[nagdu] Financial support was: Getting a guide dog soon!

[Lisa]

Hey everybody!

Just wanted to add my experience with guide dogs and financial support. 
Helga, I'm sorry, this won't be helpful for you as I'm not living in the US.
Anybody who's interested in the German guide dog system, keep on reading. 
;-)

Here in Germany our health insurance system pays for a guide dog. So, after 
you've found a school and they've decided you are ready to have a guide, you 
have to send your application to your health insurance company. Then there's 
always a huge fight and normally they deny you in the beginning. Why? 
Because a trained guide dog is expensive. Well, but that's another story. So 
once they've agreed, your training starts and after training, you have to do 
an exam with an independent person who then writes an advisory opinion for 
the health insurance company. And THEN the dog is finally yours. The big 
advantage of this long, long way to getting a guide is: After all this 
bureaucracy, the health insurance pays you a monthly sum to support you with 
taking good care of your dog. It's definitely enough to buy dog food and do 
regular visits at the vet. It's also enough to buy toys every now and then 
or other extra things.
I know that's a very priviledged situation we're in. I think German law 
states because the dog is a service animal who helps you to lead life 
independently, it's not up to you to pay for it. But guide dogs are the only 
service dogs who are under this law. All others, like hearing dogs, diabetic 
alert dogs etc. have to be trained and then be fed  without any financial 
support which is quite a big difference.

Lisa

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Daryl Lang via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "Greg Aikens" <gpaikens at gmail.com>; "NAGDU Mailing List,the National 
Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "Greg Aikens via nagdu" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>; "Debby Phillips" <semisweetdebby at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 2:01 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Getting a Guide Dog Soon!


> Greg, I think you are right. It depends on the insurance company, but if 
> you do decide to go that route, Helga, make sure you read the fine print! 
> There have been horror stories up here in Canada about people taking out 
> pet insurance on their animals, and that's not honoring it, and the 
> insurance company refusing to pay. As for expenses for a guide dog, if you 
> can include the expenses in a monthly budget, it might make things look a 
> little bit less daunting. I do like a Raven's suggestion about putting 
> aside a little bit of money every month, just because that's a smart thing 
> to do, especially at the beginning. Jenny came with a lot of things, but 
> not all guide dog schools provide alot. I have subsequently purchased many 
> different items, like a raincoat, a bed for work, toys, and several other 
> things. Each dog will want, or require, certain things. This will depend 
> on the dog, and the kind of climate you live in. :-)
>
> On February 25, 2015 8:30:29 PM MST, Greg Aikens via nagdu 
> <nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>Actually, health insurance for dogs does exist. When I got my most
>>recent guide from the Seeing Eye in 2011, they had someone come talk to
>>us about purchasing insurance for our dogs. I never researched it much
>>though to figure out if it was worth the price.
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Feb 25, 2015, at 10:21 PM, Debby Phillips via nagdu
>><nagdu at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Helga, no, there is no such thing as dog insurance or subsidies.
>>If you are on SSI and go to work, there are expenses that you can apply
>>that will allow you to keep more of your SSI and be working.  But I do
>>not know of any programs such as you are asking about.  I believe that
>>Guide Dogs for the Blind pays all vet expenses, but as I am not part of
>>their program, I cannot say for sure.  Some vets will give a discount
>>for service and guide dogs, but you would need to check with the
>>individual vets in your area.  I do understand not working and needing
>>to provide for my dog as well as myself and not having much income.  I
>>was very blessed in that my dad (who has passed away since) would
>>sometimes give me an extra $20.  Sometimes that went for dog food or
>>vet bills.  Others may have some ideas, though.    Peace,    Debby and
>>Neena
>>>
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> -- 
> Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
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