I was not told properly that my 6 month old dog needed to see a vet before i got her insurance with Petplan. It Really upset me that nobody told me when i discussed the policy with them. I even called 3 times before i bought the plan asking questions and that never came up. They were too busy trying to get me to sign right now and sign my other dogs. I paid them for Nothing, no peace of mind nothing. Because anything that i would have sent in would have been consider a preexisting condition. Even if i didn't send a claim in for a whole year just because my young dog never seen a vet with me before i got the insurance everything would be considered a preexisting condition. My healthy very young dog never seen a vet with me because she is very healthy and got all her shots and everything from the breeder. I only had her for two months and within that two months i got her the insurance and i didn't even have to use it for another 2 months. Glad i did go and take her to the vet and send in a claim before i paid them for more months. They would have just let me keep paying them every month and just taking my money. For absolutely nothing. They have poorly trained staff that do not tell you everything or its a way for them to make free money. Because that's what they got from me free money. I had no coverage everything would be preexisting. I went to them because of the good ratings they had. cant trust good ratings all the time. I believe you should put whatever you were going to pay them aside each month with the deductible you would have to pay each year. And consider the amount of the bill you would have to pay and You would have your own health fund for your beloved pet. Beside, animal insurance is not like human insurance you have to pay the vet in full each time you go and send the claim in after to get reimbursed. Your paying them each month that's money out of your pocket that you can save for you pet. Because When your dog or pet gets sick and you take them to the vet you have to come up with more money anyway to pay the vet immediately. You could have used that 50 or 100 you sent them last month to pay for that vet visit. And then start saving up again pet insurance is really a waist of your money. To bad it took this for me to really think about it.

In May 2009, my mother found out her Jack Russell had tumors that required extensive surgery. This incident prompted me to begin researching a health plan for my Yorkie Brewster to make sure she was protected. I performed extensive research before selecting a plan. After reading stellar reviews and feedback from existing PetPlan members, I decided to select PetPlan. The initial enrollment process was fast and simple. However, that is where the positive experience ends.

I purchased my plan on June 9, 2009, pre-paid for quarterly coverage and was charged after the 24 hour hold on June 10, 2009. A few weeks later Brewster began experiencing urinary issues, so on June 24 I took her to our local vet. Thus, it is important to note that the vet visit was after the two week waiting period. It was simply coincidental that the vet visit was on the day after the plan went into effect. The vet diagnosed Brewster with a mild bladder infection and prescribed some meds. Given the fee was only $70 we didn’t bother submitting it to PetPlan. After two weeks, Brewster still wasn’t well so we returned to the vet, who issued a different prescription. After another three weeks, she still wasn’t improving, so we returned to the vet who advised we begin costly testing. After checking with PetPlan, who told me specifically the procedures were covered, we moved forward with the testing to determine what was wrong. The tests ultimately showed Brewster had a stone in her bladder that had to be surgically removed. At this point we had spent around $800 with the surgery estimated to cost more than $1000. We submitted a claim for the $800 for the initial fees incurred, and I again called and spoke with PetPlan to confirm the next surgical procedure would be covered.

Brewster went into surgery today, on August 31 at 7 a.m. When I got home from work, I received a letter from PetPlan saying that they were denying my claim and subsequently would not be covering the surgery we had performed today. I then called PetPlan immediately and was informed that they were considering it a pre-existing condition – because even though I enrolled on June 9 and paid the same day, my plan “mysteriously” was not activated until June 15, which meant the first vet visit occurred during the two week wait period. However, I did open my plan on June 9, technically in effect on June 10 due to the 24 hour hold, which would mean the June 24 vet visit would fall after the wait period had ended.

It makes no sense that I would pay for a service and then knowingly consent to the plan not being activated for five additional days. At this point, we have not received any further response/communication/resolution from PetPlan and are currently responsible for nearly $2,000 in vet fees, despite Pet Plan incorrectly activating our plan five days after we enrolled and paid in full.

My dog means the world to me, which is why I was so thorough in my plan selection. Working in the insurance industry, I know how insurance companies work and often wrongly deny claims, which I fear is the case in my situation. I am glad my dog has now received the proper course of treatment, but there is still a large vet bill that needs to be resolved. We choose PetPlan to be protected, not defrauded.

Thankfully I work in PR and am well aware of the course of action needed to “get the attention” of PetPlan through reaching out to journalists who are committed to consumer advocacy and hopefully they can help me share my story with others who are considering choosing an insurance plan for their pet. Please use my experience as a lesson – insurance companies are not there when you need them most, which is unfortunately, usually at the cost of our precious pets.

Thank you for your time and consideration.


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Fantastic service.

Our Akita sufferred from a genetic defect called Cryptorchidism (failure of the testicles to drop after birth). Our Akita needed an operation to remove his testicles that where lodged in his stomach. We submitted our Vet bill of $1400 and was reimbursed promptly less the deductible and co-insurance. No reasonable and customary deductions where made. Thank you PetPlan-USA and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for endorsing this first class program. I have been a Pet Insurance buyer for over 20 years and have never had a better experience.

I currently hold a policy on my puppy, Nixon, through PetPlan. I couldn't have made a better choice than going with PetPlan. Nixon is such a character and my husband and I would do anything for her!

We have had 2 major problems with Nixon. First: she got a hold of a pin cushion off the dining room table (by the way Shiba Inus like to Climb!) and managed to get an entire needle all the way in her paw. The bills totalled up VERY fast after we had complication after complication. With PetPlan we received all but my $200 instance deuctable and a 10% copay. PetPlan saved us over $1200 just for her paw.

Second: Nixon was born with a problematic hind left leg. She has a Grade 4 Luxated Patella and her hip socket on the same leg was not properly formed. We have had one surgical procedure and several xrays performed on her knee. All in all her leg has totalled us over $3500. With PetPlan, after the deductable and copay were met, we have been reimbursed an amount around $2900 and in a very timely manner. We couldn't be more thankful to have PetPlan insurance!

Nixon still awaits another procedure for her knee and she will also need to have surgery performed on her hip in the next few years. We intend to keep her insured through PetPlan... the staff has been very helpful and all of our claims have been processed very fast!

Thanks PetPlan!

I was not overwhelmed with the pet insurance options available prior to hearing about Pet Plan. They all seemed to have catches like a) excluding genetic conditions, even if not diagnosed, or b) only paying based on their definition of reasonable charges, or c) dropping coverage if the pet is diagnosed with a chronic condition. Pet Plans coverage didnt have any of those hooks. Yes, it is a bit more expensive, but its easy to understand why when considering the difference in coverage. Recently my dog ingested poison, and the bills totaled almost $1300. I filed a claim (keep your vet receipts) and received reimbursement for almost $1000 in less than 2 weeks. My only responsibility was the co-pay and deductible. My vet told me that he was a bit surprised as most of the other pet insurance companies his clients deal with are focused on looking for ways to deny payment. Its nice to know that if something bad happens to my dog I can limit my worry to his health and not my bank account.