Python Insurance

[ladywhipple02]

Hey guys... has anyone ever heard of this or have it?

Pet Insurance


I put in my snakes and it's $18.50 per month/animal, with a $50 deductible. But it covers RIs and all sorts of other stuff... just wondering if it'd be worth it??? Thanks!

[Shelby]

Only if you're planning on having yearly RIs+.. I wouldn't do it.

[Colin Vestrand]

i could see doing it if you have a breeding pair of some snakes that are worth multiple thousands of dollars, but like shelby eluded to, 99% of the time you can prevent any of that just by taking care of the snake properly.

[Adam_Wysocki]

My 2 cents ...

For $222 a year, unless you're planning for more than one snake to get a URI each year, it's a total rip off.

Even if a work-up and script for a URI was $200 (which is HIGH), you still have a $50 deductible ... so you're paying $222.00 for $150 of coverage???

IMO, that $222.00 would be better spent on a thermostat and some flexwatt to make sure you don't get a URI in the first place.

-adam

[ddbjdealer]

Crap, I saw this post and thought COOL, exactly what I was wondering. Then I clicked on it, and saw it was medical insurance... What I'm wondering, is...

I've seen on Fauna and other sites about how people get robbed/burgled.. Also wondering about fire. Is there anything that will protect you from losing thousands of dollars in snakes from one of these causes? Does homeowners take care of that?

[ladywhipple02]

All right guys... Breeders, obviously, would have to find something different, or get a group deal. But, let me put it like this:

I'd really like to not pay that $100 a month for my health insurance. I'm a fairly healthy person, and I take care of myself. 99% of the time, I don't need that health insurance... I can prevent many of the things that would make me ill. But there's that 1% chance that I do get very sick or hurt, and then, buddy, I'm GLAD I'm paying for that insurance.

Same goes for the animals. What if something tragic would happen (and I mean for all animals, cats and stuff too). I don't know... that was just my thinking on it.

[Adam_Wysocki]

A couple of thoughts ...

1. You can't compare the health of a cold blooded ball python that is isolated in a cage to the health of people, dogs, and cats that are warm blooded walking bacteria factories constantly being exposed to a large population of other people, dogs, and cats that can transmit diseases to each other. It's really apples and oranges.

2. It is VERY easy to prevent a pet ball python from becoming sick. Much easier and cheaper than spending $222 a year.

3. Even if through circumstances out of your control, your ball python does get sick, a.) it would be rare during the course of the animals lifetime and b.) the medical bills for the treatment of even the most severe reptile illnesses are peanuts compared to what human doctors charge or even veterinary charges for dogs, cats, and birds.

My point is that sure insurance is a good idea for people and maybe even dogs and cats because statistically there is a good chance that you could one day use more than you are going to contribute to the plan over your lifetime .... so just on that chance, the peace of mind is worth it. But, contributing conservatively, $4,400 over the lifetime of your animal (assuming a very low life expectancy of 20 years) minus $50 deductibles is highway robbery for snakes statistically speaking.

You'd be better off putting that $18.50 a month into a "snake medical emergency" savings account ... that way in 30 years or so when your snake passes, you can at least morn his/her loss in style.

Hope this makes sense.

-adam

[ladywhipple02]

You'd be better off putting that $18.50 a month into a "snake medical emergency" savings account ... that way in 30 years or so when your snake passes, you can at least morn his/her loss in style.

LOL! That's a thought! Maybe something to do anyway... I'd rather have my own money back than be giving it to someone else. In any case, like I said, I don't know. Seemed interesting to me. Thanks for the reply.