We just switched to Pet's Best insurance as well after reading several reviews and hearing stories. We had another one but weren't happy with it and felt that anything I reported as a 'claim' would be determined a pre-existing condition since I didn't get Jasper Lily as a baby.  

Pet's Best was happy to take us - knowing Jasper is a rescue so a lot of her past is unknown. So far happy with it. No claims (thankfully) but feels good to have her insured.

After what I went through w/Shelby (who was not insured) I will always have pet insurance on my pets. 

Yes they can! There are three types viral, bacterial and immune mediated. Jag had steroid responsive menningitis arteritis, smra. It is sometimes called beagle pain syndrome. All young dogs can get it but often seen in tollers berners and beagles. The lining of the spinal column, meneges, becomes inflamed possibly due to ticks or vaccines. Jag had excellent tick control, never saw a tick on him! But tested positive for all tick diseases.  He was in extreme pain! A litter mate and half sib, all with the sane dam, developed it around 18 months to two years old. High risk of relapse. Treated with high doses of prednisone tapered very slowly over a years time. If they relapse it can be difficult to control and require very expensive chemo, cyclosporin or atopica. Pred must be tapered painfully slow!

i am very fortunate jag is doing great! His littermate relapsed twice!

this story is about a golden of mine and why I will always have pet insurance. 

http://www.mark.....2884111206

mary

Hi Penny - in theory I agree being self insured is a good option, that's why I never buy extended warranties on appliances. Medical bills are so unpredictable and extremely expensive. MRI cost $2500 in 2007, I recently paid $1200 for the same test. I was quoted costs for chemo therapy in 2007 @ about $1200 a pop. Today I paid $300 for Blaze. If you read my post above and click on the link about my dog Logan's story you will see what I mean. I was self insured for Logan's care, meaning I had to cash in stock investments to pay for it. 8 years worth of monthly stock purchases. We were fortunate to have that for Logan's first cancer surgery and radiation treatment. The second time he became ill, just 3 years later he needed major surgery to remove a couple lung lobes, we paid for that from our savings. That was $5k (his cancer care was about $14k). So two major illness in a very short time. I prayed Blaze and my four cats would stay healthy. 

I am very thankful I purchased it for Blaze and Jag. I never expected them to be critically ill at the same time. Just something to think about.

mary

When I talked to their rep, she told me that anything that could be traced back to his accident would most likely be excluded. That even included physical therapy should he develop arthritis as a result of his accident. Still checking with others.

Kathi

Me too.  I know Bob will be getting insurance for his new puppy so I'd love to hear which are the best ones out there.