[Sankari]

Hi,
My golden and I currently reside in France but we are about to move to Oregon for a period of 1.5 to 2 years this summer because of my husband's job - possibly in mid-July. He will also be 2 years old this July and is not neutered. At the beginning of December last year, he had a bout of diarrhea (3 days) and was diagnosed with hookworms and e coli. Once this was over, he had a bout of mucus stools every 2 weeks and we treated him preemptively for giardia and after that we discovered that he had an issue with dental chews which he didn't have before (thank you very much Prism Goldens for all your advice and help 🙂🙏🏽). Since removing the dental chews all has been well with him and he's had no issues since...

After reading some threads in this forum, I think our current insurance here will not provide enough coverage cost-wise for him in the event something should happen in Oregon - which I obviously hope nothing happens.. I was thinking of taking Trupanion and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts? If using other insurance companies, please feel free to let me know how your experience was - did premiums increase, were claims easy to file etc..

Thank you for your help🙂

*Just some pics to show the Golden from France that's excited to come to Oregon 😄

 

[laurab18293]

Oh He's so Beautiful! Welcome! So I use PetsBest for my golden. They worked out a plan for me that was designed for Goldens and any ailments they might have in the future to make sure they were covered. I find their app very easy to use as well. The only thing is that they don't pay the Vet directly and sometimes it takes 3-4 weeks to get my money back from visits. I have been very lucky though and havent had any large vet bills yet. (knock on wood). I also found them the most affordable for what I needed as well.

 

[Hildae]

I'm not sure how insurance works in France, but if you come here and take a different insurance and drop your French policy, everything on his record currently will be preexisting. Is there a way for you to maintain your French policy so that when you go back (it sounds like you will go back?) he still has the policy in force and won't be subject to any pre existing clauses?

 

[Sweet Girl]

For what it's worth, my puppy had giardia and coccidia as a puppy. It is NOT considered anything pre-existing for Trupanion. They told me too many baby puppies have tummy issues and they couldn't make it a pre-existing thing. And they covered another "stomach-related" issue Shala had a few years later, so I know it to be true.

I would call them and tell them your situation, that you have a policy in France, etc. and see what they say. My guess is that his hookworms/e coli won't be an issue. They have pretty great customer service. At the very least, they'll be able to advise.

 

[Sankari]

I'm not sure how insurance works in France, but if you come here and take a different insurance and drop your French policy, everything on his record currently will be preexisting. Is there a way for you to maintain your French policy so that when you go back (it sounds like you will go back?) he still has the policy in force and won't be subject to any pre existing clauses?

Hi thanks for your reply... yes we will have to come back to France - it's just a temporary move that we have to do... I am sure we can maintain the French policy because the premium is not terribly expensive anyway - the french one does cover for insurance abroad but only up till 500 euros and after that we will have to pay everything.. So that's why the hunt for insurance in the US..

 

[Sankari]

Oh He's so Beautiful! Welcome! So I use PetsBest for my golden. They worked out a plan for me that was designed for Goldens and any ailments they might have in the future to make sure they were covered. I find their app very easy to use as well. The only thing is that they don't pay the Vet directly and sometimes it takes 3-4 weeks to get my money back from visits. I have been very lucky though and havent had any large vet bills yet. (knock on wood). I also found them the most affordable for what I needed as well.

Hi thanks for your compliment Can I just ask when you say "they worked out a plan" - did you do it in person or via phone? I am wondering if I should already take insurance before we land so that's why I am asking...

 

[laurab18293]

Hi thanks for your compliment Can I just ask when you say "they worked out a plan" - did you do it in person or via phone? I am wondering if I should already take insurance before we land so that's why I am asking...

Hello! Yes I called around to a bunch of different ones when my Vet gave me pamphlets when I brought Billie in when I got her at 8 weeks. I wanted to make sure I got the right coverage for right price if that makes sense? All the companies I called were so nice but this one worked out to be best price for me. Good luck!

 

[okko]

I found this site helpful: Pet Insurance University - A Vet's Guide to Pet Insurance

I narrowed my choices down to Figo and Healthy Paws. I chose the latter based on a much lower premium for equal coverage.

 

[Sankari]

For what it's worth, my puppy had giardia and coccidia as a puppy. It is NOT considered anything pre-existing for Trupanion. They told me too many baby puppies have tummy issues and they couldn't make it a pre-existing thing. And they covered another "stomach-related" issue Shala had a few years later, so I know it to be true.

I would call them and tell them your situation, that you have a policy in France, etc. and see what they say. My guess is that his hookworms/e coli won't be an issue. They have pretty great customer service. At the very least, they'll be able to advise.

