User Reviews of Pets Best
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Rating: 2
Recommend: N |
Stalling paying claims
I have a puppy who chewed something and ended up being hospitalized overnight- It amounted to $600.00
In their policy, ingesting foreign objects is covered under accident- Pets Best is requesting medical records which certainly is there right to do- HOwever, when I spoke with customer service as to the reason, the representative didn't know, but stated to me perhaps it was because my puppy has a behavior problem, because she chews lots of things- She is a puppy- puppies chew alot- when I confronted her, she said that she didn't know the reason, and she was giving me an example of why they are requesting records- the issues are 1) you should be able to know exactly why the company is requesting records 2)This was not a large claim- I am concerned that this is a stalling tactic- I haven't received the outcome, but the issue is that is pretty clear cut- Imagine what would happen if this was a larger bill- I read other reviews, yes, the customer service representative is polite, and they are receptive, but the company should be able to tell you exactly why they are delaying your claim and requesting records- I read another poor review that involved an accident with a puppy- perhaps puppy owners should find another company- and I'm hoping that I will be able to change my review, after they receive the records- I have called the President of the Company as of today- I am a mental health professional and have worked in the insurance business- again, my issue as of now, is that I should know exactly why my claim is being delayed- and if it truely is because puppy chewing is considered a behavior problem than most puppies in the country have a behavior problem- I feel that I am in a tough situation, I am inclined to go with another company- as I just was apalled and when the representative stated that it might be because my puppy has a behavior problem- but If I drop them, they most certainly will not pay the claim- I have called the President - he gives you his cell phone- which is nice- and hopefully he will have more information and I will get my claim paid- and hopefully sometime soon I will be able to amend this review- however, the company truely needs to tell you exactly what is going on and why medical records are being requested- not guess- |
Reviewed by: Carolyn
Date: 5/5/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Quick Claims Processing and Great Communication
I bought a policy that included pet wellness for our two new cats. All of the claims were paid within 15 days of faxing them in. Now that the series of shots are done, I emailed and asked that our policy be reduced to just accident and illness. Communication has been easy and all promised costs have been paid. I am extremely happy with Pets Best. |
Reviewed by: Lynn Caprarelli
Date: 4/30/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Great in all aspects!
I was a former subscriber to VPI and was concerned about changing even though I was displeased with VPI. I couldn't be happier with my change. The customer service is great and responsive and reimbursement has been easy and prompt. I have been impressed with their email notification. Prior with VPI I would have to have letters written from vets to have things covered and then would have to resubmit which was an effort to wear me down. This company works with the pet owner not against you. I would reccomend them without hesitation. |
Reviewed by: Jacci Caplin
Date: 4/22/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Very happy I switched to Pets Best!
My greyhound broke her toe last year so badly it had to be amputated and the vet bills ended up being about $1600. I was with VPI at the time and had been for several years and was really shocked at how little they covered for the amputation. They have a schedule of "allowable" fees which is why I switched to Pets Best, which is based on a simple 20/80 plan with a $75 one time deductible per incident.
I'm so glad I did, because this year in February my girl ended up with a what was finally diagnosed as a calcified tendon in her shoulder which had to be surgically repaired....needless to say not a cheap venture. All I can say is that Pets Best was absolutely GREAT about answering all my many questions about this rather complicated claim, because it looked like it was possibly an issue with the three-toed foot in the beginning. There were extensive x-rays at my regular vet and then a specialist who did the surgery. From beginning to end my claims were processed and paid within three weeks, no more than four and that's because medical records were requested. Out of $3000 I only had to pay about $500 which sure made it a lot easier for me to do whatever it took to get my very active sweet girl back to running and playing pain free.
The staff at Pets Best was always very compassionate, helpful and patient and reaching someone was never a problem.
The premiums are a bit higher, but considering the benefits, especially with today's costs of good veterinary care, it's well worth it.
