Alexandra Ramirez
Pet’s Best Pet Insurance scored well in coverage and customer service. Although they weren’t a top 3 pick they offer some great pet insurance plans.
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History of Pet’s Best Pet Insurance – How it all Started
Many people are moved to do something big when a significant even happens in their lives. This happened to Pets Best founder, Dr. Jack Stephens when, in 1979, he was asked to euthanize a dog because the owner chose that instead of getting the dog diagnosed and treated. A few weeks later, he ran into the dog’s owner at the store who was with her daughter. The daughter recognized Dr. Stephens as the “man who killed my dog”.
It was a defining moment in his life and started him on the quest to come up with a solution that pet owners could use to be financially prepared for their pet’s veterinary needs rather than being taken off guard and not being able to afford them. Euthanasia is hard enough when there is illness or injury is so great the animal is in constant pain, but when it has to be a choice because the pet owner couldn’t afford to pay then there needs to be something else the pet owner can do.
Pets Best was founded in 2005 and Dr. Stephens is known as the “father” of the pet insurance industry. He first launched a pet insurance company back in 1981 and it was the first pet insurance company in North America. Pets Best CEO Greg McDonald and Dr. Stephens worked together in launching Pets Best to change the industry and make it a better service that actually helped pet owners.
Many of the staff at Pets Best have backgrounds in veterinary medicine and are involved with animal rescue. They are also, of course, pet owners themselves and have a love and compassion for animals that makes them a company that really cares. They understand firsthand the bond that can be between a pet owner and his pet and they work hard to ensure that those pet owners can afford to give their beloved pets the veterinary care they need when they need it.
Their mission is to stop economic euthanasia and have it not have to ever be an option for pet owners that are facing large veterinary care they don’t know how they will afford. The work hard to give owners the peace of mind that their pets’ health needs are taken care of so the decisions that are made are what is truly best for the PET and not based on the wallet.
Their goal is to make pet health care and the filing involved to get reimbursed is as simple as it can possibly be for the pet owner. They have done that by being the first pet insurance company to offer a completely electronic process from beginning to end. You can purchase your policy online, file the claim online AND get your reimbursement direct deposited right into your account. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Their customer service staff is dedicated to ensuring that pet owners know they are there to help through the whole process. They’re not just helpful up until the policy is purchased and then they disappear. They are friendly and helpful from the point the policy is purchased to the point where claims are filed. With commitment like that, pet owners feel that they have a “friend” at Pets Best that is on their side and they are.
The company offers pet owners a choice from four different types of health care plans and also a routine care option so they can tailor the plan to the needs of the specific pet as well as help them find options that fit into their budget as well. With these different choices, pet owners can start off with one plan and add to it or change it later as their income allows. Even the very basic of plans at Pets Best helps take care of the health needs of the pet which is the primary goal. If you’re covering multiple pets, you will qualify for their multi-pet discount that is available in most states and there may be other discounts as well that you can take advantage of. If you’re not sure where to find them when purchasing your policy online, you can give the sales agents a call and they will be happy to help you get as many discounts as you are eligible for.
Even though Dr. Stephens will be retiring this year, his chief operating officer at Pet’s Best will be serving as the president of the company, bringing his years of leadership experience with him. Dr. Stephens isn’t disappearing by any means and will be serving on the executive committee, the board of directors and is a significant shareholder as well. He will also continue to represent Pets Best as a member of the North American Pet Health Insurance Association that he co-founded. This is a group of pet health industry leaders that he is and will remain an active member of even after his retirement is in effect.
Qualification Process for Getting Your Pet Insured
Getting a quote from the Pets Best website is easy. Click the button to get started and that will take you to an online form that you will fill out with the following information:
- Pet’s name
- Pet’s age
- Pet type (dog or cat)
- Gender
- Breed
- Pet owner name
- Zipcode
- Phone number (optional)
- Referral code (optional)
- Answer the question if your pet has been diagnosed with, shown symptoms of or has received treatment for any condition.
