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POSTED: | BY: Margaret Lee
Do not buy FIGO pet insurance
Do not buy FIGO pet insurance. There are many other options available. I chose FIGO because Costco added them as a preferred outside vendor. I thought I could trust Costco to filter out the bad companies. Wrong.
Let me start by saying that the FIGO website and app are very easy to use. This is the only good thing about FIGO.
During the 14 day waiting period, unfortunately, my puppy began a prolonged period of diarrhea, coughing, lethargy, no food or liquid intake. I decided to have the vet check him. I could not point to a root cause and did not want to spend hundreds of dollars on diagnostics. The vet treated the symptoms with an injection of fluid and anti-vomiting meds. All of this I knew wouldn't be covered by insurance because there was a $250 deductible. It didn't matter to me that this was during the waiting period. My puppy was very sick.
Fast forward 6 weeks, my now 11 month old pup is exposed to canine influenza at daycare. Daycare sent a notice to all it's clients that they are waiting for the results, but they suspect a coughing dog was infected with canine influenza during the time my pup was boarded. A few days later, my dog began uncontrollable coughing, spitting up, loss of appetite, and lethargy. When I took him for a vet exam, we talked about his likely exposure to canine influenza. Thus, I waived the expensive tests and agreed to treat the symptoms. Four days later, his symptoms continued as his health declined even further. I had to pick him up to move him from room to room. I went to the vet again for a recheck. My pup received fluids again and also an appetite stimulant. The vet concurred that my pup was highly likely infected with canine influenza since there had been other dogs presenting the same symptoms. Los Angeles County health confirmed this outbreak.
(As a side bar, I used the "chat with a live vet" feature on FIGO. Useless. The vet offered nothing of substance. In fact, based on the symptoms, the vet said I should take my pup to see a vet.)
FIGO denied these claims. FIGO said these episodes were a continuation of pre-existing conditions. While it is true that coughing and loss of appetite were common symptoms the first and second times, the CAUSE of each illness was unrelated. When does a perfectly healthy pup who was cleared by the vet as being so a few months earlier during his wellness exam, now become classified chronically ill?
I discussed this with a customer service rep twice. I mentioned that daycare issued a notice to all it's clients about the suspected canine influenza outbreak. She said she would forward this notice to the adjuster for reconsideration.
If I have to go to this length to prove my pup was sick and needed care, then what exactly does FIGO cover? Based on my experience, FIGO won't ever cover an illness with noted cough, loss of appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea symptoms.
Folks, don't waste your money. There are other well-established insurers who provide better insurance coverage.
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