THANK YOU to everyone at Pets Best for taking such good care of me and my best buddy Bailey. |
Reviewed by: Christina Robinson
Date: 4/13/2008 |
Rating: 1
Recommend: N |
Did not cover root canal
I was unaware they would not cover root canal and removal of two teeth for my coton, as they do no dental. It cost me $1600. Root canals are not cheap and many dogs tend to have dental problems. Stats on this are high by about 3 years. My dog broke a tooth chewing. There are only 4 vet dentists in Illinois and 80 in the US, so it is quite expensive. |
Reviewed by: nk
Date: 3/12/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Great Customer Service--Very Pleased
After being a customer with VPI since A'Sharel was a pup someone suggested that I look into Pets Best Insurance. In which, I did. The first time I inquired about their insurance they were not offering it in Tennessee. It was a while before they would have the insurance in Tennessee. Of course, I continued to inquire about the insurance and finally, I was able to enroll A'Sharel. What I have been most impressed with is them accepting her at her age. With some insurances they want accept your little one once they have reached a certain age. Well, A'Sharel had reached an age whereby I thought she would not qualify. Of course, she did and I have been happy every since. Also, each time I have spoken with a customer service person they have always been polite and very helpful. I have not had a need to file a claim as of yet. So, I will have to address that issue once it happens.
So, I will say they are just wonderful.
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Reviewed by: Audrey Hall
Date: 3/10/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Excellent customer service
I really appreciated the help I've received from Khrystal Hinkel in customer service. I couldn't understand why I hadn't heard from PetsBest after having turned in my claim after a month, and after my call, Khrystal said she would check into it. It turned out my email attachment didn't make it through, so I decided to fax it instead. Khrystal emailed me back to make sure that I knew that they had received my claim and that it was being processed. I am just very impressed with how thorough and thoughtful she was in following up on my claim and letting me know what was happening. I just don't see that kind of service any more in ANY kind of company. So far, I think PetsBest is the best! |
Reviewed by: cew
Date: 3/6/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Simple, easy, and GREAT!
When I adopted my 11 year old, deaf, slightly blind, dog with kidney issues I started researching pet insurance. I looked at every pet insurance website I could find and read through almost everything on coverage, what's excluded, and got quotes. Pets Best was simply the best one I had seen so far, better value than VPI who wanted to charge me $68 (Pets Best charged around $44/month). If you read everything through, it's quite clear and simple. I knew my dog wouldn't get covered for a large bill due to his kidney failure later, but they covered whatever they could for that hospitalization and his euthanization and cremation. Pets Best has had the best customer service I've seen.
When I adopted my 3 month old puppy 6 months later, I immediately signed him up for Pets Best and locked in our low rate of $32/month. I've seen a few new insurances recently that also look pretty good, but in the long run I think Pets Best will still benefit me the most. Just recently, my dog was hit by a car and having Pets Best really helped keep me calm as it was one less thing to worry about.
I'm absolutely satisfied with their service and their coverage!
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Reviewed by: Vicki
Date: 2/28/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
They came through when I needed it the most
I am on a tight budget and when my 14 year old dog become ill I didn't have the extra money set aside, but I turned my claim in and recieved the check within the time frame my vet gave me to pay my bill. It was a great feeling to know I could count on what was promised at a time in need.
Thanks to Pets Best, my pet has a best friend. |
Reviewed by: gracie gonzales
Date: 2/26/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
A Great Inurance Plan
I would highly recommend this company for pet insurance! Our dog had the Pets First Plan. My dog needed back surgery for a herniated disc and the day after surgery, the pins broke. So, she had to have surgery again to replace the pins. Those also broke soon after the surgery and could not be replaced. Because the vet could not assure us of success with no pins, we had to make the awful decision of putting her down.
Our vet bills came to about $7000 and after a week of processing the claim, we received a check for $5600 from Pets Best within ten days! Their customer service is also wonderful, they were friendly and easy to talk to. When we are ready to get another dog, we will be sure to purchase our insurance from Pets Best! |
Reviewed by: Marie W.
