When I read pet forum discussions or other articles about pet insurance, it is frequently recommended to ask your veterinarian which company he or she recommends. That sounds like logical and good advice. You trust your veterinarian when it comes to medical issues, but should you trust your veterinarian's recommendation about pet insurance?
Not long ago, a technician from Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) visited me after spending three days in our area visiting several veterinary hospitals and presenting a seminar to educate them about pet insurance. I asked her what she had learned. She told me that veterinarians generally don't know a whole lot about pet insurance and sometimes this includes even the companies that they recommend to their clients, whether it is VPI or another company. This confirms a suspicion I've had and even wrote about in my book.
I've talked to veterinarians who said that they didn't have the time or inclination to research all the companies, and therefore, didn't feel comfortable or confident enough to recommend specific companies to their clients. Ironically, I get the impression that there are also some pet owners who don't want to take the time to thoroughly research all the companies, and therefore, would be receptive to their veterinarian's recommendation.
Insurance companies are very willing to send brochures to veterinary hospitals about their company to give out to pet owners. For years, VPI was the only company in the United States, but now there are about a dozen companies selling policies in the United States.
By doing your own research, you'll learn that there is a lot more to know about each of these companies than what is in their brochure. You'll also have the piece of mind that you've taken an honest look at every company and what each has to offer you and your pet. Since there aren't any "networks" like we associate with human insurance, you can buy a policy from any company and go to any veterinarian. Even if your veterinarian gives you a company's brochure, you don't necessarily have to choose that particular company to insure your pet.
So, if your veterinarian and/or staff gives you a brochure from a pet insurance company, be sure to determine if it is a wholehearted recommendation and why they recommend that particular company. I've heard of some veterinary practices recommending a certain company and things were going along fine for awhile until the company did something that disappointed them, or worse, raised the ire of one or more of their clients. Therefore, my suggestion is to not accept their recommendation blindly, but to also do your own research and see if you come to the same conclusion before purchasing a policy.
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