First Pet Health Insurance Under Purina(R) Brand Is Comprehensive, Simple
and Easy-to-Use
ST. LOUIS, June 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Millions of pet owners consider
their dogs and cats to be their best friends and they want to provide them
with the best care possible for a healthy, happy life. This commitment,
combined with significant advances in veterinary medicine, has resulted in
dogs and cats living longer than ever before. Many medical advances once
available only to humans, including cat scans, MRIs and chemotherapy, are
now available in veterinary practices nationwide, giving pet owners new
opportunities to provide their pets with the best care possible throughout
their lifetimes.
Now pet owners can help give their dogs and cats a lifetime of health
and happiness with the introduction of PurinaCare, the first pet health
insurance under the Purina brand. PurinaCare offers two simple, easy-to-use
and comprehensive plans that are designed to help dog and cat owners take
advantage of the latest advances in veterinary medicine with less worry
about the financial implications.
"For over 85 years, Purina has been a trusted leader in the pet food
industry with a focus to provide a lifetime of health and happiness for
pets," said David Goodnight, D.V.M., president and chief operating officer
of PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestle
Purina PetCare Company. "PurinaCare pet health insurance is a natural
extension of this vision."
According to Goodnight, while an increasing number of pet owners are
taking a more proactive role to support their pets' overall health and
wellness, less than one percent of pets are currently insured due to a lack
of awareness of pet insurance or dissatisfaction with current plan options.
"We are excited to use Purina's pet expertise, innovation, brand trust, and
experience to deliver simple, comprehensive, and easy-to-use pet health
insurance that meets the needs of today's highly involved pet owners," he
said.
In today's growing pet economy, pet owners spend an estimated $24.5
billion annually on veterinary services, over-the-counter drugs and other
health supplies for pets.(1)
A Lifetime of Health and Happiness
PurinaCare features two simple plans that offer a variety of monthly
premiums and deductible levels to fit most budgets. Both plans provide
coverage for illness, injuries and accidents, hospitalization, surgery,
prescription medications, and hereditary conditions. The PurinaCare plus
Preventive Care plan is designed to encourage the use of routine preventive
care by also covering certain customary annual costs of routine
vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative medications, routine annual
physical exams and lab tests, and certain other preventive care as outlined
in the policy. A complete list of coverage is available on
http://www.purinacare.com.
With either plan, pet owners can choose from four different deductible
levels: $100, $250, $500 and $1,000. There is a 20-percent co-pay once the
annual deductible has been met. All of the plan inclusions and exclusions
are clearly outlined in the policy. In addition, PurinaCare allows owners
to visit the veterinarian of their choice, including veterinary
specialists, who are licensed in the U.S. PurinaCare directly reimburses
clients for all covered claims.
"Millions of pet owners trust Purina to help their four-legged friends
live long and healthy lives," said William Broun, director of business
development for Nestle Purina PetCare Company. "We feel there is a
tremendous opportunity to educate these owners about the benefits of
insuring their pets so they can take advantage of the latest veterinary
advances and wellness care with less worry about the financial
implications."
While all pet owners and their beloved four-legged friends can benefit
from PurinaCare pet health insurance, there are added benefits for insuring
early. Insuring puppies and kittens with PurinaCare plus Preventive Care
provides coverage for certain initial veterinary procedures including
vaccinations, spaying/neutering and micro-chipping. And, it means coverage
may already be in place if an accident, illness or hereditary condition
covered under the policy occurs unexpectedly. PurinaCare pet health
insurance coverage is available for puppies and kittens who are eight weeks
of age or older.
Pet owners can visit http://www.purinacare.com to learn more about
PurinaCare, receive a free, no-obligation quote or complete an application
for insurance. The user-friendly Web site provides detailed overviews on
the two plan options, deductible levels, and benefits of pet health
insurance. To support pet owners' needs, trained customer service staff is
also available via phone at 866-787-7676. Like all insurance, there are
some limitations and exclusions that apply based on the precise terms of
the policy.
PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Nestle Purina PetCare Company, is located in San Antonio, Texas. PurinaCare
pet health insurance will be available on a state-by-state basis pending
state regulatory review and approval. A subsidiary of American
International Group, Inc. (AIG) will be the issuer of the insurance
policies and will register the insurance offerings in every state. For a
current list of states in which PurinaCare is currently available, pet
owners can visit http://www.purinacare.com.
Trademarks owned by Societee des Produits Nestle S.A. and used by
PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc. with permission of the trademark owner.
Insurance services offered by PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc.
Producer licensing pending in some jurisdictions. Insurance underwritten by
member companies of American International Group, Inc. Issuance of coverage
subject to underwriting review and approval. The description herein is a
summary only. It does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of
the coverage described. Please refer to the actual policy for complete
details of coverage and exclusions. Coverage may not be available in all
jurisdictions. For availability, please visit purinacare.com.
About Nestle Purina PetCare
The North American headquarters for Nestle Purina PetCare is located at
Checkerboard Square in St. Louis, Missouri, where Ralston Purina was
founded more than a century ago. Nestle Purina PetCare promotes responsible
pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond
between people and their pets. One of the leading global players in the pet
food industry, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of the Swiss-based Nestle S.A.
-- the world's largest food company.
About PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc.
PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc. (PISI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Nestle Purina PetCare Company. PISI will market and sell PurinaCare(TM)
policies as a licensed insurance agency.
About American International Group, Inc.
American International Group, Inc. (AIG), a world leader in insurance
and financial services, is the leading international insurance organization
with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies
serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most
extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any
insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of retirement
services, financial services and asset management around the world. AIG's
common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock
exchanges in Ireland and Tokyo.
(1) The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), "U.S. Pet
Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook," 2007
SOURCE PurinaCare
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Related links:
http://www.purinacare.com
CONTACT:
Melissa Cuttone of GolinHarris,
+1-312-729-4262, mcuttone@golinharris.com, for PurinaCare; or
Julie Kahn of Nestle Purina PetCare Company, +1-314-982-1036,
Julie.kahn@purina.nestle.com
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