Hey Elizabeth, I am so happy and relieved to hear that Shakiti is doing so wonderfully!!! You're such a great cat mom to take care of all your furbabies like you do.
I have Veterinary Pet Insurance. It's ok. I pay about $90 a year for each kitty I have insured. When Cricket was initially diagnosed with FeLV in 2003, I submitted $208 in fees, and they reimbursed me $117. There is a $50 deductible per claim though. Then two years later, when he developed the anemia, I submitted two different claims, one for $245 and one for $102, and they paid $108 and $47 respectively. So it certainly isn't an investment, but it does help if you have a sick kitty. Every bit helps. I've paid on two other of my kitties for almost ten years now, and haven't had to make but a few claims, but what it has done in the past is give me peace of mind that if I am looking at an expensive treatment, I don't have to make a choice between life or death. Some other examples of benefits are: They pay up to $800 towards chemo treatments (174$ per treatment). They pay up to $110 towards a transfusion, which is between 3 and 4 hundred dollars on average. If a kitty develops hyperthyroidism and you want to do the radioiodine treatment on her, which is between 1 to 1.5k$, they reimburse $528. You have to pay everything up front and then submit for reimbursement. I am actually considering dropping coverage on the two I still have covered, but am not sure yet. I like having the peace of mind. Once I am financially secure in the next couple of years, I will drop it for sure because I should be able to cover whatever comes along. I don't remember if they ask about pre-existing conditions. I don't think it's like a human, where you have to get a physical first, but I've been with them so long, I don't really remember. I think you just sign them up. I know what you mean about writing off pet treatments on your taxes. That thought comes into my mind every time I get back into the car after visiting the vet!!! I feed my babies Innova Evo wet and dry. Only 3 out of 4 of my kitties like it. I think it's great. I believe we pay about 28$ for a case of it. Here's to Shakiti and Mama Kitty kicking butt and taking names (in the health department of course, not the bunny dept.) ;) :) Wendy __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