Date: 2/7/2008 |
Rating: 1
Recommend: N |
Don't pay some claims - poor customer service
I have had the best wellness plan for over a year and recently had a recommended operation on our German Shepard for Cryptorchidism in dogs ( non descending Testicle )- which I thought was covered ($1400). Two doctors recommended this because not doing it causes cancer - then too late for our dog. Now they refuse to pay anything 'as being unfair to their clients- I mean what? Try calling Customer service and while you are number two in the queue, you might wait for 30 minutes. Try to get a pre-approval for anything and find out there is no system for this- you have to pay the vet and then hope after months Pets pays you - and be careful of the deductables. |
Reviewed by: Mike M- San Diego CA.
Date: 1/22/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Without a doubt, the Best!
I purchased this policy as soon as I got my beagle puppy. He needed eye surgery just 3 months after we got him. I submitted my claim via E-Mail and received a check a week and a half later for the exact amount that I expected. I am so happy with this company that I have recommended them to my sister and a friend both of whom recently got a new pet. |
Reviewed by: Ralph D
Date: 1/22/2008 |
Rating: 8
Recommend: Y |
Worth Having
This is the second time I have reviewed this company. I am excited to say that I have been pleased with some of the changes they have implemented. Initially I gave them a low score of 2. This was heavily influenced by claims processing time exceeding what was listed on their site. I also thought that I would not be doing business with them even a year later. So, what's changed mind? These things...
I was impressed by the fact that a representative of the company saw my initial review and personally contacted me via email thanking me for my review and letting me know that at any time they are happy to listen to my concerns. A good company will go where the customers are and look for ways to improve their customer's experience. They have improved billing by not requiring two months premium when starting a policy and now offer a plan where your payment remains the same. For a minor fee, your pet's rate remains the same until age 10 (I believe). They could further improve this by averaging premiums on a yearly basis regardless of the age of the pet, but they are moving in the right direction. They have updated their web site to accurately reflect the length of the claims process. In all the times I have filed claims, absolutely no surprises or denials. They have always paid their 80% after deductible.
Recently my oldest cat was not doing well and when I took him in for examination, the vet discovered a heart murmur. We had xrays, ultrasound, electrocardiogram and a blood panel done to aid in diagnosis. I was very pleased to have deposited my check for $398 out of the $600+ spent on these procedures. The turn around time seems to have improved over a year ago and took about ten business days from filing the claim via email to having the check in hand., Much, much better. They also sent email acknowledgments to let me know they had received the claim and again to let me know they were processing it.
I tried another insurer first with my new kitten then with two other cats for several months. I did not cancel my Pets Best policies during this testing. There were surprises when it came to paying out claims and ultimately I don't need any surprises when one of my cats gets sick. No surprises from Pets Best.
My final comment is regarding the wellness plan. You should know that if you sign up for wellness and cancel the plan you must wait one year before you can sign up again. It also states in the policy that if you cancel the wellness, they may decide to cancel your accident/illness as well. I don't know what one has to do with the other, but this should be changed. To be clear, they did NOT cancel my plan when I discontinued the wellness, but knowing that they reserve the right to do so is why I am reluctant to sign up for wellness again. If you have multiple pets, it is probably best to sign up for wellness one at a time. I have six cats and when one got very ill, I was unable to proceed with the regular wellness for the others until his bills were resolved.
