Pampering pets

Educated owners are taking better care of furry friends

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Carrie and Scott Post have family photos all over their home in northwest Las Vegas. But theirs is not the typical family.

"We don't have any kids. He's our child," said Carrie Post about the couple's golden retriever, Cabo.

She said her last dog had numerous medical problems and she spent a lot of money taking care of him. When the couple got Cabo, they contacted Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) and had the newest member of their family insured before they even brought him home.

"I never want it to be a matter of money," Post said. "What would you do if it was your kid?"

The Posts found a lump on Cabo's paw and had a biopsy performed.

"If we hadn't had insurance we might have waited," she said.

Cabo, now almost 8, also has had the benefit of the insurance for his yearly shots, an ear infection and once when he was bitten by a spider.

Brian Iannessa, a spokesman for VPI, said pet insurance is becoming more popular because consumers and veterinarians are becoming educated and because of the sophistication of veterinary medicine. Animals can now receive MRI's, organ transplants and chemotherapy.

"People are more equipped and more apt to give this care to their pets," Iannessa said. "It is helping the longevity of the human-pet relationship."

VPI has standard and superior plans for cats and dogs and an exotic pet plan for birds and other animals. Iannessa said VPI covers just about any pet, including dogs, cats, parrots, emus, chickens, canaries, hamsters, amphibians, pot bellied pigs and snakes.

When an animal visits a doctor, the veterinarian is asked to sign a claim form and state the diagnosis and the policy holder sends the form to VPI. Routine care coverage such as physicals, vaccinations and dental cleanings receive a straight reimbursement amount. Preventative care procedures each have an allowance.

"There is an overall humanization of pets. They are going from the backyard to the bedroom," Iannessa said. "Pet owners have different mind set where the pet is an integral part of the family."

Many claims are reimbursed according to a percentage amount, which is given to the policy holder upon enrollment. Accidents and illnesses are covered under the base medical plan. Each condition has its own allowances.

VPI requests medical records upon enrollment if the pet is over the age of 10, or if the owner informs VPI that the pet has had any medical conditions that required treatment. Records might be needed prior to enrollment depending on why the owners sought treatment. Records are requested to make sure a claim is eligible if the pet is enrolled and VPI receives a claim for a potentially pre-existing condition.

There is a multiple pet discount of 5 percent off each policy for two or three pets and 10 percent off each for four or more pets.

"Nevada is the second highest state in new enrollments from last year to this year," Iannessa said.

Nevada prices for VPI pet insurance premiums are on the lower end of the spectrum along with states like Arizona, Georgia, Rhode Island and Wyoming. The only states lower in price are Louisiana, Ohio and South Carolina. States where premiums are a bit higher than Nevada are places like California, New York, and Florida.

VPI sold its first policy in 1982. It is now available all over the country. There are 369,000 active policies in the U.S. and Nevada currently has 5,600 active policies.

For more information, visit www.petinsurance.com.