A Vet's Guide To Pet Insurance
Compare PetFirst Pet Insurance
Comparison Fact SheetTo get the most from these sheets, please read the Guide to Pet Insurance first.
| Company Info | |
| Company Name | PetFirst |
| Also Known As | |
| Address | One Quartermaster Court Jeffersonville, IN 47130 |
| Phone | 1-866-937-PETS (7387) |
| Website | www.petfirsthealthcare.com |
| Plan Name(s) | Basic; Preferred; Preferred Plus; Senior* |
| States Covered | All 50 states, including DC |
| Underwriter and AM Best Financial Strength Rating | Insurance underwritten by Munich Re and Lloyds of London. Munich Re has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A+" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 2/08/10. Lloyds of London has an AM Best Financial Strength Rating of "A" and an Outlook of "Stable" as of 2/08/10. For the most recent ratings go to: AM Best and enter the name of the underwriter in the box labeled 'Text'. |
| Year Company Started | 2004 |
| Policy Basics | |
| Policy Term | 12 months |
| Effective Date | The Effective Date will be listed on the Declarations Page of your policy after you apply and are accepted. |
| Enrollment Age | The enrollment age for Basic, Preferred, and Preferred Plus Plans is 8 weeks - 9 years of age. The enrollment age for the Senior Plan is 10 years of age and older |
| Cancellation Policy | Ask for a current copy of their insurance policy so that you may review their cancellation policy |
| Waiting Period | 14 days after the policy effective date for
illness Routine care and accident coverage begins a midnight following policy activation 6 months after the policy effective date for Intervertebral Disk Disease 12 months after the policy effective date for cruciate injury |
| Waiting Period for Cruciate Injury | 12 months after the policy effective date |
| Coverage When Travel Out of State or Country? | Out of State Coverage - You WILL be covered while traveling to other states with your pet. Out of Country Coverage - You WILL NOT be covered when traveling to another country with your pet |
| Can the Price of the Policy Increase as my Pet Ages? | Yes, the policy premium can increase as your
pet ages.
Contact the company for more information on these increases. |
| Does Coverage Stop Due to Age? | No |
| What Happens when the Policy Renews? | If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, chronic conditions will only be covered in the policy year they are diagnosed. They will cover up to 180 days into the next policy year but after the 180 days the condition will no longer be covered for the life of the pet. |
| Can the Price of the Policy Increase if a Claim is Filed? | No |
| Choice of Vet? | You can choose any licensed veterinarian in the US |
| Money Back Guarantee? | If you change your mind within 14 days they will refund your money in full as long as you have not filed a claim. |
| Surcharge for Visiting a Specialist or Emergency Clinic? | No |
| Referral needed to Visit a Specialist? | No |
| Pre-certification Required? | No |
| Additional Requirements | **See actual policy or call PetFirst for a complete list of the requirements you are expected to adhere to in order to maintain coverage. |
| Pet Insurance Policy Available for Pre-Purchase Review? | Sample policy available by request |
| What's Covered | |
| Species Covered | Dogs and Cats |
| Accident/Injury - Baseline Coverage |
Covers diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medications. Coverage of exam fee is not mentioned in sample policy or on website. |
| Illness - Baseline Coverage |
Covers diagnostics and lab tests, surgery, treatments, hospitalization, prescription medications. Coverage of exam fee is not mentioned in sample policy or on website. |
| Behavioral Therapy Coverage | [INCLUDED - with Preferred and Preferred Plus plans under Routine Care] There is a $75 annual allowance that must be shared with other procedures. Coverage includes behavioral training not related to a medical condition. Behavior Therapy must be performed by a licensed behaviorist. **See actual policy or call PetFirst for any additional limitations on Behavioral Therapy Coverage |
| Alternative Therapy Coverage | [INCLUDED] Covers Alternative Therapy including
acupuncture and message therapy. Does not cover vitamins and supplements. Must be performed by a licensed alternative therapist. **See actual policy or call PetFirst for any additional limitations on Alternative Therapy Coverage. |
| Pre-existing Conditions Policy |
Pre-existing conditions are not covered. According a copy of their policy, pre-existing conditions "... shall mean any illness, condition requiring medical treatment, or injury affecting 'your pet' prior to the inception date of this policy." **See actual policy or call PetFirst for complete description of pre-existing conditions. |
| Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage | [OPTIONAL] - To get hereditary and congenital
coverage you must purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon.
The Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon has two options:
Hereditary and congenital conditions are not covered if they are pre-existing or have occurred during the waiting period. **See actual policy or call PetFirst for a list of their Breed-Related Conditions and complete description of their Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Policy. |
| Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions | [OPTIONAL] - To get continual Chronic Conditions
coverage you must purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon. The Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon has two options:
|
| Chronic Conditions Policy | They do not cover chronic conditions that are pre-existing or that
occur during the waiting period.