Once you hit the submit button, you will be taken to the next page and will receive an email as well. On this next page you will be able to choose the deductible amount you want as well as the reimbursement level and coverage plan you want to have. Here you can also add the BestWellness Routine plan and choose additional coverage. In the event you don’t want one of the bigger plans, you can choose one of the smaller plans that Pets Best offers as well such as accident only, feline illness only and cancer only or you can add them to your regular BestBenefits Plan.
Once your choices have been made, click continue and go to the final page. On this page you will see a summary of your plan and the monthly cost that you will pay should you choose to buy it. You’ll also enter your credit card information here and finish the transaction if you want to go through with getting the coverage. You have the choice of paying monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Choosing any of the payment choices doesn’t affect your premium cost.
If there are any questions during the quote/enrollment process you can call the sales agents and get them to answer any questions you may have. They are happy to help you review all the plans and help you get the one that will be the best for your pets and your budget.
Coverage Plans Pet’s Best Pet Insurance Offers
There are four different types of plans that you can choose from within Pets Best. The accidents and illnesses covered in three of the plans are all the same but you will have different coverage amounts yearly. There are also some add-ons that you can either add to your plan or buy as standalone services. All are outlined below:
Best Benefit Plan – Level 1 – annual limit – $5000/ Lifetime limit – $100,000
- Emergency visits
- Hospitalization
- Specialist care
- Hereditary conditions
- Congenital condition
- Cancer treatments
- Outpatient care
- Prescription Medications
- MRI, CAT scan and X-ray
- Medication injections
- Lab tests
Best Benefit Plan – Level 2 – annual limit – $10,000/Lifetime limit – $150,000
- Emergency visits
- Hospitalization
- Specialist care
- Hereditary conditions
- Congenital condition
- Cancer treatments
- Outpatient care
- Prescription Medications
- MRI, CAT scan and X-ray
- Medication injections
- Lab tests
Best Benefit Plan – Level 3 – annual limit – $20,000/Lifetime limit – $200,000
- Emergency visits
- Hospitalization
- Specialist care
- Hereditary conditions
- Congenital condition
- Cancer treatments
- Outpatient care
- Prescription Medications
- MRI, CAT scan and X-ray
- Medication injections
- Lab tests
The following things are NOT covered under the above plans
- Pre-existing conditions
- Preventable conditions
- Elective procedures
- Preventive Care
- Non-veterinary expenses
- Breeding and reproduction
- Herbal, holistic, experimental and alternative therapies and medications (except chiropractic and acupuncture)
- Treatment of parasites
- Prescription drugs not included in list
- Conditions caused by a specific, repetitive activity
- Intentional injury to your pet by a member of your household
- The following 7 conditions will not be covered during the first 12 months of your policy UNLESS your vet has completed and submitted a Pet Health Checklist: Cruciate Ligament Injuries, Luxating Patellas, Portosystemic Shunts, Elbow and Hip Dysplasia, Osteochondritis Dissecans, Cardiovascular Defects
BestWellness Routine Care Coverage
Gives you up to $505 annual benefits for dogs and $585 for cats with no deductible that can be used for the following: There are limits that are listed beside each one which determines the maximum amount that can be used for that procedure.
Covered for Dogs – includes per item limits
- Annual Exam – $50
- Microchip – $25
- Spay/neuter – $100
- Teeth cleaning – $100
- Blood panel – $60
- Heartworm test – $25
- Fecal test – $15
- Urinalysis test – $25
- Canine flu vaccination – $15
- Rabies vaccination – $15
- DHLP vaccination – $15
- Parvo/Corona vaccination – $10
- Bordatella vaccination – $10
- Lyme vaccination – $15
- Flea, tick and heartworm prevention – $25
Covered for Cats – includes per item limits
- Annual Exam – $50
- Microchip – $20
- Spay/neuter – $100
- Teeth cleaning – $100
- Blood panel – $60
- Heartworm test – $25
- Fecal test – $15
- Urinalysis test – $25
- Felv test (leukemia) – $60
- Rabies vaccination – $15
- FVRCP vaccination – $25
- Leukemia vaccination – $25
- FIP vaccination – $20
- Flea, tick and heartworm prevention – $25
Accident Only Coverage – can be purchased as a standalone or added to your monthly plan
Annual limit – $10,000 / Lifetime Limit – $20,000
- Trauma
- Poisoning
- Animal, insect, or snake bites
- Hit by car or moving vehicle
- Foreign body ingestion requiring surgery
- Bone fractures
- Lacerations
- Cuts and abrasions
- Wounds
- Torn nails
- Medical problems directly caused by accidental injury
Cancer Only Coverage – can be purchased as a standalone or added to your monthly plan
Annual limit – $8000 / Lifetime limit – $30,000
The Cancer Only plan covers the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Included in that is:
- Exams
- Blood work
- Surgeries
- Medications
- Chemotherapy
Filing a Claim with Pet’s Best Pet Insurance
The claims process is very easy with Pets Best. Typically you can expect the claims to be processed within 2-5 days providing they have all the necessary documentation and medical records aren’t needed. When it’s your first claim, medical records are required and this can make the processing take a bit longer. You will need to download a copy of the claim form to start which you can get from the website.
