Pet Insurance Guide Podcast

  Dr. Mary Beth Leininger is the Vice President of Veterinary Relations at ASPCA pet health insurance company. She and her husband formerly owned a small animal practice in Michigan and she was the first woman elected President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).   In this episode, we talk about the recently released North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) study describing the attitudes of pet owners and veterinarians toward pet health insurance. Both she and I were surprised at some of the findings.   We discuss: Why she believes her background in private practice, as AVMA President, and other positions in veterinary industry has prepared her to help the pet health insurance industry to better understand veterinarians and their concerns. Comparisons between how pet owners and veterinarians think about pet insurance. The benefits to veterinarians of wider adoption of pet insurance by their clients.  What impact a veterinarian's recommendation could have on the adoption of pet insurance by their clients. Differences in the attitudes of veterinarians in the United States and Canada toward pet insurance. Whether veterinarian's fear of managed care is as big of a concern as many have been led to believe. Why pet health insurance is a win/win for both pet owners and veterinarians. Ways veterinarians and their staffs can go about recommending pet insurance to their clients. How pet insurance can help pet owners say "Yes" to new and expensive treatments that save pet's lives and improves their quality of life. Why she believes veterinarians should recommend only 1 or 2 pet insurance companies to their clients.    Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Check out these links discussed in the interview: ASPCA Pet Insurance website North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes       Related StoriesHow A Referral Specialty/Emergency Hospital Promotes Pet Insurance - Episode 36Thriving Veterinary Practice Is On Cutting Edge With Pet Insurance - Episode 33Pets Best Helps Veterinary Hospital Promote Pet Insurance To Their Clients - Episode 32 

Figo Pet Insurance Company launched in 2015 with the introduction of a more technology-based approach to the industry. I recently had the opportunity to interview the Founder and CEO of the company, Rusty Sproat, who has an interesting story about how he was introduced to pet insurance and then decided to start a new pet insurance company.   Their policy has 3 levels of coverage with the ability to customize your policy and a Pet Cloud that allows access a pet's medical records and insurance policy information via a cell phone. They are in the process of expanding the capability of the Pet Cloud that will make available to pet owners all sorts of valuable information pertaining to their pet. Rusty explains details about their pet insurance policy and the Pet Cloud in this interview.    Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: Figo Pet Insurance website Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes        

  Pets Best pet insurance company reviewed their claims over $500 to determine where pets were treated and found that: Therefore, if your pet experiences an unexpected and serious injury or illness, you have almost a 50% chance of being seen at an emergency hospital or being referred to a specialist. Emergency hospitals often deal with life-threatening problems that need intensive care or even emergency surgery – usually at hours when your primary care veterinarian’s hospital isn’t open. Specialists have more advanced training and access to more advanced technology (e.g. CT scans or MRIs) to help them solve and treat more difficult cases. For these reasons, the fees at specialty and emergency hospitals are usually higher than what you would pay at your primary care veterinarian’s hospital. Specialty and emergency hospitals play an important role, along with your primary care veterinarian, in providing quality healthcare to your pet, and  (when needed) can be the difference between the successful or unsuccessful treatment of your pet. My guest today is Jeannie Dardano, an administrative assistant and pet insurance liaison at Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital - a 24 hour emergency and specialty hospital. Interestingly, Wheat Ridge also has  general practitioners in their practice. Although they will treat pets insured with any company, they actively promote Trupanion pet insurance to pet owners who visit their practice. They use Trupanion's software (Trupanion Express) that integrates with their own practice software to rapidly file claims and receive reimbursement. I'd heard about Trupanion Express being used in primary care practices, but wanted to interview someone who uses it in an emergency and specialty practice setting. We discuss: The initial reason the doctors and staff became interested in pet insurance. Why pet insurance and/or Care Credit comes in handy especially for emergency and specialty services. The process they used to determine which pet insurance company they would use when offering pet insurance as a benefit to their staff and recommend to their clients. How they introduce pet insurance to their clients. An explanation of how Trupanion Express works in their hospital How Trupanion Express compares with what she worked with in the human healthcare field    Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Check out these links relevant to this interview: Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital website Discussion with Darryl Rawlings, CEO at Trupanion, about the company and Trupanion Express Interview with Dr. Heather Steyn and how Trupanion Express has impacted her practice Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes           Related StoriesThriving Veterinary Practice Is On Cutting Edge With Pet Insurance - Episode 33Veterinarian Sees Benefits Of Pet Insurance After Insuring Her Own Pets - Episode 31Attitudes Of Pet Owners And Veterinarians Toward Pet Health Insurance - Interview With Dr. Mary Beth Leininger - Episode 38 

