PurinaCare selects Central States Indemnity

San Antonio

-- PurinaCare Insurance Services, Inc. selected Central States Indemnity Co. of Omaha (CSI) as the new underwriter of its pet health insurance policies.

PurinaCare Insurance Services is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. CSI, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., earned an A+ Superior rating from AM Best, a global full-service credit rating agency.Berkshire Hathaway, which is managed by billionaire Warren Buffett, carries a AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s, the highest rating awarded, PurinaCare reports in a prepared statement.

PurinaCare launched in 2008 by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company offering pet owners broad pet insurance coverage under two plans -- PurinaCare plus Preventive Care and PurinaCare without Preventive Care.

According to market research firm Packaged Facts, only 1 percent of the 163 million dogs and cats in the U.S. have pet insurance policies.

"Pets are very much a member of people's lives and families, and PurinaCare is here to help dog and cat owners better manage the rising costs of unexpected injuries and illnesses,” explains Dr. David Goodnight, president and chief operating officer of PurinaCare. “Our new partnership with CSI deepens our commitment to providing PurinaCare’s policyholders with high-quality service, good value and peace of mind in providing a lifetime of care for their pets."

“This is a natural partnership”, adds CSI President John Kizer. “We believe that PurinaCare’s culture and philosophy aligns well with our mission of making people's financial life simpler and more secure, and policyholders can take comfort knowing that their pet insurance is being provided by CSI, a Berkshire Hathaway Company."

"Nestlé Purina and Berkshire Hathaway are both long-established, trusted companies which share corporate values of financial stability, superior customer service and offer high-quality products that enhance family health and well-being," says Bill Broun, director of Business Development for Nestlé Purina. “The partnership between PurinaCare and CSI is an extension of both corporations’ shared visions."