Before you signing up for pet insurance with PetsPlusUs (or any pet insurance) it is important to be aware of what exclusions may exist, and more importantly how those exclusions are applied, both in present and into the future.
In our particular case, we brought our dog to our vet because she was vomiting randomly and we could not figure out the cause. We took her in for a check up within a few days because it wasn't going away on its own.
Upon examination our vet found Nothing Wrong with her and suggested we try her on a "digestive" food.
In doing so, the vomiting stopped.
In the meantime we received our policy from PPU after its underwriter review process was completed. What we found within the policy is an "exclusion" for any vomiting conditions...ANY vomiting conditions. In other words, though no underlying illness was found PPU was excluding from coverage ANY current or future conditions associated with vomiting. If you've never looked up conditions that may have vomiting as a symptom, it is extensive. This is important because the exclusion does not only apply to the current circumstances, again, for which no underlying disease was found but any and all future conditions which may have vomiting as a symptom. Essentially our coverage was effectively reduced to conditions which do not have vomiting associated or anything like the dog being hit by a car.
After a few months our dog's vomiting returned to a lesser extent but it did return, so again we took her to the vet and requested virtually ever diagnostic test possible: blood tests, urine analysis, ultrasound, and more specific blood tests. PPU, to be clear, covered none of the testing though we continued to be enrolled with their insurance. The explanation given was that the testing was associated with the vomiting exclusion and therefore no coverage provided.
The diagnostics performed found No disease condition and the vet once again suggested a change in diet. With that change, the vomiting stopped.
With the issue seemingly resolved, and, more importantly, no underlying disease being identified, we Canceled our PPU policy due to the manner in which this was handled and the blanket exclusion being applied.
Since most conditions affecting a dog may have vomiting associated, our policy became largely ineffectual, but the premium remained the same.
PetsPlusUs is associated with Costco, and with their endorsement comes significant marketing exposure for PPU. We will be contacting Costco to review our personal experience and to gage Costco's understanding of the practices of PPU and their underwriter.
My hope is only to try and give consumers an example of the tactics that can be used to limit their pet's coverage. To be fair, it could happen with other insurers too...the point in this case is that there was Nothing found thru extensive diagnostics to warrant an exclusion, most especially on an on-going basis. If they wanted to exclude the current circumstance because the policy was still being reviewed by the underwriter before Final implementation, that might be viewed as fair; however, to exclude all such instances, regardless of circumstance, into the future, when Nothing was found in terms of an underlying condition, does this seem like an acceptable business practice? Does it seem reasonable? Fair? Does it reflect a concern for the well-being of the animal?
There are several pet insurers. Please take a good look at each and ask questions about when/how/if exclusions may apply and under what circumstances. Many times as consumers we are faced with choices and often we seek endorsements from family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, And by Reading reviews.
The best outcomes stem from being informed. Please choose wisely.
