Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What do you think?... If somebody out there began offering life insurance on reptiles, wouldn't this boost the ball python market like nothing else? How many of you out there are reluctant to start a project primarily because of a gut feeling of "what if they drop dead during the first year". Hell, if I had the money I'd start this service immediately.

How many of you guys out there would start such an insurance policy right away?

Hell, at a monthly premium of even a tiny fraction of the purchase price I bet such an insurance company would rake in some serious cash. Damn I wish I had a million bucks to start this! There are all sorts of very reasonable rules and regulations for prospective policies that would virtually guarantee a serious profit for the company, yet make the loss of a high dollar snake not hurt nearly so bad for the breeder.

Think of the money the person who started this would make! I would purchase life insurance for my normal! Or you could just insure the organs for breeding for like 5 years.
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0.1 Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 ball python (felix)
1.1 feral cats (Fuzzy, and Bear; it used to be fuzzy, wuzzy, bear)

Sounds like a good idea. An insurance agent might have some concerns though. A snake needs specialized care. A dog or cat needs a room temp enviornment, food, water, and can be seen by any qualified vet. A snake needs specific temps and humidities. If they dont get them they can get lethal resperatory infections. Not every vet is qualified to treat reptiles and reptiles dont show symtoms right away. Alot of times by the time you realize your snake is sick it might already be too late. If it was available I would go for it though!

LIFE insurance, not health insurance.

I know, I was talking about them dying. Illness comes on suddenly and might not be easy to get a qualified reptile vet. Much more is known about treating cats and dogs than snakes.

How would you prove that the snake that died, is the snake that you insured? You gonna walk into the insurance office and plunk a dead bumblebee into the agent's desk?

I don't think that you thought this question out very well. Surely the insurance company will have in place the means to objectively identify the animal that is under one of their policies...and before the policy is in affect (i.e. photos, implants, and use your imagination).

I'd wager that if insuring the animals becomes possible, all sorts of reliable means of identification will make their way to the surface.

The bottom line is that the idea has the prospect to make a ton of money, and it will benefit everyone involved. And the ball python market would see another wave of growth that cannot be possible otherwise.

Sure, I will buy it! I have $250,000 worth of animals and they all just died. When is my check coming? Get my point?

Blake

I think I do... but with knowledge of this market and stipulations based upon this knowledge (especially to minimize fraud), enough persons participating, and the appropriate monthly premium set... it simply can't lose.

there was an Insurance Company that offered insurance on herps.

but it wasn't cheap

a few years ago.and I forget all the info....sorry....

.........

Are you sure it wasn't health insurance? I've seen health insurance for reptiles and other "pets"... I have yet to have heard of life insurance on reptiles.

My father wanted me to get it cause he was so nervous about my animals dying or getting stolen or something. He looked in to it and realized it was a little too pricey for our pockets....

Luke

I think that even if you can find a company that will insure reptiles for life or health, it would be very expensive. And the huge variety of reptiles with such a wide variety of care needs makes underwriting the policies almost impossible.
Not to mention the potential for fraud...

What you should do, though, if you're worried about losing an expensive animal, is self-insure. This means that you are putting money away each month as if it were being used as insurance premiums. This money would only be touched in the event of the loss of a pet, veterninary bills, or whatever. You could decide how much you could afford, and you'd know you always have the money there for when you need it!

Just don't go out and buy that new morph with the money, and then you'd be back where you started!

Anyways, that's my 2 cents, from someone working in the insurance industry. Hope it helps.

Nicki

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1.1.0 Uromastyx maliensis (Mali Uromastyx) - Spike and Lizzy
0.0.1 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri (Variable (Thayer’s) Kingsnake) - Kavi
0.0.1 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli (Pueblan Milksnake) - Callia
0.2.0 Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Red-Sided Garter Snakes) - Spot and Fluffy

Is that MOST insurance people are insuring you and your possessions against the negligence of OTHERS. Now think of why a snake would die on you. 9/10 times its YOUR fault. So you are taking out insurance to ensure that if YOU screw up, someone other than you will have to pay?

I don't think they'd go for it. Not in a million years.