Good morning from NY, Redditors!
Peoppe asked me to post an update when I had more information about my previous post (Seen here: https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/981i5v/pet_insurance_may_be_saving_me/?utm_source=reddit-android) PS - Thank you for the gold! I have enough information and numbers to give an update. Reimbursement is being sent as we speak, but I have read over the documentation.
When we last spoke I had general estimates... which were WAY off. The vet was supposed to cost, at most, $600 and change. The surgeon was to cost like $2k, give or take a bit.
Upon picking up Clementine from the vet (she stayed from Thursday night until Saturday morning), the invoice was a whopping $785 and change. Remember, this is before any surgery... this is boarding, pain meds, xrays, etc.
I brought her to a veterinary hospital 20 minutes away for her scheduled surgery. After they went over the xrays and such, they explained the costs... the invoice was $4051. That's double the amount I was expecting. I guess because it is emergency care? But what other choice did I have? Her quality of life, as per the surgeon, would be horrible if we didnt do it. She would have limited mobility and such. At 10 months old, I couldn't live with that.
Clementine stayed overnight at the hospital to be monitored that night. When I went back I actually had a credit since they were overcharged, which was $325. The total ended up being $3726. Still, a lot more than I had anticipated.
In total, between the vets and the surgeon, it was $4511! All for a little leg! Worth it, but still. I am by no means rich or well off, so that is like 2 months of take home pay for me.
As soon as I got home, I snapped pictures and submitted my claims. Like I said in the last post, I have a $250 annual deductible and a 90% reimbursement rate. Of the vet bill, $724 was covered, meaning $651 was reimbursed. Of the surgeons bill, $3566 was covered, meaning $3029 was to be reimbursed, minus my deductible of $250, I should get a check for $2959. In total, $4511-$3610 (original versus reimbursed) equals $901 total cost out of pocket for me. For the cost of $17.61 a month, I've spent less than $150 on my plan so far (monthly payment plus opening payment of like $45).
As for Clementine, she is stuck with a cone on in a cage for another 3 weeks, at least. She goes to the surgeon this week for evaluation as well. She isnt too happy, but she needs to heal. We do cheat a bit and take the cone off for her to eat and drink, but we monitor her so she doesnt lick the wound (although she tries).
On another happy note, we found a kitten in the backyard who we believe was abandoned by the mother. We trapped him and got him veterinary care (had some issues), but he will be becoming part of the family as my parents cat (our other cat of 18 years died earlier this year, and my mother said she wouldn't get another one unless God showed her a sign by dropping a new one in her lap... which this was close enough. Now he, too, will be on Healthy Paws.
Overall the experience, albeit expensive, has been rather positive with the insurance company. Many people say not to get it, but I am so happy that I did have it.
I also wanted to just go over one comment that was made by another poster in the previous post about how if someone cannot afford thousands of dollars up front that they shouldn't have a pet. There was an article earlier this year showing that a majority of American families dont have $1k for an emergency. With such a mentality, a majority of families shouldn't have a pet or pets, but I think that mentality is a bit flawed. Pets offer a lot, and the general costs of them (food, toys, basic medical care) arent top grand. Having insurance like mine allows "regular" people like me with a very average salary to have a pet without stressing TOO much about veterinary care in the long run. Additionally, pets offer more than we can even calculate financially, such as emotional support, memories, and learning experiences (especially for kids). So, I was kind of taken back and hurt by that comment a bit. Money means a lot in this world, but when I part from this world and if I can reflect on my life, I would rather think of the good times and memories I've made rather than my IRA. Some "extra" expenses, such as those associated with a pet, are priceless.
So, I suggest pet insurance, regardless of what anyone says! I love Healthy Paws (just a customer, not a paid endorser or employee or anything), but I have heard the other major ones are pretty good as well.
Submitted August 27, 2018 at 08:23AM by Code3LI https://ift.tt/2P6V2Q3