Since we got Ramses at 8 weeks from the breeder here, he never had any issues until this hookworm diagnosis last December (so after he turned one). So basically our fault that he got it - because our Golden does not eat stuff off the ground. He does tend to sniff as all dogs do and I believe he caught the hookworms in the forest where we were practicing recalls off leash. But I just want to be prepared in case... He's had no issues since the dental chews were taken off his diet - ( I was not aware that these could be problematic as I used them as a treat as well at that time - first time golden/dog owner...).

I will definitely do what you have said and ask.. thank you for your help

 

[Sankari]

Hello! Yes I called around to a bunch of different ones when my Vet gave me pamphlets when I brought Billie in when I got her at 8 weeks. I wanted to make sure I got the right coverage for right price if that makes sense? All the companies I called were so nice but this one worked out to be best price for me. Good luck!

Yes that does make sense.. thanks for the clarification!

 

[Sankari]

I found this site helpful: Pet Insurance University - A Vet's Guide to Pet Insurance

I narrowed my choices down to Figo and Healthy Paws. I chose the latter based on a much lower premium for equal coverage.

Thank you very much - this is also extremely useful..

 

[Sankari]

I am sorry if my question seems a bit lazy and that I have not been trying.. It's just I am a bit swamped with the move so thanks for understanding in advance... I really appreciate everyone's help here 🙏

 

[diane0905]

I have Trupanion and no issues so far. Payments are prompt. We did a lifetime deductible and they refund 90% of covered items.

 

[sam34]

We ultimately went with Embrace with a lower cost, high deductible policy just in case something major came up. One difference between Trupanion and Embrace is that Trupanion has a per condition deductible and Embrace has a yearly deductible. So if you have multiple issues within a year you would pay Trupanion a deductible for each different condition. However, you would not have to pay again if a condition was ongoing over multiple years. Embrace would charge you only one deductible in a year, no matter how many different issues you had, but you would need to pay the deductible for anything the next year again. Honestly not sure which approach is the better one.

 

[Sankari]

I have Trupanion and no issues so far. Payments are prompt. We did a lifetime deductible and they refund 90% of covered items.

We ultimately went with Embrace with a lower cost, high deductible policy just in case something major came up. One difference between Trupanion and Embrace is that Trupanion has a per condition deductible and Embrace has a yearly deductible. So if you have multiple issues within a year you would pay Trupanion a deductible for each different condition. However, you would not have to pay again if a condition was ongoing over multiple years. Embrace would charge you only one deductible in a year, no matter how many different issues you had, but you would need to pay the deductible for anything the next year again. Honestly not sure which approach is the better one.

Thanks for taking the time to write of both your experiences and to everyone else too... It's very helpful for me to understand. Here the costs for treatment don't necessarily run too high unless the dog requires surgery and I am not sure if we have vet specialists (cancer specialists etc..) like you do in the US. My husband who's actually French and has had dogs (GSDs) as a child didn't remember to know of such specialists.. perhaps we are unaware as we haven't had much severe issues with our golden. He only had those hookworms and later he just couldn't handle dental chews. Since then he hasn't had anything really (touch wood 😬). He's going to be 2 years old when we are in Oregon and I'm a person that worries about everything and have a better to be safe than sorry attitude 🤦🏽‍♀️. I guess that's where I feel stuck between choosing one insurance company over the other...

 

[Prism Goldens]

Well, maybe call the vet I sent you a rec on and ask them which one they prefer, and go on and make an appt for after you get there just to establish with them. I wouldn't bring any history except shots, if it were me.

 

[Sankari]

Well, maybe call the vet I sent you a rec on and ask them which one they prefer, and go on and make an appt for after you get there just to establish with them. I wouldn't bring any history except shots, if it were me.

Ok I hadn't thought about that 🤦🏽‍♀️ I thought it was better to have insurance before I called.. only because we land in San Francisco and we have to drive up to Portland.. and I was wondering if perhaps he had some issues during the road trip and if I had to go to a vet before my end destination it was better to be insured..? Is this wise or am I just worrying for nothing...?

 

[Sankari]

Also sorry to add.. We are unsure of which date we will actually leave France because we are still waiting to be called up by the American embassy for our interviews... Would this potentially make the vet peeved that I'm not even sure when I would be there? Here in France they hate the "maybe/ possible dates" of showing up.. and you can get a earful if you don't know.. and I really do not want to start on a wrong foot with the vet ...

 

[Prism Goldens]

Just make an appt for a time you are sure you'll be there, OR call and ask how far out you'd need to make an appt for a 'get to know you' establishing visit.. and when you do that, ask them which insurance co they prefer and then set that up.

 

[Sankari]

Ok yes sorry I read the reply here in detail. I will get on to it.. thanks for the advice 👍🏽😊

Just make an appt for a time you are sure you'll be there, OR call and ask how far out you'd need to make an appt for a 'get to know you' establishing visit.. and when you do that, ask them which insurance co they prefer and then set that up.