Overview
Year Company Started: 1982
Underwriter: Veterinary Pet Insurance in California and National Casualty Company in all other states.
AM Best Financial Strength Rating: Veterinary Pet Insurance( Rating: A), National Casualty Company (Rating: A+)
Website: www.petinsurance.com
Phone: 1888-899-4874
VPI Pet Insurance, the nation’s oldest and largest pet insurer, covers dogs, cats, and birds. Founded in 1982, Veterinary Pet Insurance covers cats, dogs, birds, and exotic pets. In addition to insurance for accidents, injuries, and illnesses, policy holders can also buy vaccination and routine care coverage (known as CareGuard Routine Care Coverage).
The company offers three plans that reimburses you for accidents, illnesses, and routine preventative care, including X-rays, surgeries, prescriptions, lab fees, hospitalizations, vaccinations, dental care, spaying, and more. You can expect to pay up to $400/year with coverage up to $14,000 annually.
VPI Dog Insurance Plans:
- VPI Major Medical Plan (Comprehensive Coverage)
- VPI Medical Plan (Economical Coverage)
- VPI Injury Plan (Senior Pet Protection)
VPI Cat Insurance Plans:
- VPI Major Medical Plan (Comprehensive Coverage)
- VPI Medical Plan (Economical Coverage)
- VPI Injury Plan (Senior Pet Protection)
- VPI Feline Select Plan (Cat-Only Coverage)
What is covered:
VPI uses a benefits schedule which lists the reimbursement allowances available for each policy’s one-year term. Although VPI’s plans have a lot of fine print, policy holder testimonials indicate VPI has top-notch customer service.
VPI Pet Insurance Review
Rating: 8
Our review process starts with calling each of the insurance providers over the telephone and then, we gather quotes for these three pet profiles:
- A 2-year old male Yorkshire Terrier named Jax
- A 6-year old male Cocker Spaniel named Max
- An 8-year old female mixed breed cat named Fluffy
Claudia, a customer service representative from VPI, spoke to me for a half-hour today about the pet insurance they offer. She asked if they were spayed or neutered, and if they had any pre-existing conditions, as this would affect the estimate.
The Plans/Quotes
VPI uses a benefits schedule, meaning each condition or diagnosis has a maximum reimbursement—a cap that you can receive back.
Claudia gave me quotes for one of the least expensive plans, VPI Medical Plan, and the most expensive, VPI Major Medical Plan.
VPI Medical Plan
Covers all medical problems from colds to Cancer as long as it’s not pre-existing, hereditary, or from a birth defect. It offers the same coverage as Superior, except the maximum allowed for each diagnosis is half as much. The maximum annual benefit is $7,000.
Monthly Premiums:
includes accident and illness coverage with a $7,000 annual maximum and a $100 deductible.
- $27.88/month for the 2-year old Yorkshire Terrier
- $35.64/month for the 6-year old Cocker Spaniel
- $32.64/month for the 8-year old cat
VPI Major Medical Plan
Provides the highest reimbursement for eligible expenses, such as accidental injuries, emergencies, and illnesses. The maximum annual benefit is $14,000.
CareGuard Routine Care Coverage is optional —an additional $22/month for CareGuard Premier and $12/month for CareGuard Core.
Monthly Premiums:
includes accident, illness, and hereditary conditions coverage with a $14,000 annual maximum and a $100 deductible.
- $36.06/month for the 2-year old Yorkshire Terrier
- $46.28/month for the 6-year old Cocker Spaniel
- $41.94/month for the 8-year old cat
The Details
Claudia told me they’ve been in business for almost 30 years. They’re the only company that will continue to insure pets throughout their lifetime even if they become high-risk. Also, they offer continuous coverage without requiring you to purchase an additional package. Other pet insurance companies consider a condition diagnosed in one year pre-existing when the policy renews—which gives them the right to deny coverage at that point, unless you buy the extra package. VPI doesn’t work that way.
For routine care, you can add CareGuard Core coverage to any package for $12/month. This provides $250 to reduce the costs of routine treatments. If you’d like enhanced routine coverage—including dental cleanings—you should add CareGuard Premiere for $22/month. This package provides $400 annually.
Your policy takes effect for accidents and illnesses 14 days after you enroll. You can expect reimbursement within 30 days of filing a claim, and if you are dissatisfied, you can cancel at any time.
