I already sent one message with my general thoughts on pet insurance (and
the route that I have taken).  However, you have listed some very
specific -- and logical -- concerns.  Have you talked to your vet about
this?  I think a good vet might be in the best position to help you evaluate
the actual policy (such as, past record of coverage for illnesses in aging
pets and possibly a recommendation for specific companies to consider or to
avoid).

MaryL

I got Otis insured when he was 7.  I didn't read the policy properly as
a friend recommended the insurance company.  It turns out they only pay
out for each illness for a year, Otis now has kidney disease and
diabetes.  However, the money they did pay out for each illness is
probably still quite a lot apart from the excess.  It's swings and
roundabouts really, but I'd try to get one that paid out for the
"duration of the illness".

Marcia (in UK)

Winnie, look at this:

http://www.carecredit.ca/

They have it here to and someone on one of my cat health groups used it.
I've heard of it before and in fact, I'm going to do it because, while MY
vet would take payments from me if needed, the crunch comes from the
emergency vet and the one in my town takes this. I've had to use them twice
and it is pricey and they need payment right away. THere is no interest if
you pay in the smaller amounts of time. See if your vet is one that takes
it.

I don't know about Canada, but where I live not all vets accept pet
insurance.  The Avian vet where I take Peaches accepts it, but the vet I
take Persia to won't, so I've never bothered to purchase it.

If you know your vet, they may be willing to work out payment arrangements
for you.  My little dog Sampson (RB) got very ill the morning I was moving
to this apartment back in 1998 and I thought it was the end for him.  It
wasn't, yet, but when I picked him up the next day the bill was over $400.
I had just paid out all this money to move - you know how it is, paying
first/last month rent, security deposit, deposit to get the electric turned
on, etc.  I started crying when the receptionist told me how much the bill
was.  She said, "Oh, hey, don't worry.  We can work something out."  Because
he had been a patient there for 5 or 6 years, they broke the bill down into
increments and I was able to pay them a little each month.

The same thing happened when Persia had her emergency surgery in 2004.  The
bill was almost $1,000.  John (thank the lord) paid $900 of it but the
medications and other stuff, well... I was able to pay in increments because
they knew me and knew Persia.

Jill