I feel this company is making every effort to listen to it's customer's and improve the quality of their products and service. If they continue on like this, I have every confidence I will be a happy customer for the life of my pets. I have and do recommend them to friends with confidence. In my experience they offer great value and relief with minimal surprises when it's time to pay claims. |
Reviewed by: RC
Date: 1/19/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Excellent Service
We currently had a tragedy in our family where our puppy passed away at the age of 6 months with no apparent cause that has been found to this day. I immediately contacted Petsbest and informed them of what happened and submitted a claim worth a little over $1000.00 incurred in a matter of less than 3 hours worth of service. Within less than 14 days, I received almost 90% reimbursement of the services and was helped by the kindest representatives. They were helpful in helping me with all my questions and were able to inform me of the status of my claim on each call I made, included calling me to let me know if I needed to submit any additional documentations. I would highly recommend Petsbest to any of my friends of their excellent service. |
Reviewed by: Cheri
Date: 1/13/2008 |
Rating: 9
Recommend: Y |
Very prompt claim processing and customer service
I submitted a claim for our cat's recent treatment for hypothyroidism, and it was processed very quickly, although the amount paid to me was nominal, after the deductible was factored in ($200 at that time). However, I was advised that the deductible is now fully paid for any further treatments for this same condition, costs of which will then be covered at 80%. The Pets Best customer service representative was very prompt and helpful in responding to a question I had regarding the effective date of new policy provisions which will reduce future deductibles to $100, a very reasonable amount. |
Reviewed by: Marcia G.
Date: 1/10/2008 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
I AM SO HAPPY WITH THIS COMPANY.
I am so pleased with this company. as i sat in the emergency waiting room for my dog to be evaluated at 2:00 in the morning i knew that i would do for my dog whatever she needed. i saw another man holding on to his dog, he could not afford the medical assistance that the dog needed. i am so grateful that i didn't have to make that choice of financial obligation, or not to have the work that was needed for my "other family member". it was a blessing knowing that whatever was needed, i had the insurance to cover it. no games. no gimics. no hidden fee's. no 80% of a fee that no one charges anymore. just a flat fee of $75.00. thanks pets best, for taking care of our needs. and thanks for the friendly people that work for your company. they were so helpful and friendly. and the reimbursement was so fast that i got the money refunded before i even got the credit card bill of the expense. i hope everyone will spread the word so we can care for our animals the way they should be taken care of. |
Reviewed by: deninne stevens
Date: 1/4/2008 |
Rating: 1
Recommend: N |
Pets Best is the WORST
I have never had so much trouble submitting a claim and getting payment - not even with our Human health insurance. We submitted a claim for an injury for our 4 month old puppy, and it was denied because they said it was a sickness, not an injury. We went back to our vet, and she said it was indeed an injury, and submitted the claim for us again outlining that it was an injury. The claim was denied again, stating that it must have been a "pre-existing condition" becuase it was filed only about a week after our puppy was covered. We had applied and gotten coverage for our puppy as soon as we got him. We were so glad we had done it so quickly when he hurt his arm, and took him in thinking we would be taken care of by the insurance we were paying for. Now, here we are, 3 months later, $200 in premiums and $250 in vet bills and they are still refusing to cover the claim. We would be better off if we had just budgeted the money we were paying for insurance premiums, and now were out over double that. These people are nothing but a bunch of crooks! |
Reviewed by: Nicky in Denver
Date: 12/18/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Best Insurance & Customer Service Anywhere!
Pets Best is the BEST!
I have researched until I could not look at my computer anymore before I selected insurance for my pets, and let me know tell you Pets Best is the best pet insurance company out there!!
Number two:
Khrystal Hinkel,in customer service,is an absolute gem, and I feel a true asset to Pets Best customer service. She helped me for over an hour to work out a new plan to keep all 9 of my pets on an insurance plan. I am sure you can imagine trying to have a monthly premium for all 9 pets was pretty straining our our pocket book. I work in the customer service industry and the service that Khrystal offered was absolutely outstanding, along with her follow up.
I was so impressed with her commitment to helping me with a smile, I wanted to let everyone know what an asset fhey have on their team. I could only wish I could find someone like that out here to join my team!