  Today, VPI launches a new product that they believe is the best healthcare coverage for pets on the market -  Whole Pet with Wellness. Unlike their previous policies that reimbursed according to a benefit schedule, this one reimburses 90% of the veterinary invoice after the deductible is satisfied with no annual limit. In this interview with Dr. Carol McConnell, VPI's Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, we'll discuss: A little history of the company and the transition this past year to the Nationwide brand. Details of the Whole Pet Policy including the very short list of what's not covered. Essentially everything else is covered with minimal to no restrictions. Wellness care coverage is embedded in the policy (not a separate rider) and subject to the deductible and copay Can current VPI policyholders transition over to the Whole Pet Policy and what are the rules for being able to do so?    Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: VPI website Previous Podcast Interview with Dr. McConnell Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes                

  Jack Stephens, the Founder and former President of Pets Best, retired in the fall of 2014 and Chris Middleton became the new President. In this episode, I talk with him  about: His background before coming to Pets Best The reasons behind recent changes to Pets Best policies Details about Pets Best policies that may be unique How Pets Best determines if a pet has any pre-existing conditions that won’t be covered Reasons he believes many pet owners don’t buy pet insurance Challenges the pet insurance industry faces in getting more pets in the United States insured. Getting the word out to veterinarians and pet owners about the value of having pet insurance   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Check out these links discussed in the interview: Pets Best website Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes           Related StoriesPets Best Helps Veterinary Hospital Promote Pet Insurance To Their Clients - Episode 32Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 5 - Interview with Dr. Jack Stephens at Pets Best Pet Insurance Company 

  In today's episode, I interview Dr. John Faught, the founding partner in a rapidly growing veterinary practice in Austin, Texas called Firehouse Animal Health Center. We talk about: How the hospital got it's unique name. Why he decided to promote pet insurance in his practice. How he and his staff introduces clients to pet insurance. Why he decided to promote only one company. Which company they use and why. His personal story - how pet insurance came in handy when his dog got sick One of the things that really changed his mind about pet insurance - where he's seen it makes a big difference. How having pet insurance has increased compliance with his and the staff's recommendations and two stories where it saved clients thousand's of dollars. What he thinks pet insurance companies could do better to enhance the experience that pet owners and veterinarians alike have with pet insurance. Advice he would give to pet owners who are considering the purchase of pet insurance. Advice he would give veterinarians who are interested in promoting pet insurance in their practices. How developing a relationship with Trupanion's Territory Partner has enhanced the experience he's had with pet insurance. Why they almost always file claims for their clients.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: Firehouse Animal Health Center Trupanion Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         Related StoriesHow A Referral Specialty/Emergency Hospital Promotes Pet Insurance - Episode 36Veterinarian Sees Benefits Of Pet Insurance After Insuring Her Own Pets - Episode 31Attitudes Of Pet Owners And Veterinarians Toward Pet Health Insurance - Interview With Dr. Mary Beth Leininger - Episode 38 

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Bob Beede, co-owner of Intermountain Pet Hospital in Meridian, Idaho. He talks about why they recommend pet insurance in their practice and why they chose Pets Best as the company they endorse to their clients. We also talk about how Pets Best helps them promote pet insurance and he encourages the industry to "think outside the box" in coming up with ways to help veterinarians be more effective in getting the word out about pet insurance. He also talks about some of the "wins" he's seen in the lives of pets they have treated who have been insured.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: Intermountain Pet Hospital & Lodge Pets Best Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         Related StoriesAttitudes Of Pet Owners And Veterinarians Toward Pet Health Insurance - Interview With Dr. Mary Beth Leininger - Episode 38How A Referral Specialty/Emergency Hospital Promotes Pet Insurance - Episode 36Interview with Chris Middleton, Pets Best New President - Episode 34 

