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HEALTH INSURANCE AND FINANCE
Having health insurance will prepare you for the unexpected treatment that may arise with your pet. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) has found that an insured pet owner seeks veterinary care more rapidly and allows their pet the opportunity to receive more comprehensive and necessary treatment due to the financial assistance and protection. Does this mean that only insured pets receive more comprehensive care? VIP says no - it means insured pet owners have financial assistance for their pets' medical bills, which allows for administering of necessary and often more comprehensive care. Having health insurance makes it easier to accept more costly treatment and provides an alternative to euthanasia. VETERINARY PET INSURANCE (VPI) VETERINARY PET INSURANCE (VPI) FACT SHEET- 1. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) was founded in 1980, and policy sales began in 1982. 2. Veterinary Pet Insurance is the oldest and the #1 pet health and accident insurer in America. Currently only dogs and cats are covered. Future plans call for birds and leisure horses to be included. 3. VPI was designed, developed and operated by the veterinary profession to provide the best medical coverage at the most economical rates and to give pet owners an alternative to unnecessary euthanasia or worse yet continued pet suffering because of economics. 4. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. is licensed and regulated in California where it is domiciled and underwrites its own policies. Outside of California, the pet health insurance plans are underwritten by the National Casualty Company. Currently, the VPI plans are being marketed in the following 43 states plus the District of Columbia.
5. VPI insures dogs and cats from 8 weeks of age up. There is no age limit. Pets over eight (8) years of age must call for rates. Rates are based on the age of the pet and the plan type selected. 6. Over 1/2 MILLION policies have been sold. 7. In excess of $12 MILLION has been paid in claims benefits. 8. VPI has an exceptional renewal rate of 82 percent, which demonstrates consumer satisfaction. 9. VPI offers five accident and illness plans to per owners. All plans have the same coverage. Thedifferences are in the deductibles, payment limits, per incident limits, the aggregate limits per year and the premium amounts. ·Major Medical Plan 20 --------has a $20 deductible · Major Medical Plan 40 -------has a $40 deductible · VPI Gold Plan ----------------has a $40 deductible · VPI Advantage** ------------has a $40 deductible · VPI Advantage Plus** -------has a $40 deductible 10. Premiums begin as low as- · Major Medical Plan 20 --------$ 59 annually for puppies and kittens · Major Medical Plan 40 --------$ 49 annually for puppies and kittens · VPI Gold Plan ----------------$ 89 annually for puppies and kittens · VPI Advantage** -------------$139 annually for puppies and kittens · VPI Advantage Plus** --------$159 annually for puppies and kittens 11. Benefit Limitations (policy term = 12 months)- ·Major Medical Plan 20 --------$1,000 per incident & maximum of $5,000 per policy term · Major Medical Plan 40 --------$1,000 per incident & maximum of $5,000 per policy term · VPI Gold Plan ----------------$2,000 per incident & maximum of $7,500 per policy term · VPI Advantage** ------------$3,000 per incident & maximum of $10,000 per policy term · VPI Advantage Plus** --------$4,000 per incident & maximum of $12,000 per policy term 12. Where it is state approved, the company offers policyholders an additional cancer endorsement, which doubles the selected plan's coverage. Premiums start as low as $9.00 for puppies and kittens. 13. The policies will pay 80% of the first $180 and 100% in excess of $180 of the Benefit Schedule per incident during each policy term after the deductible. All plans have their own benefit schedule, which is included in the policy packet mailed to the insured. Literally thousands of medical problems/conditions that pets encounter are covered. A VPI policy makes necessary care and high-tech treatments more affordable, and, at the same time, covers certain small bills. Some of the more common problems are- Dogs - Ear infections Skin rashes Accidents such as lacerations, poisoning, fractures, sprains, fight wounds Gastrointestinal upsets causing diarrhea and or vomiting Cancer Diabetes Respiratory problems Gastric Torsion (bloat) Heart conditions Kidney and bladder infections Parvovirus Cats - Leukemia Abscesses Bladder infections and Feline Urological Syndrome (FUS) Accidents Cancer Heart Conditions (i.e. Cardiomyopathy) Liver disease 14. Veterinary Pet Insurance pays for office calls, injections, prescriptions, treatments, lab fees, x-rays, surgery and hospitalization (subject to policy terms). 15. EXCLUSIONS- The policy is for accidents and illness, and is similar to our own health coverages. Exclusions include vaccines, boarding, grooming, diets, parasites, vitamins and supplements, pre- existing conditions, congenital, hereditary defects and breeding. If, after six months, any pre-existing condition is CURED and does not require treatment, the condition may be eligible for coverage. Such conditions as ear infections, bladder infections and other which can be cured and tend to reoccur allow for future coverage. Conditions such as diabetes or allergies, which are incurable but controllable, would not be eligible for coverage if present prior to the policy's effective date. 16. Each insured pet receives a stainless steel ID tag that bears the pet's policy number and VPI's toll- free number. This ID tag allows recovery if the pet is lost but, even more importantly, demonstrates to any finder that the pet is insured. This is especially important if the pet is ill or injured. 17. DISCOUNTS- We offer multiple pet discounts of 5% for 2-3 pets and 10% for 4 or more pets. 18. SPECIALIST- If an insured pet requires a specialist after visiting their regular veterinarian, then there is no new deductible for the same problem for covered incidents in the policy year. The appropriate benefit schedule maximums and policy limits also apply. 19. Veterinary Pet Insurance has an UNCONDITIONAL 30 DAY FULL MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. 20. VPI maintains a toll-free number for consumer inquiries- 1-800-USA-PETS (1-800-872-7387). 21. VPI is exclusively endorsed by THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION. Other benefits are being designed or test-marketed that cover items that the insurance policy does not, such as vaccines, spays, dentals and heartworms. Vaccination & Routine Care Coverage Available Vaccination & Routine Care Coverage helps pay for regular veterinary care and can be added to any Veterinary Pet Insurance medical plan for just pennies a day. Vaccination & Routine Care Coverage include- Canine/Feline Benefit Allowances Annual Benefit Comprehensive Physical Exam $10 Professional Consultation (office call) $10 Choice of one of the following benefits- FeLV/FIV test (cats only) $15 Heartworm test $15 Heartworm preventive medication $15 Fecal exam $10 Deworming - Drontal® Plus, Drontal®, Droncit® $15 Prescription flea control - including Advantage® Topical Solution- Purchased during the months of January - April $10 Purchased during the months of May - August $10 Purchased during the months of September - December $10 Choice of one of the following benefits- Spay/Neuter $65 Teeth cleaning (including polishing, scaling, anesthesia and Antirobe® antibiotic treatment) $65 Comprehensive health screen (includes blood panel, urinalysis and EKG) $65 Microchip Pet Identification $5 Canine Vaccination Benefit Allowances DHL-P $10 Parvovirus $10 Rabies $10 Bordetella $ 8 Lyme-LymeVax $10 Corona $ 6 Feline Vaccination Benefit Allowances FVRCP $15 FeLV $15 Rabies $10 FIP $13 FINANCIAL COMPARISON When comparing the cost of certain veterinary medical treatments and procedures, with those provided for humans, the typical veterinary bill in most cases, if not all, was substantially lower. However, though lower, as a pet owner, you may wish to have the added financial assistance and protection for your pet, which comes with having health insurance.
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