The claim form is one page and you will need to fill it out carefully and completely with the following information:
- Pet name
- Policy number
- Choose the type of claim you are filing: wellness or accident/illness
- Check if you’ve filed a claim for this condition before
- Fill out the diagnosis section
- Fill out your personal information
- Sign and date the form
You can submit your phone by faxing it or mailing it and you can also upload it and email it to the company as well for the maximum convenience for you. All claims need to be filed within 180 days from the date of the visit but the sooner you get it filed, the sooner it can be reimbursed. (You must pay the vet bill at the time of service or at the least BEFORE the claim is sent in for processing.
For the fastest processing of your claims, ask a veterinarian or tech to fill out the diagnosis and notes portion for you and don’t forget to attach the itemized invoices from the visit.
Help and Support Services
Pets Best cares about their customers and their customers’ pets and this is very apparent in the excellent customer service that you will experience anytime you call or email them. They are here to help and support your efforts to keep your pets healthy and living happy, safe lives. They make contacting them easy with email, telephone and live chat support.
Veterinary Clinics Allowed by the Plan
You are allowed to take your pet to any licensed veterinarian or emergency hospital in the US. This is great for those who already have established veterinarians that enroll in the plan. Even if your pet gets sick while on vacation with you and you are away from home, as long as the place you go is licensed, you’re covered under the terms of your plan.
Contact Information and Where to Find Pet’s Best Pet Insurance on Social Media
You can contact Pets Best several different ways. They can be emailed, faxed, regular mail or telephoned. They even have live chat that you can take advantage of. Regardless of the way you choose to contact them, you will receive excellent customer service to get the issues resolved and your pets healthy and happy. Their office hours are Monday – Friday from 7 am – 7 pm and Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm, Mountain Time.
Website: www.petsbest.com
Email: On the website in an embedded form for customer service and sales
Email for Pets Best veterinary services: [email protected]
For website issues: [email protected]
For Claims: www.petsbest.com/customerportal
Customer Service 1-877-738-7237 ext. 1
Fax – 1- 866-777-1434
Mailing Address: Pets Best
2323 S. Vista Ave. Ste. #100
Boise, ID 83705
If you’d like to follow Pets Best Pet Insurance on their social media sites (and they invite all of their customers and supporters to do that) you can find them at the links below.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PetsBestInsurance
Twitter – https://twitter.com/petsbest
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/petsbest/halloween-costumes-for-cats/
Google + – https://plus.google.com/114504632391189018420/posts
Pets Best started with a shocking realization that sometimes people have to choose to euthanize their beloved pets due to illness or injury because they can’t afford the sometimes shockingly high vet bills that can occur. Their dedication to providing coverage for pets that eliminates the need for economic euthanasia has been what has driven them all these years to continually look for ways to improve coverage.
They are focused on their goal of providing all pet owners with affordable, exceptional coverage that gives them peace of mind and reduces the worry associated with the financial costs of good veterinary care. Their compassion shows and they have been successful in providing great service and coverage to their policy holders for many years and that will continue.
Resources
- VPI Pet Insurance – http://www.petsbest.com/
