Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/13588
4A – Daily News – Tuesday, July 20, 2010 SACRAMENTO (AP) — While states across the nation grapple with national health care reform, a new pop- ulation of patients is gaining attention in California: Fido and Fluffy. Many feline and canine companions face health care challenges similar to those that confront humans. Veterinary care costs are skyrocketing as pet own- ers are offered a sophisticated menu of potentially lifesaving services, includ- ing kidney dialysis, sonograms and chemotherapy. U.S. consumers spent more than $12 billion on veterinary care in 2009, according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Yet only about 1 percent of pet own- ers have health insurance for their ani- mals. Those who do often don’t under- stand what the policy covers and what it excludes in an industry that has faced little regulation or even attention — at least until now. Democratic state Assemblyman Dave Jones, who is running for state insurance commissioner in the Novem- ber election, said some of the same practices being corrected by the recent- ly enacted federal health care overhaul are used by pet insurance companies, including denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Jones has introduced a bill that would make pet insurers post detailed informa- tion on their websites so consumers can see exactly what is covered and what is not. They could then compare options, just as if they were buying insurance for themselves in a post-health reform world. ‘‘A number of pet owners have com- plained to me that they bought a policy, Next frontier of health reform — pets ‘‘Anumber of pet owners have complained to me that they bought a policy, and they weren’t told about pre-existing conditions.’’ — Democratic state Assemblyman Dave Jones and they weren’t told about pre-existing conditions,’’ said Jones, who has two cats, Dragon and Blanca. He said others have attempted to buy policies but were told that because of pre-existing condi- tions in their pet, they couldn’t get pet insurance. The bill also would mandate that an insurer disclose whether it will reduce coverage or increase premiums based on claims filed in the preceding policy period. According to pet insurance compa- nies and animal advocacy groups, Jones’ effort is the first of its kind in the nation. The bill passed the state Assem- bly and a Senate insurance committee. It currently awaits hearing before the Sen- ate Appropriations Committee. Pet insurance varies widely depend- ing on the company selling the policy. Just as with human health insurance, policy holders pay monthly premiums. Most pet policies require owners to pay the bill in full and submit a claim to the insurance company for partial reim- bursement. That’s where confusion can comes in. Many policies state they will reim- burse policy holders a percentage of rea- sonable and customary costs, but pet owners say veterinary charges can far exceed what the insurer considers rea- sonable. ‘‘The time when you figure out how your insurance works is when you are in the throes of an emergency,’’ said Jen- nifer Fearing, senior state director for the Humane Society of the United States. That was the case for Gary Lucks, whose dog Bodie was diagnosed with cancer at age 10. Lucks spent about $5,000 on Bodie’s diagnosis and treat- ment. He expected to be reimbursed about 85 percent of the cost, but said he was paid back only about one-third. ‘‘It was just an outrage,’’ Lucks said. Lucks, an environmental lawyer who lives in Oakland, wrote a complaint to the company and eventually was paid the 85 percent reimbursement. He then took the money and paid his research staff to write a policy paper and asked state lawmakers to take a closer look at the industry. ‘‘There needs to be full disclosure, so the unwary consumer is aware of what they’re paying and what they’re get- ting,’’ Lucks said. In addition to making each company list those details prominently on its website, Jones’ bill would add pet insur- ance as a separate line in the state insur- ance code. In California, like most states, pet insurance is included in the miscella- neous category of property and casualty insurance. By making it a distinct cov- erage area, proponents hope consumers will be able to more easily research complaints against providers. One tech-savvy pet owner, Michale Hemstreet, stymied by the variety of pet insurance options, created a website, www.petinsurancereview.com, where customers can compare veterinary insurance plans and write reviews. He said the website has about 35,000 visi- tors per month. On the site, one pet owner com- plained that although she had been pay- ing for ongoing pet insurance for her cat, the insurance company refused to renew her cat’s policy after it developed hyperthyroidism, calling it a pre-exist- ing condition. Hemstreet said some companies consider a health issue pre- existing if it developed in the previous year, regardless of whether the pet was covered at the time. Jones’ bill initially sought to ban pet insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions. But the pet insurance industry pushed back, saying the provision would make coverage more expensive for everyone. ‘‘The problem with that is that nobody would buy pet insurance until their pet gets sick,’’ Hemstreet said. Stripping the provision from the bill prompted Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s largest pet insurer, to support the legislation. It also is backed by the ASPCA and the Humane Society. The bill will help transparency in the industry, said Curtis Steinhoff, spokesman for VPI. ‘‘We’d rather have people know what they’re purchasing so that they’re not surprised when they go to use it.’’ State urges women, seniors to get pertussis shots LOS ANGELES (AP) — State health officials want women in their childbearing years and seniors to get immunized against whooping cough as California’s epi- demic grows. As of July 16, at least 1,496 cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, have been found statewide, a five- fold increase over the same period last year, said Califor- nia Department of Public Health epidemiologist Dr. Gil Chavez. Providers and the public were encouraged Monday to push vaccinations for women who may become pregnant, grandparents — especially those who provide child care — and any child age 7 or older who is not up to date on immunizations. ‘‘Considering that immu- nity from pertussis vaccine or disease wears off, and that most adults are susceptible to pertussis, now is the time for Californians to get immu- nized to protect themselves and their families,’’ Chavez said. Women can be vaccinated before pregnancy, during the second or third trimester, or immediately after giving birth, he said. Five Californians have died of whooping cough this year — all were Latino babies under 3 months of age who were too young to be immunized. The cause of a sixth infant death is under investigation. Another 700 possible cases of whooping cough are under investigation. A typical case of whoop- ing cough may appear similar to a common cold for up to two weeks, followed by weeks or months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Three whooping cough vaccines are administered to children 2 to 6 months of age, with boosters at 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years of age. Neither vaccine nor sur- viving the illness provides lifetime immunity.