Sincerely,
Kimberly Warner
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Reviewed by: Kimberly Warner
Date: 12/13/2007 |
Rating: 9
Recommend: Y |
Great Customer Service
I have been very pleased with Pets Best. They are very prompt with responding to my claims and any questions I may have. They are fair with reibursement and pay exactly what they say they will pay. Pets Best would get a 10 if the larger $ claims were expedited. As a pet owner, it is difficult to pay the large vet bills and wait for a whole month or longer before reimbursement, although they are very good and fast at the smaller claims. Pets Best is the best in my opinion, as I have had other pet insurance, horrible pet insurance. The customer service is outstanding. Thanks for communicating with me via e-mail regarding the status of my claims. Keep up the great work! |
Reviewed by: Karen
Date: 11/6/2007 |
Rating: 7
Recommend: Y |
GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE
I would like to say that I think that Pets Best is wonderful. I had Khrystal as the customer service person that helped me through my claim, she was very nice and very complete in the information I received. Thanks! |
Reviewed by: TR
Date: 10/17/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Best Customer Service HANDS DOWN!!
i spent a long time pricing policies and comparing coverage and to be honest most of the pet insurance out there covers the same things and offers the same policy guidelines but pets best sets itself apart becuase of the STELLAR customer service. i had a rough experience with a sick puppy and it was one of the most stressful times of my life, i was literally in knots for weeks. the pets best customer service staff not only assisted with claims processing and record maintenance but served as general stress control!! they are SO QUICK to answer emails, even the most silly little question was answered with care and speed. i have nothing but great things to say about this company and i could talk about TRAVIS and LINDSAY all day. they make the entire insurance industry look great! they are simply amazing! USE PETS BEST! |
Reviewed by: toni gargiulo
Date: 10/16/2007 |
Rating: 9
Recommend: Y |
Very Happy!
I have 3 dogs that I transferred from VPI to Pet's Best. The benefits are more generous and the claim forms very simple. They are a little more expensive, but I think the reimbursement schedule makes up for it. I submitted one claim that took a long time to get reimbursement for (about 6 weeks) but was covered in full: all others have been handled very quickly. I recommend them highly! |
Reviewed by: JP
Date: 10/14/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
SO FAST!
My dog Sierra was acting really weird on Monday. Not eating anything, not even her favorite treats. We decided that we would wait until the next day to see if she got any better and if she didn't we would take her to the vet. Well, she didn't get any better by the next day. Needless to say, we took her in. she had some blood work done and got some medication to keep her from throwing up and some liquid food. I had my vet sign my claim form and went home. The next day we got the lab results back, and they were pretty much normal. He said to basically keep an eye on her and if she doesn't get any better then to take her back in. WELL I brought my papers from the vet in with me to work and went online to petsbest.com. They had a fax number on there and I thought 'well isn't that convenient." So I faxed it. Not more than 1 hour went by and I already received an e-mail stating that they got the claim and are processing it now! I was amazed that I didn't have to call in a week to make sure someone got it. I am very VERY happy so far with the service I have received from petsbest. I will post something on here once I get my check and let you know how fast, or slow, it was. So far I am VERY pleased. |
Reviewed by: Erin
Date: 10/12/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Out of the world customer service!!!
Ifyou are in the market for pet insurance, first, good idea! When the little ones gets sick we try to be practical but there are no monetary limits on our love and it can sure add up so being prepared is paramount! Second, pick PETS BEST!!! I shopped around forever comparing prices and coverage and claim turn around and I have never made such a good decision! A lot of pet insurance is very similiar and Pets Best offers coverage VERY similar to other companies but thier caring customer service is what makes the HEAD AND SHOULDERS above the rest! There response time to emails, claim turn around, and exceedingly helpful staff offer some of the best service I have experienced anywhere let alone and insurance company! On more than one occasion I even had someone respond to an urgent email on thier DAY OFF!! Believe me Pets Best is the way to go! I will never be able to thanks them for thier help and support when my puppy has been sick and thier continued assistance with questions and problems. Pets Best sets the bar in this industry!!! |
Reviewed by: Toni
Date: 10/10/2007 |
Rating: 1
Recommend: Y |
Won't Insure my Dog Because she just turned 9
I'd love to give this company a try, but they do not insure pets over a certain age as they won't insure my healthy just turned 9 year old dog. I think companies should still insure them and charge a higher premium. . . would be more fair than to deny. |
Reviewed by: Bj
Date: 9/27/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Most Excellent & very best choice for pets!