Conclusions
Claudia was very friendly and eager to help. She used examples from her own pets—who have VPI policies—which made me feel comfortable with her knowledge.
That being said, VPI is not on the top of my list. In making my choice, I’ll consider the following pros and cons:
Pros
- VPI is the oldest and largest pet health insurance provider in the US.
- You can visit any licensed veterinarian anywhere.
- There are no lifetime limits.
- The plans are highly flexible, allowing you to add routine care, enhanced routine care, and enhanced Cancer coverage.
- 5% multi-pet discount.
Cons
- Pre-existing conditions, congenital disorders, hereditary disorders, and certain musculoskeletal, urinary tract, ocular, and endocrine disorders are excluded—as well as ACL damage in the 1st 12 months, collapsed trachea, and histiocytosis. That’s a lot of exclusions!
- VPI’s benefits schedule specifies how much you can receive per incident, limiting your reimbursement.
- Due to all the exclusions and the benefits schedule, it’s hard to know in advance exactly what you can expect to receive in reimbursement.
- The claim process can be somewhat slow.
- The founder, Dr. Jack Stephens, left VPI after a large property insurance company purchased a considerable share. He’s since started a new company—Pets Best Insurance—that I consider to be superior.
In the VPI Superior Exceptional coverage are shots and teeth cleaning included under this coverage. If so what percentage on each. I have one dog 12 lbs. and the other around 65 lbs.
Thank you.
I am an student from columbia university and will love to have an post written on article directory of our students.I have gone through to numerous of your post and will be coming more regular but as presently i have examinations so need to go.Thank you.
I had ASPCA for my first dog, now I’m with VPI and have been very happy with their service. One of my dogs has had so many health problems, it has been well worth the money for his plan. VPI has always paid what they said they would pay. It’s nice to have the peace of mind that the boys will be covered for unforeseen illnesses and injuries, especially as they get older.
PVI has been a bit of a rip-off. I have their best plan(s) and yet have only been reimbursed LESS than 20% of the total vet costs. I have provided additional pet records, any and all documentation requested and the result is STILL disappointing in terms of reimbursement(s). Out of fear and lack of competitors, I will likely stay with PVI, but if you are looking for insurance, I would say this is a VERY poor ROI…
I should also note that this does NOT include the $50 a month I maintain to hold a policy with this company. Scam is the best way to explain their business practices.
I purchased VPI and have been paying $38/month for the medical plan, and so far have received zero credit towards my annual $250 deductible. I have fought tooth and nail for credit for treating an ear infection and test for a urinary tract infection, but there is always something else to provide and it’s always a “no” as far as credit towards the deductible. I agree with Jason, it very well may be a scam.
I had VPI for several years, but decided to drop them because the maximum amount they cover is on the low end. It wasn’t worth paying when they cover so little.
These were all very useful! Thanks for taking the time to write something everyone!
Received my policy c-1109152 on miche and it has her as a male, she is a female and has been fixed.
please acknowledge receipt of this error and what needs to be done to correct the policy.
We were referred by our vet to look into vpi. I did check other pet insurances, including Petsmart. Petsmart is only for their vet and certain locations. We then decided to have VPI for 3 out of our 4 animals (other dog is too old). We spent a total of $877 on 2 dogs and 1 cat, in a span of 2 weeks (vaccines, heart-worm prevention, spay/neutering,etc.) And we are getting back 2/3 of it! There was no hassle. They received my claim via fax and the next day I received an email telling me to expect my checks. Communication is easy and replies are fast. Two Thumbs up!
VPI did great for small things like ear infections, etc, but our dog now has cancer, and needs radiation. The cap on radiation is 2000, which sounds like a lot but radiation is very expensive and 2,000 just begins to cover the cost of this. I am disappointed in their coverage for major illness.
Typical insurance company. They denied everything we submitted. This particular eye problem isn’t covered, this doctors visit is related to pre-existing conditions, etc. The epitome of what’s wrong with the health institute is instilled in this companies motivation, bottom line dollar profit. I had terrible experiences sending my claims in, they were often lost until I got a hold of someone who said, ‘don’t do it through the website, email them in’. So a month had passed when I thought they were submitted, and then of course, they were denied. I hate dealing with insurance companies, and this in the few months I’ve had them, is the blue cross of pet insurances.