  Dr. Darlene Cook has owned The Bluffs Pet Clinic in Red Wing, Minnesota since 2001. She is an enthusiastic promoter of pet insurance because she experienced first hand the benefits of having pet insurance when her dog developed a rare form of cancer and her cat swallowed a string. We talk about the process she and her staff used when choosing which pet insurance companies they would recommend to clients and the ways they educate clients about pet insurance. I believe there are at least two big takeaways from her personal experiences with pet insurance - one for pet owners and one for veterinarians and I talk about them at the end of the interview.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: The Bluffs Pet Clinic Cyberknife Radiosurgery For Cancer In Pets and People Petplan Trupanion Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         Related StoriesHow A Referral Specialty/Emergency Hospital Promotes Pet Insurance - Episode 36Thriving Veterinary Practice Is On Cutting Edge With Pet Insurance - Episode 33Attitudes Of Pet Owners And Veterinarians Toward Pet Health Insurance - Interview With Dr. Mary Beth Leininger - Episode 38 

  I recently interviewed Dr. Chad Bailey who along with his wife own the award winning Cleveland Road Animal Hospital in Wooster, Ohio. After talking a little bit about his hospital and practice, we discussed: Why the doctors and staff decided to actively promote pet health insurance. Why they decided to promote only one pet insurance company to their clients. Which company they selected and why and whether that turned out to be a good decision. How they go about introducing their clients to pet insurance. Greater compliance to the doctor's and staff's recommendation by clients with insured pets. Reasons pet owners may not purchase pet insurance after it is recommended and why many may live to regret it. From a veterinarian's perspective, what pet insurance companies can do more of to help promote health insurance for pets.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: Cleveland Road Animal Hospital Pet Insurance Toolkit Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         Related StoriesAttitudes Of Pet Owners And Veterinarians Toward Pet Health Insurance - Interview With Dr. Mary Beth Leininger - Episode 38How A Referral Specialty/Emergency Hospital Promotes Pet Insurance - Episode 36Thriving Veterinary Practice Is On Cutting Edge With Pet Insurance - Episode 33 

  Sebastiaan and Zappa In several past episodes, I've interviewed people who have purchased pet insurance for their dog. In this episode, I interview Sebastiaan who contacted me recently to let me know that he and his wife just purchased pet insurance policies for their 5 cats. He is a reader of my blog and just wanted to let me know that the Pet Insurance Toolkit was helpful while doing their research.     They adopted 2 adult cats from a shelter a couple of years ago and a few months ago adopted 3 kittens together. (click pictures to enlarge)   Zappa Aguereberry Namibia, Vlinder, Olli               Sebastiaan explains what was most important to them when deciding on a company to insure their cats and also the reason why they decided to purchase pet insurance. In my opinion, it is the correct perspective on the role of pet insurance in helping pay for your pet's healthcare expenses. Some financial advisers who question the value of pet insurance would be wise to listen and learn.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode    Check out these links discussed in the interview: Interview with Healthy Paws CoFounder, Steve Siadek Interview with Pet Dentist, Barden Greenfield Pet Insurance Toolkit Your Pet Insurance Guide Blog Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         Related StoriesPet Insurance Comes In Handy When Dog Accidentally Ingests Ibuprofen - Episode 25 

  In this episode, I interview Dr. Heather Steyn who started Advanced Animal Care of Colorado in 2011. The practice has grown rapidly - now having 4 doctors who practice very high quality medicine, surgery, and dentistry. She explains how promoting pet insurance has become part of the practice culture and why she believes this has been a significant factor in the unusual growth of the practice. After dealing with several pet insurance companies over the years, she now promotes exclusively Trupanion. Her practice uses Trupanion Express, a software that runs along side her practice management software, that allows her staff to file claims for clients and receive direct reimbursement from the insurance company virtually in real time. This way, the client simply has to pay the deductible, copay and for any uncovered expenses. She explains how this works, how it has impacted her practice and how it has been received by clients.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Watch brief video explanation of how Dr. Steyn's staff uses Trupanion Express:      Advanced Animal Care of Colorado website Trupanion Express Podcast - Part 1 Trupanion Express Podcast - Part 2 Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes Dr. Steyn and her husband Phillip helped start Amici Cannis, a non-profit organization to help the homeless dog population in Ecuador.         