I have been a veterinarian for 21 years. Every veterinarian at some point encounters "economic euthanasia". I believe that pet insurance is the single biggest protective device AGAINST "economic euthanasia".
I had much experience with the first pet insurance company when it was still in the business of protecting pets and pet owners from "economic euthanasia". Then the company decided that the "bottom line" was more important than the "tie that binds" - - in this case the precious family-pet relationship. Suddenly the company relied on "benefit schedules" that bore absolutely no resemblance to the actual costs for various procedures. Instead, our clients were witness to a company that spent lots of time and energy denying any sort of benefit to pets and the people who love them.
Then Dr. Jack Stephens introduced Pets Best Insurance - - as he describes it, "Simply the best for pets". The claims process is exceptionally easy - - we help the client complete the claim form, we fill out the medically relevant information, attach an invoice, and then we actually fax it to Pets Best to ensure the timely filing of claims.
The rest is history-making, because once the deductible is paid, Pets Best takes care of 80% of the remainder. In claim after claim that we have seen after settlement, there it is in black and white - - 80/20... No other pet insurance - - other than Pets Best - - makes sense! |
Reviewed by: Dr. Robin Downing
Date: 9/13/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Well worth the price of admission!!!
This product has literally saved myself and many I know who are insured by Pets Best 10's of thousands of dollars in costs which in many persons financial situations would be prohibitive to them affording to save and maintain in good health their loved one and pet companion. |
Reviewed by: Brett Bowman
Date: 8/13/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Pets Best is Best
Having been a frustrated VPI customer for several years, it was a pleasant surprise to find Pets Best and to have claims paid quickly and fairly. With VPI, I got pennies on the dollar. With Pets Best I am seeing most of my bills covered. |
Reviewed by: Richard
Date: 8/13/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Simple, Fast, and Easy to understand
I have a large unusual breed dog that has had three surgeries and Pets Best has come through each time and paid exactly what they said they would, and did it on time. Without Pets Best, it would have been a hard effort to pay the thousands of dollars it would have cost me. Their staff was very helpful in answering my questions and unlike other policies, Pets Best policy is very simple to understand and use.
THANK YOU PETS BEST for being there for me and my best friend. |
Reviewed by: LS
Date: 8/6/2007 |
Rating: 9
Recommend: Y |
Really Happy So Far
My husband and I have been with Pets Best for about a year and have nothing but good to say about them. We feel comfortable and confident in our purchase and have recommended them to friends and family. Understanding that it works on a reimbursement process -- much like a flex plan -- has been helpful and also learning that it's not doggy dental insurance. Even with that, I would recommend Pets Best without hesitation. |
Reviewed by: Susan D.
Date: 8/3/2007 |
Rating: 5
Recommend: N |
134 is all
I have not had to use my insurance yet
but i would like to take my chihuahua in to
get fixed and it is going to be about 445.00
and p/b will only pay 134.00 of it because
thats all they will pay quarterly..
why do i have insurance for and i pay them 54.00
a month and have had it for about 6 months..... |
Reviewed by:
Date: 7/20/2007 |
Rating: 7
Recommend: Y |
new but better
I know PetsBest is new as a company, while their founder has many years of experience as the founder of VPI, I still did have minor issues with the claims processing. Over a technically they denied a claim but after an appeals process that only took 3 days my claim was approved and I had my money in less than a week. I like the improved coverage and the ability of the reps to take the time to educate themselves in order to help me. |
Reviewed by: Brian
Date: 7/13/2007 |
Rating: 2
Recommend: N |
PetsBest is no good
I have the same problem as everyone else..simples claims take a long time to process..over a month...customer service always tells me something different but they are friendly although not well educated in their field...
