American Veterinary Medical Association - Group Health & Life Insurance Trust, Partners With Pets Best Insurance in National Pet Insurance Effort

NEW ORLEANS, July 18 LA-PetsBestInsurance


NEW ORLEANS, July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Pets Best Insurance and the
American Veterinary Medical Association Group Health & Life Insurance Trust
(AVMA GHLIT) announced an exclusive relationship with an aggressive goal to
educate veterinarians and consumers about pet insurance. Pet owners enjoy the
financial peace of mind that pet insurance provides and veterinarians are able
to maintain their client relationships while performing science-based
medicine. To that end, this effort by the AVMA GHLIT will affect positive
change for the pet insurance industry.


As part of the new exclusive arrangement, Aetna's general insurance
subsidiary, AICC, will be the new underwriter for the Pets Best Insurance
plan.


According to Gary R. Holfinger, DVM and Chairman of the Board of Trustees
of the AVMA GHLIT, "We know today that the veterinary profession must be a
leading component of providing information and education to our clients about
pet insurance. Having a consistent utilization of pet insurance in the United
States will increase the overall health of pets by providing an additional
resource to deliver needed care. Working exclusively with Pets Best Insurance
and Aetna, we feel certain to deliver a trusted pet insurance product for pet
owners and our members."


According to Dr. Jack Stephens, President and Founder of Pets Best
Insurance, "The leadership shown today to make pet insurance a central
component of the veterinarian-client relationship is very gratifying. For over
thirty years, we have been building an industry to reduce pet euthanasia and
provide peace of mind for pet owners. Third-party insurance also benefits pet
owners and the veterinary profession by providing funding for additional
quality veterinary care. This partnership will be the milestone that makes pet
insurance a priority for the majority of pet owners in the United States. Our
long-term strategy will benefit pets, pet owners and the veterinary
profession. We are thankful to be a part of an important effort that will help
us realize our mission at Pets Best and also have long-term positive benefits
for the veterinary profession."


Pets Best Insurance is currently underwritten by North Pointe Insurance of
Michigan. North Pointe Insurance will work to transition current and future
policy holders to AICC.


"We are pleased to join with Pets Best and the AVMA GHLIT to offer access
to trusted, affordable insurance for pet owners," said Aetna's Dan Fishbein.
"More than 60 percent of American households have a beloved pet and spend
approximately $10 billion a year in veterinary care. Insurance provides
valuable financial protection, and we know that more than half of consumers
and our own members surveyed find it appealing for us to offer pet insurance."



The American Veterinary Medical Association Group Health & Life Insurance
Trust was established by the AVMA in 1957. The trust provides life, disability
and medical insurance to AVMA member veterinarians. AVMA GHLIT insurance
provides personal lines of insurance coverage to approximately 33,204
participants. Learn more about AVMA GHLIT at http://www.avmaghlit.org.



Pets Best Insurance administers an insurance plan that reimburses pet
owners for services from the veterinarian they choose, with no benefit
schedules or fee restrictions. Pets Best Insurance was founded by Dr. Jack
Stephens, the pioneer of the pet insurance industry with over 30 years of
experience. Pets Best includes a choice of three affordable coverage plans
with a straightforward 80:20 claims reimbursement structure. The Pets Best
Insurance team is a highly skilled and professional group of pet lovers who
have developed products based on innovation and insight into veterinary care.
Visit Pets Best Insurance at http://www.petsbest.com or phone 877-PetsBest
(738-7237).



Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits
companies, serving approximately 37.3 million people with information and
resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care.
Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health
insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental,
behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management
capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our
customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time
and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored
plans, labor groups and expatriates. http://www.aetna.com



SOURCE  Pets Best Insurance