Pet Health Insurance Popularity Soars as an Employee Benefit

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Jun 17, 2014, 08:00 ET

BREA, Calif., June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/-- National "Take Your Dog to Work Day" is Friday, June 20. While not all companies allow furry four-legged friends in the workplace, one in every three Fortune 500 companies offers Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation's first and largest provider of pet health insurance, making it available to millions of employees throughout the U.S. After all, VPI believes in benefits for everyone!

As one of the fastest-growing voluntary benefits, more than 3,800 companies and organizations have added VPI (a Nationwide Insurance company) to their voluntary benefits portfolio, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Deloitte LLP, Delta Airlines, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, T-Mobile, UPS and Xerox.

"VPI Pet Insurance can be added to a company's benefits package at no cost to the business," said Deana Single, director of group accounts for VPI. "Adding pet insurance will incentivize prospective pet lovers and retain current pet-owning employees."

As the popularity of pet health insurance expands, some companies are subsidizing a percentage of their employee's cost, with several companies now paying as much as 100 percent of their employee's pet insurance premiums.

When a company adds VPI to its benefits package, employees are eligible for a five percent discount on their medical policy premium. Plan options and premiums vary, but start at approximately $10 per month and average $24 to $34 monthly, with deductibles starting at $100. Many companies allow employees the opportunity to pay their premiums via payroll deduction, with no administrative responsibilities for employers. Employers, HR professionals or brokers looking for more information about VPI Pet Insurance can go to VPIVoluntaryBenefits.com.

Go to PetsVPI.com to search companies that offer VPI as a voluntary benefit.

About Veterinary Pet Insurance
With more than 500,000 pets insured nationwide, Veterinary Pet Insurance Co./DVM Insurance Agency (VPI) is a member of the Nationwide Insurance family of companies and is the oldest and largest pet health insurance company in the United States. Since 1982, VPI has helped provide pet owners with peace of mind and is committed to being the trusted choice of America's pet lovers.

VPI Pet Insurance plans cover dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets for multiple medical problems and conditions relating to accidents, illnesses and injuries. Wellness coverage for routine care is available for an additional premium. Medical plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, one in three Fortune 500 companies offers VPI Pet Insurance as an employee benefit. Policies are offered and administered by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company in California and DVM Insurance Agency in all other states. Underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Brea, CA, an A.M. Best A rated company (2012); National Casualty Company (all other states), Madison, WI, an A.M. Best A+ rated company (2012). Pet owners can find VPI Pet Insurance on Facebook or follow @VPI on Twitter. For more information about VPI Pet Insurance, call 800-USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or visit petinsurance.com.

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SOURCE Veterinary Pet Insurance