To have or not to have a pet insurance?

I've actually considered pet insurance . . . I wonder, how many people on the board have insurance?  How many of you have used it?

I have insurance on our younger dog Belle. Maxine ruptured her cruciate spring of 2005, and it cost $3500 to repair. She is having surgery today on her second knee. No we never insured her. I am sure Belle will probably need knee surgery before she passes. She is a LARGE lab and extremely active. She loves to run, swim, dock jump, agility, lure coursing.... We keep her in shape but her knees someday will probably go. Her premiums are roughly $200 a year. We did not opt for routine shot coverage (we have always been able to pay that) or cancer coverage. I doubt I would treat a dog for cancer, they don't understand. The vet who did Max's knee recommended it, he said you can think of it as installment payments toward the surgery.

We haven't needed it yet, we have had it for almost a year. The vet bills are getting higher so I figure if it helps why not. We went with VPI.

You need to look at what is best for you. I also have two horses, they are not insured other than the Pfizer Strongid program for colic. The premiums were too high. I did have one horse insured years ago, that I did have to euthanize, my insurance informed me he was not insured for that so they did not pay. Boy was I glad I paid $2000 a year for 3 years for that insurance.

Ann