VPI Pet Insurance Review
VPI (Veterinary Pet Insurance Company) is a nationwide pet insurance provider owned by Nationwide Mutual Insurance. It has been meeting the needs of pet owners since 1980. This makes it one of the oldest health insurance providers for pets in the United States. It is also one of the largest providers. If you’re a fan of trivia, then you’ll be interested to know that VPI sold its first policy to one of the dogs that portrayed Lassie. The company has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 2001. VPI offers several policy options to match the healthcare needs and budgets of families all over the country.
Coverage Information
A policy from VPI Pet Insurance covers most health issues that your pet might develop during its life. There are some restrictions, however, that are important to know.
For instance, congenital health problems are not covered. This may mean that your insurance policy does not cover health conditions that are common within your dog’s or cat’s breed. VPI Pet Insurance does, however, cover some conditions that other policies will not. For instance, you can purchase additional wellness plans that pay for services that will help keep your pet healthy.
Dental cleaning is an important addition that most pet owners should consider since caring for an animal’s teeth can significantly extend its life and improve its quality of life. Explore all policy options available so you can choose one that covers the health conditions and services that concern you most while staying within your budget.
There is a slight waiting period before you can take advantage of your VPI policy’s benefits. After you get a policy, you must wait 14 days before using general coverage. You will need to wait 12 months before the policy covers ligament injuries. It is typically a good idea to purchase a policy as early as possible to avoid any treatment delays. If you have already had your policy for several months or years, then there is a good chance that any veterinary services your pet needs will be covered.
Payout Limits
After you reach your policy’s deductible, the plan offers payout limits of $7,000, $9,000, or $14,000 depending on the options you choose. These are annual limits, so it may be possible to get more payouts if medical treatments take more than a year. These are fairly high payout limits that will cover most medical expenses for pets.
Keep in mind that the payouts are made on a schedule. You are not immediately reimburses for any money you spend on your animal’s healthcare. Instead, you will receive a reimbursement according to the next scheduled payout. This means you will have to pay out of pocket for some services, but you will get reimbursed at a later date.
Deductible Information
Deductibles vary depending on how much coverage you want for your pet. Common deductibles include:
- $100 per year
- $250 per year
- $500 per year
- $1,000 per year
Age Limits
VPI Pet insurance is available for animals between six weeks and 10 years old. Once you get a policy for your pet, though, it can stay on the plan regardless of her age. This makes VPI Pet Insurance a good option for long-term health coverage. If you have a pet who is several years old, it is a good idea to purchase a policy now so it will have coverage when it gets older. Waiting until health problems develop could make it nearly impossible to find an affordable pet insurance policy from VPI or any other insurance provider.
Exclusions
There are two exclusions to consider before getting VPI Pet Insurance. First, your policy does not cover pre-existing conditions. Second, it does not cover any congenital conditions. These are extremely common exclusions for pet health insurance policies. Finding a policy that covers pre-existing and congenital health problems is very difficult. Reimbursements for cancer treatments may be excluded it the cause is hereditary. An exclusion also exists for animals who have previously been treated for cancer. As long as your pet develops cancer after you purchase your policy, though, you shouldn’t have any problems getting reimbursed.
Other Information
VPI Pet Insurance is a great option for people who like to travel with their pets or may need to move frequently for work. Not all pet insurance policies will travel with you, but VPI will pay for covered services no matter where the treatments happen. VPI Pet Insurance has about half a million customers. The Better Business Bureau gives VPI an A+ rating, so you can be certain that the company tries to meet the needs of its policyholders. In addition to dogs and cats, you can get VPI policies that cover reptiles, birds, and rabbits. There are even some policies that cover exotic pets, although not all exotic pets are covered. You will need to contact the company to learn more about getting a policy for any exotic pet.
Should I Use VPI Pet Insurance?
VPI Pet Insurance has several qualities that make it an excellent option for pet owners who want to keep veterinary care as affordable as possible. Many people will appreciate that the company is owned by one of the country’s largest health insurance providers since this can make it easier to get needed services no matter where they live. Policies also help pay for emergency care, prescription medications, and treatments for long-term health issues. There are plenty of options to consider when buying pet insurance. VPI offers a diverse range of policies that offer the levels of protection that most pet owners need. Most policies also have affordable cost that make it easy to keep healthcare expenses low. If you want a way to protect yourself from expensive veterinary treatments, VPI Pet Insurance is a strong option that should be near the top of your list.