  Marathon Veterinary Hospital in the Florida Keys actively promotes pet insurance to their clients so that over 10% of their clients have pets that are insured. I recently interviewed Megan and Vicki, two of their receptionist who are the designated pet insurance advocates for the practice. However, the whole staff, including the doctors, recommend pet insurance to their clients. In the future, I hope to feature other veterinary hospitals who are having success promoting pet insurance and the impact it is having not only on their practices, but in the lives of clients and pets they serve.                  Megan                                                                                Vicki   Megan and Vicki share that the reason the doctors and staff recommend pet insurance to their clients is to enable them to provide the best care possible for their pets. They talk about the ways they help their clients choose a company and policy as well as file claims for them and even help them when they run into problems with their reimbursement.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Links to websites discussed in this episode: Marathon Veterinary Hospital website Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         

  In this episode, I interview Dr. Barden Greenfield who is board-certified in veterinary dentistry. He was recently elected President of the American Veterinary Dental College. He gives us an overview of the most common dental diseases in pets and why maintaining good oral health can actually help your pet live a longer, happier life. We discuss: Why he decided to specialize in dentistry after being in general practice for several years and what it takes to become a specialist in dentistry. The most common dental diseases in dogs vs. cats. Which dental diseases are preventable and what steps pet owners can take to insure good oral health in their pets. "Chews" that are commonly purchased but should be avoided because they are among the leading causes of tooth fractures in dogs. Why maintaining good oral health is vital to your pet's overall health and well-being as well as longevity. The most important thing you can do to maintain your pet's oral health. Why the new trend of anesthesia-free dentisty is a bad idea. What signs to look for that indicate your pet should have a dental exam as soon as possible. Periodontal disease - the most common disease that dogs get and why it's best to prevent it than treat it. Factors that should be considered when deciding whether to save or extract a fractured tooth. The potential costs associated with treating the diseases commonly seen in dogs and cats. How pet insurance can help pay for not only the prevention of dental disease, but also the treatment of dental disease.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Links to websites discussed in this episode: Dr. Greenfield's website VOHC website to acceptable and proven products that promote oral health in pets American Veterinary Dental College Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         

  In this episode, I interview a client of ours at The Pet Hospitals at Houston Levee in Cordova, TN.  about her quest to find a pet insurance company and policy to insure her dog, Bentley, and how the policy came in handy this year when he accidently ingested Ibuprofen. We discuss: Why she decided to purchase pet insurance for Bentley. The company she chose to insure Bentley and which factors were most important to her when making the decision. The best way to judge a company's customer service and why this is important before purchasing pet insurance. The treatment that Bentley received at our hospital and an Emergency Center after he ingested a toxic dose of Ibuprofen and how he's doing today several months later. A new Healthy Paws app that made the filing of claims easy and resulted in very quick reimbursement. Why she is not only satisfied with her policy, but also an enthusiastic supporter of Healthy Paws.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Relevant Links: Interview with Dr. Jason Nicholas - How to Keep Your Pet Healthy and Avoid Big Veterinary Bills Healthy Paws website Healthy Paws mobile app The Pet Hospitals at Houston Levee The Preventive Vet Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes Here are some of the EOB forms that DeeDee received with each reimbursement that illustrates how Healthy Paws applied her deductible and copay to each claim: Bentley EOB - 1 Bentley EOB - 2 Bentley EOB - 3 Bentley EOB - 4 Bentley EOB - 5          

  In the past several years, policyholders of several pet insurance companies have received renewal notices informing them of significant premium increases - sometimes 30 - 50 - 70 percent or more. When they contacted their insurer demanding to know why, the explanation given often fell short of helping them understand why the increases were necessary. While some policyholders accepted the increase, others dropped their insurance or switched to another company with more reasonable premiums. In this episode, Laura Bennett and I talk about the factors that cause pet insurance premiums to go up or down. Besides being the CEO of Embrace Pet Insurance, she is also an actuary whose job it is to look at all the factors that influence the premiums for the pets they insure. Therefore, she is able to give a rare "behind the scenes" look at how Embrace adjusts premiums for their policyholders when necessary. She talks about the standard age and inflation increases, but also explains how an analysis of actuarial data can potentially lead to significant increases from time to time. At the same time, she offers ways that pet insurance companies can minimize the need for large increases in premiums. We also discuss steps that policyholders can take to keep their premiums within their budget as premiums do increase over time.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Relevant Links: Yikes! My Premium Just Went Up 50%! An Insider's Look at Rising Pet Insurance Premiums Another Reason Pet Insurance Premiums Rise Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 8 - Interview with Laura Bennett (1)  Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 9 - Interview with Laura Bennett (2) Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes               

