I recently found the following review about a product I was researching on Amazon:
"Honestly, of the negative reviews I've read about this particular item, most of the people who are unhappy didn't do enough research first. You should judge an item by what it advertises it does. So far this has done everything it's said it would for me. I couldn't be happier.
I think if you've done your research and this item has the features you have been looking for, you'll be super excited with it, like me."
I have often said almost the exact same words when referring to pet insurance. Here is a quote from my book Pet Health Insurance: A Veterinarian's Perspective:
"While reading reviews, keep in mind that some of the negative experiences people have had (and some admit it) are because they didn’t do their research before purchasing a policy."
I think one of the keys to being satisfied - even happy with your purchase of pet insurance is to know what you are buying and be aware of all your options when you purchase. There are about a dozen companies that offer pet insurance in the United States. I recommend a 5 step method of researching these companies that will allow you to gradually narrow down your choices with each step. The tools to help you carry out this method of research are available in the Pet Insurance Toolkit.
What are the 5 steps?
1) Get quotes from the companies that offer pet insurance
2) Read reviews
3) Read a sample policy
4) Call and/or email for more information and to get answers to your questions. By the time you get to this step, you should be down to only 2 or 3 companies to choose from. I suggest some questions you should know the answer to before purchasing a policy, and invariably, you'll have some questions you've thought of while carrying out the first 3 steps of research. I've had several people who said that this step really helped them make a final decision on which company they felt was best for their pet and them.
5) Make your choice, purchase a policy, and after the waiting period for the policy to become effective, ask the company to do a medical record review (unless you have a new puppy or kitten with absolutely no problems) to determine if there are any conditions noted in your pet's medical record considered pre-existing and not covered.
It's best to make the right decision the first time rather than becoming dissatisfied with your choice after several claims have been filed. If you switch companies, the new company may not cover conditions your pet has been previously diagnosed with and treated especially any conditions that are on-going (chronic).
I will occasionally have readers of this blog or user of the Pet Insurance Toolkit contact me to share their experiences and I'm always amazed at the depth of knowledge they have about the companies that made their final cut. They can literally rattle off the pros and cons of each company just about as well as I can.
So, don't try to avoid doing your fair share of research before purchasing pet insurance. You may just live to regret it.