Without the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, chronic conditions will only be covered in the policy year they are diagnosed. They will cover up to 180 days into the next policy year but after the 180 days the condition will no longer be covered for the life of the pet. **See actual policy or call PetFirst for complete description of their Chronic Conditions Policy. |
| Cancer Coverage | [INCLUDED] Cancer conditions are covered if
they are not pre-existing and have not occurred during the waiting
period. If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, cancers that are considered hereditary will not be covered. (See Chronic Conditions Policy above) |
| Cancer Coverage Limits | To get continual cancer coverage you must purchase
the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon. Without this coverage, the cancer will only be covered in the policy year it is diagnosed. They will cover up to 180 days into the next policy year but after the 180 days the condition will no longer be covered for the life of the pet. They do not cover cancers that are pre-existing or that occur during the waiting period. If you do not purchase the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon, cancers that are considered hereditary will not be covered. (See 'Continual Coverage for Chronic Conditions' and 'Chronic Conditions Policy' sections above) |
| Hip Dysplasia | [OPTIONAL] Hip Dysplasia is covered if you
get the Hereditary/Chronic/Congenital addon. Hip dysplasia is not covered if it is pre-existing and occurred during the waiting period. (See 'Hereditary & Congenital Conditions Coverage' section above) |
| Prescription Drug Coverage | [INCLUDED] Prescription medications are reimbursed according to the medical condition that has been diagnosed.
**See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions |
| Pregnancy Coverage | [OPTIONAL] PetFirst provide this coverage at
an additional cost. This optional addon pays up to $500 annually for
the pregnancy related conditions of mastitis, eclampsia, infection
and emergency C-sections. **See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions |
| Routine/Wellness Coverage |
[INCLUDED] with Basic, Preferred, and Preferred Plus Plans [OPTIONAL] with Senior Plan The deductible does not apply to Routine/Wellness plans Basic Plan Includes:
|
| Vaccinations | See Routine/Wellness Coverage |
| Spay/Neuter | See Routine/Wellness Coverage |
| Dental Care (Routine) | Routine cleaning is covered under routine care for Preferred and Preferred Plus plans up to $75 annually. |
| Dental Care (Illness/Accident) | [LIMITED COVERAGE] Dental coverage for illness
and accidents is included. Removal of baby teeth, orthodontics, endodontics
are not covered **See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions and exclusions. |
| Bilateral Conditions Policy | If the veterinarian was to determine that the conditions were separate and non-related they would cover both as a separate incident. |
| Coverage - Overview (please read policy for full coverage details) |
Diagnostics and treatments due to illness and accidents [Included] Alternative Therapy, Behavioral Therapy (included with Preferred and Preferred Plus policies only),Prescription Medications, Dental Illness/Accident, Cancer Coverage, Routine/Wellness Coverage (included with Preferred and Preferred Plus Policies), Partial Routine Coverage (included with Basic Policy) (Refer to each category's section for limitations) [Optional] Continual Chronic Conditions, Pregnancy, Hereditary & Congenital Conditions, Hip Dysplasia, Partial Routine Coverage (optional with the Senior Plan) (Refer to each category's section for limitations) **See actual policy or call PetFirst for full list of inclusions, exclusions, limitations and conditions. |
| What's not Covered - Overview (partial listing, please read policy for full details) |
|
| How The Policy Works | |
| Co-pay | Preferred Plus, Preferred, and Basic plans - Co-pay 10% Senior plan - Co-pay 20% |
| Deductible | Preferred Plus, Preferred, and Basic plans - Per incident deductible $50 Senior plan - Per incident deductible $100 Routine/Wellness care has no deductible |
| Flat Deductible vs % Deductible | Flat |
| Deductible Per Incident vs Annual Deductible | Per Incident |
| How is Reimbursement Determined | CUSTOMER REP: If they feel the fees are high
compared to what is being charged in your area, they will use UCR.
Otherwise reimbursement is based on the actual veterinary bill.
IN POLICY: UCR |
| Max Payout Annually | Preferred Plus Plan annual limit- $15,000 Preferred Plan annual limit - $12,000 Basic Plan annual limit - $7,500 Senior Plan annual limit - $2,000 |
| Max Lifetime Payout | PetFirst does not have a maximum lifetime payout |
| Max Payout per Incident | Preferred Plus Plan per incident limit - $3,500 Preferred Plan per incident limit - $2,500 Basic Plan - per incident limit - $1,500 Senior Plan per incident limit - $2,000 |
| Max Payout Based on Body System | PetFirst does not have a maximum payout based on body system |
| Client Reimbursed or Vet Paid Directly | You pay the veterinarian and then you are reimbursed after you file the claim. |
| Pricing | |
| Approximate Monthly Costs | Approximately $24 - $115 depending on the plan, species, addons, etc |
| Additional Info | |
| My Review | PetFirst Review |
| What are Customers Saying? | PetInsuranceReview.com |
| Better Business Bureau | bbb.org |
| American Animal Hospital Association Seal of Acceptance | No |
| Additional Info | |
*The information in the above charts applies to PetFirst's Basic, Preferred, Preferred Plus and Senior pet insurance plans. For information on their Accident, Family and Custom Plans, please contact PetFirst.
**Disclaimer: These charts are created based on my research. While I do my best to stay current, information can change quickly. Also, terms and conditions can vary from state to state. Before buying a pet insurance plan, confirm all information by calling the company or reading the most current policy. We will not be held liable for errors or omissions. If you see something that is incorrect or needs clarifying, please let me know.
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