VPI or Veterinary Pet Insurance, sometimes mistakenly called VIP pet insurance, is one of the leading companies for dog insurance. They have solid credentials and plenty of experience in the industry. When I did some pet insurance searches on the Internet they were everywhere. I gave them a call to see what they had to offer and also read many of the online customer comments from various websites including Yahoo Answers, Pet Insurance Review and Complaints.com. My research revealed some positive and negative results.

The Positive

VPI is the largest and oldest pet insurance company in the United States. They have a wide variety of coverage options. They have plans that, besides dogs, include cats, birds and exotic pets.

The policies are very customizable and have many options including teeth cleaning and routine care. According to my research they are good about paying for minor or routine claims.

The Negative

On a scale of one to ten I would give my customer service experience an 8. The woman was very knowledgeable, but she didn’t come down to my level. When I asked basic questions she gave me ambiguous and complicated answers. I needed someone to simplify the plans. For example, I asked if there was a choice of deductibles, maximums and co-pays. Instead of answering my question she started rattling off plan specifics. This was probably an isolated incident and the companies service as a whole was reported as good to very good.

Another negative is that they don’t cover genetic or pre-existing conditions. This is very important because almost any serious illness can be classified as one of the two. This is typical of most pet insurance companies.

In conclusion, VPI Pet Insurance has experience and knowledge and should definitely be in the top three companies you choose to research.

Pet Plan Pet Insurance

Finding a good insurance plan for your dog is not easy. There are so many companies to choose from. Pet Plan Insurance is based out of Philadelphia. They offer plans in US, Canada and the UK. I gave them a call to see what they had to offer and also read many of the online customer comments from various websites including Yahoo Answers, Pet Insurance Review and Complaints.com. Here is what I found:

The Positive

Pet Plan offers three straightforward plans with high annual maximums at $8000, $12,000 and $20,000.

One big positive with Pet Plan is that they do cover genetic conditions. This is very hard to find with any insurance company. For example, if you have a poodle with elbow dyslpasia, which is a hereditary condition among poodles, then you will be covered as long as you gain coverage before the symptoms arrive.

Claims payout is another important positive. Claim payments are always based on the veterinarian’s bill. Some companies use a benefit schedule, which means they can override the bill if they disagree with the dollar amount. There were very few negative customer comments regarding claim payouts. Overall they have a good record of fair and speedy payments.

The Negative

When I called the customer service rep to ask questions he wasn’t the friendliest gentleman. On a scale of one to ten I would give my customer service experience a seven. He did answer my questions, but without much enthusiasm.

Pet Plan will not cover routine maintenance for your dog. Some people do not like to budget for shots, checkups etc. If you fit into this category then you will be disappointed to find out that they do not include a wellness plan.

In conclusion, Pet Plan Insurance should definitely be considered when shopping for dog insurance because have fair coverage options and good reviews for claims processing and payouts. I give this company two thumbs up.

AKC Pet Insurance

AKC Pet Insurance is a major player in the pet insurance arena. The AKC stands for the American Kennel Club. They claim to be the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world. The actual company name for the insurance division is PetPartners, Inc.

Things I like about AKC Pet Insurance

One thing I really like is their website. It is very simple without a lot of useless clutter. It is very easy to navigate and find the pertinent information quickly.

Another thing I like is the explanation and comparison of the dog-insurance plans. They are simple and to the point and show actual examples of claims paid.
I heard claim processing can be slow, but that is the only negative I could find.

Quick Facts about AKC Pet Insurance

60 day trial plan if you are registered with AKC.

Customer service is available 8:30 to 8:30 MF 10 to 3 on Sat

They currently offer 5 plans: Accident Plus, Essential, Essential Plus, Wellness, and Wellness Plus. The accident plus plan is nice because there is no age limit and they will accept any breed.

You don’t need to show vet records to sign up.

Monthly or annual payment options are available in all 50 States.