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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Pet insurance for rabbits

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    • JackRabbit
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        I’ve seen postings where some BBers have commented that they were glad they had pet insurance when their bunnies have required surgery or had to stay overnight at the vet.  There also seem to be so many posts about GI and other health issues so I just (a few minutes ago! got on the phone and got my 3 bunnies insurance policies.  I guess I may be looking for reassurance that I did the right thing, but can any of you share experiences with bunny insurance?  I bought the VPI insurance (they said they were the only ones offering exotic pet insurance) and I believe that’s what I’ve seen named on here when I searched.

        Thanks!


      • Beka27
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          VPI is the only one I know of that offers insurance for rabbits. Many members have it and are satisfied with it. I don’t have it myself, but I know that you have to pay the vet bills upfront, and then you get reimbursed (80-90%?) within the month. Not everything is covered, but if something goes wrong, it’s nice to know that some of the money will be coming back to you!


        • Tessie
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            It sounds like it’s pretty different in the UK, where I have my pet insurance.
            But I am so glad I have it! One of mine was recently very poorly and the insurance meant that he could get the best care possible without finances being a problem.
            I know lots of people just have savings accounts for their bunnies, and I think that’s a good option too. For me though, I’m terrible at saving money! haha


          • Katie779
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              This seems like a good idea. I think I’ll look into it also. I do have a savings account set aside for vet bills, so I agree that it is a good option, but in case of an emergency it would be nice to have that reassurance.


            • Deleted User
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                I can’t have ‘bunny’ insurance as it is not available to me. So what I did is found out how much the premiums would be (for my ‘bit’ of research – $6wkly/$300pa) and put that money into a separate bank account. If I need to use it, it’s there (and if the bill is higher, something is better than nothing). But if I don’t have to rely on it, my money is still there – for me to reclaim. Like I said, I don’t have the option, so this is my plan B.


              • BlueMoods
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                  It is a very good idea, just like people we may be fine paying routine medical costs but, one emergency or unexpected illness can be more than we can handle financially. Knowing you will get a large portion of the money back in a few weeks makes paying those larger bills easier to deal with.


                • Bam
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                    I have insurance for both my buns and my dog. I’ve not had to use it for the buns, but I have for my dog.

                    AndHenry, you are clever to save up in case sth happens to Henry, since you don’t have the option of insurance.


                  • Deleted User
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                      Yep, I have been caught out with the dogs – about a year ago I thought Sam (my 14yo dog) was on death’s door, I warned everyone it may be the end (she looked terrible, can’t describe it). Ended up taking her to the vet that arvo cause I could see that she was in pain (couldn’t move her head), she had a burst eardrum! $200 later and she is all good now – looking forward to her 15th birthday this May. I don’t wanna go into everything I have spent on 4 dog’s over the last 15 years (I would horrify myself if I did, so best forgotten) and came up with this idea for Henry. You don’t miss $6 a week (ok, I do…. lol), but it’s better than a $200 bill unexpectedly at once. His neuter and vaccinations were my birthday present, so that was covered – happy birthday to ME! Doh! ha ha hah hah….

                      Edit/ADD – I didn’t know that pet insurance even existed till the last few years – too late for my dog’s. But I should have at least thought to do for them what I am now doing for Henry. But when everyone is healthy and happy and YOUNG, that’s usually the last thing on your mind. I know better now.


                    • RabbitPam
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                        I got VPI right after I had Sammy spayed, and I was very glad I did. My financial work situation changed not long after that, and I was job hunting when she had her first issue with her digestion. I needed to take her to the vet, have fluids, xrays, and take home critical care, meds and pain meds just in case. It cleared up in 48 hours, but it was just a basic, common ailment and it still would have been terribly over budget for me that week. I submitted my claim (my vet also read their list of approved procedures, so she was able to write it up or code it appropriately) and was reimbursed well within the month promised. They were nice on the phone, too.

                        Yes, it was paid up front and 20% out of my pocket, but my vet allowed me to wait a billing cycle, so it wasn’t bad for me at all. I was really grateful for it because my vet didn’t hesitate to thoroughly examine her and do what was necessary.


                      • Beka27
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                          We’ve considered it for when we get a dog someday (just gotta find the right dog…)


                        • MooBunnay
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                            When I adopted one of my rabbits, Grace, we bought her pet insurance because she was missing one of her eyes, had an injury in the other eye, and the vet thought she had some neurological issues. After 3 years of having vet insurance, all of our other bunnies went to the vet at least once, and Grace had never been at all, haha!


                          • Deleted User
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                              I shouldn’t laugh MooBunnay – but isn’t that ALWAYS the way! Expensive pet insurance is sorta like a guarantee your bun will ‘never’ get sick. BONUS! Lol…


                            • Beka27
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                                Great to see you, MooBunnay!!! (Moo used to be a forum leader here back in the day!)

                                Yeah, insurance seems to guarantee that your bun will be healthy! Lol! (At least it can seem that way!) Kinda like how if your car insurance accidentally lapses for a day, that’s the day that something catastrophic will happen! 🙁


                              • Sligeach
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                                  Wish I had got it. Must have spent at least 1500 in past month on Henrik. . Of course he worth every cent and hopefully now on the mend.


