other claims were all automatically denied. I think they simply hope you give up rather than pursue a claim. Save your money and keep from getting aggravated by these loathsome company. They are the worst. Any other company has to be better!

By: Karlys

Karlys — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:43:39 +0000

Hello!
I have been searching insurance for my dog for the past 6 month. She is a healthy 3 years old pekingese. I am still confuse about pet’s health insurance. Can someone please recommend me a really good one. Or should I just continue without pet insurance?

Thanks !

By: Turner

Turner — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:40:12 +0000

VPI is the worst!! Save your money, they will exclude from policy anything your pet has been to vet for in the past even an ear infection and you won’t find this out until you make the first claim and they request the medical records. They rendered me no service at all and refused to refund my policy. Sales reps tell you anything to sell policy and customer service reps are not worth the free phone call.