Comments on: Would you like pet health insurance for a benefit? http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/ The Web blog of the Pet Connection, a pet-care feature syndicated internationally by Universal Press. Mon, 12 May 2008 10:47:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Lynn http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-212829 Lynn Fri, 18 Jan 2008 03:09:39 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-212829 I guess the CNN writer must be reading Gina's column: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/01/17/pet.insurance.job.ap/index.html I guess the CNN writer must be reading Gina’s column:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING.....index.html

]]> By: Lena http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-212228 Lena Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:33:29 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-212228 I would love to have an employer that offers it but with 6 cats ranging in age from 14 to 7 months (we tend to take in strays) and 2 dogs it's just to expensive. 1 of our dogs has seizures so he can't be covered, and the others are just too old and have pre-existing medical conditions. It just ends up being cheaper for me to pay for things out of pocket than have insurance. The payments I would make monthly for insurance can be used for the ones that can't get coverage but could benefit from the insurance. But I really think it's great for employers to offer it, I would be proud to work for a company that does. I would love to have an employer that offers it but with 6 cats ranging in age from 14 to 7 months (we tend to take in strays) and 2 dogs it’s just to expensive. 1 of our dogs has seizures so he can’t be covered, and the others are just too old and have pre-existing medical conditions. It just ends up being cheaper for me to pay for things out of pocket than have insurance. The payments I would make monthly for insurance can be used for the ones that can’t get coverage but could benefit from the insurance. But I really think it’s great for employers to offer it, I would be proud to work for a company that does.

]]> By: Brent http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-212205 Brent Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:56:12 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-212205 While I don't have insurance on my pets....and likely wouldn't pay for it -- I have to say that having the option of group pet insurance at the office would be something I would be impressed with with a company....if for no other reason they had recognized the trends of what is important in people's lives and provided benefits accordingly. This would almost certainly be a sign that they took an interest in their employee's lives in other areas also. While I don’t have insurance on my pets….and likely wouldn’t pay for it — I have to say that having the option of group pet insurance at the office would be something I would be impressed with with a company….if for no other reason they had recognized the trends of what is important in people’s lives and provided benefits accordingly. This would almost certainly be a sign that they took an interest in their employee’s lives in other areas also.

]]> By: straybaby http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211969 straybaby Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:41:29 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211969 doubtful it would sway my decision as to taking a job or not, or feeling better about an employer, especially if i were paying for it! don't get me wrong, i'm glad that they are offering and i think it shows recognition of pets, which is nice. what's even nicer is working somewhere that i don't spend way too many hours, can predict my hours and such so i can spend time at home with my pets ;) i've had a few jobs where it would have been impossible to have a dog (that i actually got to spend time with!) funny thing is, they are prob the type of companies that would offer it. (Entertainment/Etc) i also see this as just another way for an insurance company to make $$. they are just trying to expand their market (nothing against employers!) the 'pet market' is a growing field just like the natural/organic field. they are looking as to where we may be spending our dollars and trends show pets and organics are 2 good markets and growing rapidly. who me jaded?! lol!~ i do find it fascinating that employers are starting to offer this at a time when there's such a problem with human health insurance. doubtful it would sway my decision as to taking a job or not, or feeling better about an employer, especially if i were paying for it! don’t get me wrong, i’m glad that they are offering and i think it shows recognition of pets, which is nice. what’s even nicer is working somewhere that i don’t spend way too many hours, can predict my hours and such so i can spend time at home with my pets ;) i’ve had a few jobs where it would have been impossible to have a dog (that i actually got to spend time with!) funny thing is, they are prob the type of companies that would offer it. (Entertainment/Etc)

i also see this as just another way for an insurance company to make $$. they are just trying to expand their market (nothing against employers!) the ‘pet market’ is a growing field just like the natural/organic field. they are looking as to where we may be spending our dollars and trends show pets and organics are 2 good markets and growing rapidly.

who me jaded?! lol!~

i do find it fascinating that employers are starting to offer this at a time when there’s such a problem with human health insurance.

]]> By: Eucritta http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211922 Eucritta Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:29:26 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211922 My husband had it offered by his job, and 2CatMom is spot on -- it was 100% employee-paid. It also would not insure our oldest pets, had so many exclusions and restrictions I wasn't sure what the heck it actually covered for the younger ones, and cost so much that when we ran the figures based on our actual costs for five years (including the last years of a very old cat who underwent radiotherapy for HT and had cardivascular disease) the insurance offered no actual benefit. Well, save that it spread the cost out over the years, but heck, we can do that with a savings account and do. So, on the whole, I think: great concept, lousy execution. My husband had it offered by his job, and 2CatMom is spot on — it was 100% employee-paid. It also would not insure our oldest pets, had so many exclusions and restrictions I wasn’t sure what the heck it actually covered for the younger ones, and cost so much that when we ran the figures based on our actual costs for five years (including the last years of a very old cat who underwent radiotherapy for HT and had cardivascular disease) the insurance offered no actual benefit. Well, save that it spread the cost out over the years, but heck, we can do that with a savings account and do.

So, on the whole, I think: great concept, lousy execution.

]]> By: The OTHER Pat http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211793 The OTHER Pat Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:53:11 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211793 That's an interesting point. I have my critters on the 3 year vaccination protocol. Would that affect insurability? That’s an interesting point. I have my critters on the 3 year vaccination protocol. Would that affect insurability?

]]> By: Mikken http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211779 Mikken Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:19:01 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211779 The requirements for insurance would be an issue for me. For example, if I feed raw and do not vaccinate, is my pet insurable? If my cat is in her 20's, is she insurable? Usually not. So it wouldn't make a difference to me either way. I could see where it would be of use to some folks, though. The requirements for insurance would be an issue for me. For example, if I feed raw and do not vaccinate, is my pet insurable? If my cat is in her 20’s, is she insurable?

Usually not. So it wouldn’t make a difference to me either way.

I could see where it would be of use to some folks, though.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211696 Lynn Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:12:09 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211696 Sooner or later employers have to realize that pets are an integral part of the family, especially with so many of the younger adult generation opting to stay single. Sooner or later employers have to realize that pets are an integral part of the family, especially with so many of the younger adult generation opting to stay single.

]]> By: 2CatMom http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211694 2CatMom Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:11:17 +0000 http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2008/01/15/would-you-like-pet-health-insurance-for-a-benefit/#comment-211694 My experience is that Pet Insurance, like Homeowners insurance or Auto insurance is usually a 100% employee paid benefit. You do get the convenience of auto-deduction, but that's generally about it. My experience is that Pet Insurance, like Homeowners insurance or Auto insurance is usually a 100% employee paid benefit. You do get the convenience of auto-deduction, but that’s generally about it.

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