Adverse Vaccine Reaction – How Much We’ve Spent So Far

If you think that vaccines are more about profit than healthcare, I suggest that you visit a third world country where they are in need of vaccines. You will find children who are suffering and dying from pertussis, diphtheria, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis, etc.

Roxanne, would you believe it was one of my rescue ferrets that cost me! I took this little beautiful creature who had been couped up in a small carrier for weeks…his nails were so long they were about to grow into his pads; he couldn’t walk due to no exercise…after getting hip xrays and a through check up with ferret distemper and rabies…he also had a torn cruciate in his little bitty knee…so my vet who had ferrets also, wanted to do surgery (never did it before) and it was successful! No insurance, of course…for a ferret; but that bill was over $2300 dollars. Best lil ferret I ever owned though!

When Ty’s policy with VPI came due last year I thought I’d get a policy for Buster as well. After sending in all the paperwork they turned Buster down because of the reaction he had to a seizure medication three years ago. Perhaps we’ll look into Trupanion as well. If they’ll take Buster, I may switch Ty’s policy to them, too.

Funny that everyone is bashing VPI … My two dogs were covered by VPI for six years without a problem, then Baby developed a cataract and he needed surgery and they wiggled out of covering it. I spent close to three grand on the surgery. I think I got a check for about 18 bucks from them … ha! Obviously I dropped them (for Buddy also) – what’s the point of having a policy if they won’t cover you?! Now that Baby had a “preexisting condition” no other companies would take include any associated costs in their policies. That was about three years ago, now I shell out around $1,000 a year just for eyedrops and ointments and checkups, etc. Recently, at the suggestion of my coworker (hi Rachel!) I signed both my boys up for Pet Assure, which gives me a 25% discount off the vet bill and prescriptions. I think in the long run I’ll probably end up saving more money with them.

I really lucked out when Jersey broker her leg, it happened in a small town. The total was $3000 for everything. If I was in Toronto & needed vet care, the bill would have easily been 5K.

My blue heeler, Pawsom, just had surgery this past October for a herniated disc in her low back. She started having very noticeable symptoms about 1 year ago with screaming, limping and guarding her back end. We actually thought is was a cruciate and I was prepared for that cost. All told (orthopedic surgeon, Cornell’s neurologist, pain management, physical therapy, special foam bed, new body suit for post surgery, meds, supplements, dog walker, etc.) it came to about $8,000. The day she came home from surgery I signed up with Pet Plan and had her knees pre-certified by the surgeon (just in case). She is back to new and feeling great with no need for continued meds.

Yikes, I won’t complain about Kona’s bills, though she racked them up well her first year and a half.

I’ve been looking at Best Friends Animal Society’s insurance. (Can’t remember the underwriter). They have a much lower lifetime maximum and a higher per incident deductible, but the exclusion are so, so,so fewer than others I’ve looked at. They cover hereditary conditions and aren’t nearly as strict on the pre-existing loophole.

I’m really having a hard time putting my trust in insurance companies … sigh

Our most expensive single medical event was $12,000. That was just for the emergency part of it. It was after Jasmine’s drug-induced hyperthermia, resulting problems and dealing with an abdominal abscess that was found in the process. Which might or might not have had contributed to the drug reaction. That doesn’t include the cost of the initial x-ray which was the original thing we were trying to do. All else exploded from that. Upside? Probably saved Jasmine’s life, as if the abscess were to rupture that would have likely been that.

Tried to get a quote from Trupanion and got message saying that coverage was not available in my area.

Wondering about pre-existing conditions. When I looked into insurance for my dogs years ago, the company would not insure any dog who had tested positive for Lyme disease. Most of my dogs, including me, have done so.

Over $10,000 for a raw bone, which I gave my dog, that got stuck in her esophagus. We lost her anyway. 🙁

I had a cat in the past who was diagnosed with Lymphoma at the age of 14. $5000 initial exploratory surgery to come up with that diagnosis, and then almost 4 years of chemo & followup exams & bloodwork every 3-4 weeks at first and then more spread out after that. I never did add all the bills up, but my initial esitmate when she was first diagnosed (if she had lived the full 4 years they were predicting possible) was about $30,000. I doubt I came near that, but wouldn’t be surprised if I hit the $15000 mark. Of course, I had no insurance.

Now I have Pet Plan Silver & have been pretty happy with their coverage. I’ll email you a spreadsheet I put together in 2010 comparing several different companies…its probably a little out of date, but might be a good start in researching a new insurance!

Murphydog’s Mom

My Brandy had mast cell cancer and of the $5,000 for diagnosis, removal, followup treatment, and care VPI covered 80% of it within a month turnaround. I have been a VPI policy holder for 15 years and have never had a problem. I keep accurate notes, send all vet documentation with claims, and have been very pleased. I am glad Lilly is getting the care and you all are able to share her life and love 😉

I average $3000 a year for Reba’s care (food, Vet, groomers, piano lessons) and that’s my budget for her. Now that I’m retired it’s a very difficult budget to maintain. That’s why, when Reba was diagnosed with Cushings Disease I made a decision to not treat it traditionally and now that she has kidney issues I’m doing what I can to keep her comfortable and stay within budget. If she was a young dog, she’s almost 17, I would probably run up charges on every card I owned until they owned me.

I’m glad you wrote this. I’ve been looking into pet insurance and have been disheartened to see how bad of a deal it is. Premiums seem to cover almost nothing. There are deductible and caps. It almost seems more worthwhile to sock $100 a month away into an account for your pet to draw from over time. But I’ll check out this plan you have mentioned here and see if it’s better than the others….

Luna’s surgery bill in total was over $6.5K last year (rewiring her urinary tract and associated costs) and Frisbee’s surgeries and medical issues came to $6K as well last year and part of this year. Now I’m dealing with $300/meds for Luna’s kidney disease and special food, 3-month checks, etc.

But, I didn’t have insurance. I also loved what Trupanion Pet insurance said at the AAHA vet conference, too. They seem like a great company and I’ll be talking with them too (I wonder if they cover teeth!)

I spent close to $10,000 for 3 days of intensive care for my cat Amber two years ago, for what was most likely a case of virulent systemic calici virus. Sadly, she never got better, and on the 4th day, her prognosis was so poor that I made the agonizing decision to stop treatment. I took her home and spent a few more peaceful hours with her in the place she loved most before our vet came over to euthanize her.

Well, you’ve got us beat by a mile. I recall spending several hundred, maybe upwards of a thousand, after our cat Bill wrestled with some poor critter and almost got his head torn off (here’s where you’re supposed to picture Bill saying, “But you should have seen the other guy!”). We didn’t have pet insurance, but he got in scuffles every year – and was even shot one time – so it probably would have been a good idea.

All three of our dogs are covered by Trupanion, and we’ve been really impressed with them! First, Cora, despite being a senior when we adopted her, was covered with no questions asked and at the same rate as our much younger boys.

As for most expensive vet bill–$5,100 on the Easter long weekend in 2006 for acute pancreatitis. Our beautiful Jack Russell, Roxie, lived though for another four wonderful years. Worth every penny.