                                • Deleted User
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                                    Sligeach – $1500? Eeeek! Henrick is one VERY lucky bun – good on you! Cheers.


                                  • Ouisie
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                                      We live in the UK, and there is a company called Petplan who we have always insured our animals with. They have been so wonderful through all our misfortune with our furbabies. Our little Zelda had £1600 worth of treatment before we sadly lost him. Our little Navi had to have a lump removed from her back at a cost of £600. And our Link is currently receiving treatment for E Cuniculi which is now around £600 and rising. Keep in mind that we’ve only kept rabbits since last March, we’ve been very unlucky, although our vet thinks that we are just more observant than most owners over here.
                                      The insurer has been so good through all of this, and we always get reimbursed superquick. I didnt think they would insure us again for any more animals, but we fell in love with Daisy our latest rescue. I wanted to make sure that she could be insured before we offered her a forever home, and it was no problem at all. And our premiums don’t go up either if we make lots of claims. My parents have a dog which they insure through another company and they pay through the roof. I’m so glad we went with who we did.
                                      Sorry if this goes against the rules mentioning a specific company. I will understand if this is removed.


                                    • JackRabbit
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                                        Thanks so much for the replies!  I think I did the right thing.  I always wonder because I am an insurance salesperson’s dream — for some reason my gut always says that buying insurance is the way to keep bad things from happening.  Plus, I’m not the best at saving money for things like vet bills.  I didn’t buy it for my dog, but apparently bunnies are way cheaper.


                                      • Deleted User
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                                          Do you mind me asking JR how much it costs you each month ‘per’ bunny? I am just super curious???? Ta! Cheers.


                                        • Beka27
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                                            Ouisie, I think you’re fine sharing your experience with Pet Plan. We do discourage promotion of certain things, but in this case your experience is very applicable to the topic. I’m personally not familiar with the UK companies so this is good to know!


                                          • JackRabbit
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                                              Sorry this took so long Andi — I believe it’s going to cost $11 per month per bunny.  If paid annually there’s a $2 per month discount so it’s around $324 give or take per year.  There is a deductible too.  Haven’t received my “welcome packet” with all the details yet.


                                            • Deleted User
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                                                Cool! Thanks JR! So my estimate of $300 a year was a pretty good guess….. good to know. Fingers crossed this will be insurance that we have ‘healthy’ bunnies, he he he he….. Good luck to US both! Cheers JR.


                                              • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                  VPI isn’t available here yet, but had it been when my rabbits were younger I would have been all over that. I’ve nothing but good about that company. And I’ve spent tons of the vet (all worth it!).

                                                  There is some wisdom that if you put a set amount of money aside, you would be prepared, however if something comes up that is expensive in the first few years you would not have thousands saved; and most, like me, mean to set money aside but don’t do that! So I think insurance is optimal if you can get it!!

                                                  The worst case financially is you never have to make a claim, and really in the real world -that means you have no incidents and a health rabbit-so that’s a great case scenario!!


                                                • Deleted User
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                                                    Only cause I CAN’T get bunny insurance did I come up with the idea to put the equivalent away (my dog’s have cost me a fortune too). My thoughts, something is better than nothing. My secret to saving for it? I have $12 automatically taken out fortnightly on pay day and deposited into an account that I have no immediate access to, and it takes 24hrs to transfer the funds back – so if I go to borrow from it, I have 24 hours to think and decide I’m doing the wrong thing (stealing from Henry, lol!). If I have to pay up front (usual), I can use the credit card and make the payment from Henry’s account accordantly. I’ve only been doing this for 6 months now Kokaneeandkahlua, and so far it is working – but I’ll let you all know.  Cheers.


                                                  • marinabunny
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                                                      I wish we had pet insurance here in Canada. Canada’s like the isolated place that is always left out lol


                                                    • Bam
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                                                        Marinabunny, you must have dog insurance in Canada? In Sweden it’s completely unthinkable to not insure your dog. Whatever ailment a dog gets in Sweden, it costs a fortune at the vet.


                                                      • marinabunny
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                                                          Oops sorry i meant pet insurance for exotics. Yes there is dog and cat insurance


                                                        • RetroSquid
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                                                            We insure our buns (In the UK) with PetPlan.
                                                            It costs us £12 per month, per bun (We have three)
                                                            And, to be honest, we’d be TOTALLY lost without it.

                                                            We lost a bun last year to a number of complications following an abscess on his jaw. In just three or four months, his vet bills had amassed around £1,800.
                                                            And now we have a bun with significant complications with his eye following a stress induced flair up of E. Cuniculi. His vet bills so far are around £700 and the end is nowhere in sight, and his condition has been escalated to two specialists, one eye specialist and one exotic specialist with consultations of around £175 not counting treatment. We would be truly lost without the insurance.

                                                            *EDIT*
                                                            Oops, just after submitting, I saw that my wife, Ouisie has actually already posted here…


                                                          • JackRabbit
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                                                              RetroSquid — when I read your posting about your bunny’s eye problems that was *exactly* what made me pick up the phone and buy the insurance that day!

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                                                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Pet insurance for rabbits