If they are puppies, get it now, before they do have any vet records.

I started Chewie's insurance when he was 5. He'd been to the vet once on vacation because he had some allergies and once because he ate chocolate and the PET ER didn't treat him correctly or hold him overnight and he had a seizure the next day and spent a week at the Vet. (1 week after moving to a new city, but luckily one where i Had a trusted vet)...That incident prompted me to get pet insurance. This was in 2002 and really VPI was my only option at the time in California.

Well, I paid $80 a month (full coverage plus cancer benefit) for the next 4 years. I never got a cent form them. They wouldn't cover allergies, because he had once been seen for allergies. They wouldn't cover him scratching his eye, because he may have been itching from allergies, or the cat could have scratched him--they chose allergies. They wouldn't cover ear infections, because it was probably related to allergies accoridng to them. They wouldn't cover him hurting his leg falling off a chair, because it could be relate dto hip dysplcia, which is not covered in pugs--despite the x-rays saying otherwise. Well, you know it might be though! They didn't cover shots, because the shots were given at an emergency visit instead of a regular check-up. And finally, when Chewie had a lump tested and they didn't cover the procedure because of some random jargon. That's when I finally cancelled. I wold have concelled soone rif it wasn't on auto payment annually out of my account (I always missed the deadline)

Every single time I filed a claim, I then had to send in complete medical records. Then they would fault me for sending in incomplete records. And the fact my vet in NYC retired and could not directly fax records caused a big problem.

Basically because he did not have the insurance since he was a puppy, they covered nothing! Because really anything could have happened in the 5 1/2 years prior to them insuring him.

So that's my story about VPI health insurance. Most vet insurance you pay the vet and they reimburse you. I would aks your vet for their recommendation, because they probably know what their customers use and what works best.

Good luck, and please share your research and experience.

--Kristie (and chewie)