  In this episode, I interview Merrick Wolfe, who was a guest on a previous podcast episode where he talked about switching pet insurance companies when his dog, Frida, was 10 years old. Merrick has kept in contact with me over the past 3 to 4 years and has valuable information to share for those pet owners who are considering whether to purchase pet insurance for an older pet or whether it is wise to switch companies when your pet is older.  We'll discuss: Is it too late to purchase pet insurance if you have an older pet - it depends... Importance of getting a medical record review to determine if there are any pre-existing conditions that won't be covered. His experience with Petplan when filing claims for the chronic conditions Frida has developed in the past 3 years:              Hypothyroidism             Cancer - twice             Diabetes Insipidus             Spondylosis Petplan's adjustment of his premium downward when Frida lost weight. A 30% increase in his premium this year. An arrangement where Petplan reimburses his veterinarian directly. Second thoughts - would he choose Petplan if he had it to do all over again?   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Relevant Links: Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 7 - Switching Pet Insurance Companies Need Not Be A Pain - The Right Way To Do It How To Make Pet Insurance Affordable For Your Pet Switching Pet Insurance Companies in Mid-Stream Switching Pet Insurance Companies in Mid-Stream - Part 2 Petplan website Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         

  In January, 2014, the VA contracted with Trupanion Pet Insurance company to pay for 100% of the wellness and accident/illness care for U.S. veteran's service dogs. In this episode, I talk with Lisa Marcotte, Trupanion's Business Development Manager about how the program works for both veterans and veterinarians.   We discuss: Why the VA selected a pet insurance company to administer this program rather than continue the program in-house. How the program works. What's not covered. Are pre-existing conditions covered. How veterinarians can get paid within 48 hours. What about emergency situations? Veterinarians get paid according to whatever they charge and not a negotiated fee schedule. Trupanions's experiences so far with their "direct pay to veterinarians" programs - Trupanion Express and Claims Express and the feedback they've gotten from pet owners and veterinarians. How the pre-certification process works in the case of a large claim.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Relevant Links: Trupanion  U.S. Veteran Service Dog Program  Trupanion Express Podcast (Part 1) Trupanion Express Podcast (Part 2) Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes         

    In this episode, I interview Sandy Boucher, the CEO of PetPremium - the newest pet insurance company in the United States.       We talk about: Sandy's background before coming to the pet insurance industry.  PetPremium's philosophy of marketing pet insurance. Why PetPremium chose The Hartville Group to administer their policies and the advantages of starting up this way vs. starting from scratch. Specifics about their policies, what's covered, available maximums, deductibles, copays, etc. Which plans have available riders for wellness care and what's covered. How PetPremium defines per-incident. Continuing care endorsement that maintains coverage for a previous incident over several policy periods. Paying the veterinarian directly in case of a large claim. Procedure for upgrading or downgrading a policy.  Helps for pet owners available on PetPremium's website and their Facebook page.    Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Relavant Links: Pet Premium Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes           

  In this episode, I interview Dr. Fran Wilkerson, a veterinary colleague in the Chicago area. She has a very informative website about pet insurance that she was developing several years ago at the same time I was starting this blog. She is one of the most knowledgable veterinarians in the United States about pet insurance and I'm happy to introduce her to you.    She shares with us: Why she started her website  Some of the "must have" coverages if you are to select a policy that provides adequate coverage for your pet's injuries and illnesses.  Some similarities and differences between human health insurance and pet health insurance. Why it is important that pet insurance companies, pet owners and veterinarians diligently guard against any drift toward "managed care" that has plagued other health professions. This is a topic that you may not have heard discussed much, but I think it will be of interest to you. Her Pet Health Newsletter that is  primarily devoted to educating and notifying subscribers about pet food recalls.   Click to Listen; Right click to download episode   Relavant Links: Pet Insurance University Pet Insurance Toolkit Subscribe to Podcast Subscribe to podcast via iTunes