VPI was horrible to begin with so if this is the same owner the obviously it's not going to be that good either.
It's cheaper to have the $20 a month and then pull it out when need. Thanks anyways. |
Reviewed by: R.R.
Date: 5/11/2007 |
Rating: 4
Recommend: N |
Claim Review Time too long
As mentioned before, their website states that claims are normally settled within 5 days. Mine took 2 months to find out I was getting nothing but $50. They claimed my dogs tumor was pre-existing. I e-mailed and called many times to check up on my status. They always apologized, but it still took forever. Finally I was told my claimwas settled and the check was sent out. Over 1 week later, I finally got my check...for $50. I disputed the claim rejection with no luck. They still said the tumor was pre-existing. $1000 later. I think I am going to drop the insurance for a while and try something else. The ASPCA seems to have a decent accident and illness policy. I do understand that my dog' tumor could have been pre-existing, but I am upset that it took so long to come to that conclusion even with a call and an e-mail per week from me. |
Reviewed by: MV
Date: 2/15/2007 |
Rating: 10
Recommend: Y |
Really stand by their service!
Pets Best is easy to contact. They answer their phones first time around. They've settled the majority of my claims within 2 weeks. My dog is 13 and is seeing the Vet more often lately. Very satisfied with company. |
Reviewed by: Vicky "Dog Walks 'N More, LLC"
Date: 2/1/2007 |
Rating: 8
Recommend: Y |
Much better than the competition
After dealing with VPI for several years, and never being paid anything close to what was claimed, I have found Pets Best to be a refreshing alternative to the other companies. While it may have taken me a week or two to get reimbursed, VPI always took 2-3 months, and after all that wait I never received half of the actual bill. |
Reviewed by: P R
Date: 1/24/2007 |
Rating: 2
Recommend: N |
Too many problems
In January one of my cats became severely ill. We did everything we could, and for the first time ever we had money in the bank. In the end we had to euthanize her. It was terrifying to think that we could have wiped out all our funds to cure her, then what if she got sick again, or one of our other five cats? Two weeks later I picked Pets Best and started the pets first plan. In August, I added the wellness first for all of my cats. During this time, I have had one wellness claim and two illnesses.
What I like. They claim you can use any licensed vet worldwide.Since moving overseas is a real possibility for my family, this was important. The deductible is $75 then they pay 80%. No weird benefit schedule or categories of coverage. Customer service reps have always been friendly and curteous with no excessive wait times. With both wellness and illness policies, they will apply wellness benefits first then the illness benefit. The result is getting paid more than if they just used illness coverage.
What I don't like. Twice I was misinformed by customer service about policies and payment. Nearly overdrafted my account putting through a payment that I had been told was not due that month. Claims processing is ridiculously slow. On the web site they claim every effort is made to process claims within no more than 5-7 business days, the target being 48 hours. It takes many weeks! On the site it is implied that they will reimburse you for charges even if your bill is not paid in full. In fact you must pay 100% of the bill first then sit around waiting forever for them to process your claim.
My cat was hospitalized for two weeks, required surgery,meds and several trips to the emergency vet. I maxed out all credit cards and savings and took him home owing my vet $1400. I am lucky they know me well since we have been using them for over 4 years. They worked out a payment plan. What happens when I move? No vet is going to provide thousands of dollars worth of care to unknown clients and Pets Best won't pay them directly.
Other problems are no online account management or claims processing. No option to pay vet directly. Coverage is done quarterly not yearly and every quarter my premiums go up. I pay $262 per month for five cats ages 12,10 & 7. I am researching alternative companies and plan to try several before deciding who offers the best service. I can't see still being with this company a year from now. I feel like they are not ready. |
Reviewed by: RC
Date: 11/21/2006 |
