Anyone use VPI Pet Insurance?

I've never had Pet Insurance before, and since I am starting over with a new pet, I'm considering it. Has anyone used this one?

http://www.petinsurance.com/index.aspx

I was looking into the ASPCA insurance http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/Pet-Insurance-Plans-ASPCA.aspx I'm going to compare plans but I think the one you're looking at provides better coverage at a slightly lower rate.

FTR, I learned early on with my last boy that pet insurance is a really good idea. 4 surgeries, epilepsy and 1 tumor later, I really wish I had gotten it for him.

because of a single incident when the dog was a young puppy. We do annual bloodwork on him and all values have been within normal range for years. The dog takes no medication, has no impairments or disease. He does have allergies which are believed to have contributed to the earlier incident.

and when I had to have my beloved dog put down, they refused to pay a cent on the claim even though it was supposed to be a "covered event". They claimed it was due to a pre-existing condition and couldn't pay the cremation services for her.

They never knew why my dog became so sick. NEVER. Needless to say, I would not recommend them. :(

When I first got him from the shelter at age 1.5, he would eat small rocks. Then he had a lacerated pad and then a strained muscle. I got VPI insurance and he never had another accident until after I cancelled the policy due to huge premium increases when he was about 7. I don't know if the increase was routine due to his age or due to a thyroid test his vet performed to try to figure out his skin issues. When he had his eye injury I had to pay for an emergency vet hospital visit and 2 surgeries. I think I broke even vs the premiums I would have paid.

When I had VPI, it was good. I even added the routine care rider which paid for dentals and annual exams. That's how they saw the thyroid test on the vet bill.

Now I have a Bank of America Pet Rewards credit card which pays points which can be used for vet visit rebates.

I have a Rottweiler and for some reason the rates for that breed are higher. If your dog is older than 7, you will not be able to get insurance with VPI.

How old is your dog now? How long have you had the insurance and do the premiums increase annually?

I'd really like to have insurance but some of what I'm reading makes me wonder if it's worth the investment.

I get the feeling that if I get the insurance I will be more inclined to have more things taken care of (like teeth cleaning) but I might not save money unless I really use it a lot. Asking around, not that many people have it.

Just got a part-time job (first time I've been stable enough to work in a decade...
BIG progress! :bounce:) so I can consider pondering thinking about mulling over things like health insurance for my four cats.

They've all been fixed*, and I'm obsessive about making sure they have their 4-way distemper + leukemia vaccinations yearly and their rabies boosters every 3 years.
Since they take this 'mighty hunter/predator' thing seriously they get Cestex (anti-tapeworm) 4X a year...but as we all know, sensible maintenance doesn't prevent SHS (Shit Happens Syndrome).

I've tried looking up some of this stuff, but it's OVERWHELMING :hide::yoiks: and there's only so much info I can process.

Does some kind, intelligent person have a breakdown and advice...or experience maybe? As in "These guys are really great. When...(example)" or "Avoid these bastards like the plague! This was my experience with them...(example)"

Thanks...

* just outta curiousity...IS there a gender-neutral term for the spay/neuter process? Besides "fixed", I mean...
:hi: