u/Common_Inevitable798

I've had Lemonade for a year for my dog, a healthy smedium mix. I was drawn to the comparatively affordable rates and ease of using the app to file claims. For the past year, they've been decent enough to keep—until I saw the renewal rate increase of 25%.

When I asked them about it, they gave me some vague and generic response about inflation, age, and breed. Nothing has changed about my situation except my dog turning seven. I even called a couple vet clinics around to ask if they've increased their prices from 2025 to 2026. Most did, between 4-6%.

I am seriously considering canceling and switching. I feel as though they reeled me in with an affordable introductory rate and are now hitting me with price hikes because they know the ramifications can be significant if I pause coverage or switch companies.

I'm curious to know if this is a universal reality among all pet insurance companies or if some are more egregious about it than others.

Did you have a rate increase at renewal? If so, how much? For those who have had pet insurance for multiple years, is this something that happens every year?

Hi ladies! I've been dealing with abnormal paps from HPV and cervical dysplasia for some time and it's looking like I'll need either regular colposcopies for a while or a LEEP (or other similar procedures). My current team is ok but hasn't been the best. There have been result mix-ups and they aren't great about answering my questions. I'm a little more medically complicated too so I have other considerations that a typical patient may not have.

Anyone have recs for OBGYNs who are highly skilled and knowledgable in this area as well as compassionate and patient?

Located in NOVA but happy to travel for the right doc! Thank you!

My husband and I move often due to his line of work and we opt to rent for convenience and flexibility. This means I've lived in a lot of homes and have had a lot of landlords. I've learned a bit about renting over the years and wanted to share some tips here in the hope it'll help set other renters up for success. A lot of these are about landlords because who you rent from is as important as what/where you rent! There are of course exceptions to every rule but these are the general guidelines I now follow:

1. Opt for a privately-managed place over a professionally-managed one. Private landlords *tend* to be more flexible and may be more responsive to questions and requests. Many professionally-managed places have added fees that go to the company. 
2. If you can, rent a place that the landlord lived in for at least a couple years as opposed to a property they bought for the purpose of renting out.
3. Think of the type of landlord you'd like to rent from. Do you want someone more hands-off or more responsive? Flexible or detail-oriented and by-the-book? Someone casual or professional? 
4. If you can, meet the landlord in person before signing a lease. Get a vibe check. Vet them just like they're vetting you. You'll be working with this person for X number of months/years on something that significantly impacts your life.
5. Be thorough when it comes to touring a place. Write down your list of needs so you don't forget. Bring a measuring tape. Arrive prepared. Really think about how you'll be using the space. Is the place well-maintained? What are the quality of the fixtures? Even seemingly small things can make become a big headache once you move in. Treat it as if you were buying the home. Look for mold, water damage, cracks, etc. Ask how old major systems are (This may seem like a weird question but these things impact you too, trust me.)
6. This should go without saying but read the lease really carefully and make sure you understand what you are signing up for. It's not uncommon for landlords to use generic lease agreements and not abide by the terms listed (for better or for worse). You may be tempted to not take the lease as seriously as a result. Bad idea. If there are terms you disagree with, have any negotiation in writing as an amendment to the lease. 
7. In the first couple weeks or so, pay close attention to the home—all its quirks or potential issues. Create a list and send it to your landlord to look over. Have them come over and do a walk-through. Better to get all those things out of the way early on.
8. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING, especially pre-existing damage, with photos and/or videos. Make sure they are dated in some way.
9. Establish a communication method with your landlord that works for both of you and set expectations for things like response times, availability, what needs landlord involvement and what doesn't, etc. Whatever communication method you choose, make sure it is in written form and savable.
10. Landlords can be more amenable than you think. No pets may not mean no pets. Rent price may be flexible. Certain home modifications may not be an issue. Put yourself in their shoes. If it's a reasonable ask and you're polite about it, ask! Worst they can say is no. 
11. That said, always keep in mind that your landlord is NOT your friend. Maybe they're friendly. Maybe they make small talk. Maybe they're kind and flexible. But never forget that you're passive income and a potential liability (or asset!) to them. Vast majority only care about what they're legally obligated to care about and some don't even care about those things. Know your rights, advocate for your needs, and never feel like you're being "too much" for ensuring your space is safe, comfortable and well-maintained. You are paying for it after-all! 
12. Lastly, be the kind of renter you'd want as a landlord. Treat the home as your own. Take care of it. Pay rent on time. Communicate any issues promptly. Be responsive. Try to be flexible without jeopardizing your rights and comfort.

 

Hoping this helps someone out there. Would love to know what other renters have learned over the years!

My husband and I just signed a lease to a nice but older single-family home that has already had its fair share of issues (some small, some serious). We've noticed that the landlord is not very proactive with maintenance, he's slow to respond to questions or requests, and he did not make sure the home was move-in ready at the start of our lease. He will come by and fix things or call companies to work on the house if we ask, but you can tell he's not very invested and he really doesn't care.

He's definitely a busy guy: very full personal life, seems to work long hours and travel for work often, etc. We're trying to be empathetic but communication will often go unanswered for several hours or even a whole day, regardless of the urgency. My husband and I are very attentive and engaged tenants and we think it's important to have an active partnership with our landlord to ensure the home is safe, comfortable, and well-maintained.

What would be the best way to tackle this situation? He's not negligent but definitely lackadaisical and the lag in communication is an issue for us. We don't want to alienate him so early-on but we want to make sure that issues outside our domain are addressed in a timely manner.

Anyone here with confirmed focal hashimotos? What are your symptoms (if any) and what do your thyroid ultrasounds look like?

I've had a couple thyroid biopsies done and radiofrequency ablation to get rid of a nodule. Since then, I've had a couple nodules pop up in the same general area and to my very untrained eye, it looks like that area is more heterogeneous than other areas (other areas appear pretty homogeneous to me). I also get an angry localized rash every time my thyroid is poked (and it's likely not an allergic reaction).

Wanted to hear from others with focal hashimotos to see if our scans or experiences align.

Anyone here with confirmed focal hashimotos? What are your symptoms (if any) and what do your thyroid ultrasounds look like?

I've had a couple thyroid biopsies done and radiofrequency ablation to get rid of a nodule. Since then, I've had a couple nodules pop up in the same general area and to my very untrained eye, it looks like that area is more heterogeneous than other areas (other areas appear pretty homogeneous to me). I also get an angry localized rash every time my thyroid is poked (and it's likely not an allergic reaction).

Wanted to hear from others with focal hashimotos to see if our scans or experiences align.