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What If I Can’t Pay the Vet?

What If I Can’t Pay the Vet?

By Daniel C.Daniel C. Verified by Richard C.Richard C. Last updated: July 14, 2024 (0)

It’s a dangerous world out there, and surely you want your dear pets to be protected and stay as safe as possible. Just like with everything else in life, sometimes unfortunate accidents or illnesses happen, and you have to be prepared to take care of them with the best possible treatments and cures. But what if you simply can’t pay the vet?

How most pet insurance companies work

According to a 2023-2024 survey made by the American Pet Products Association, 66% of households in the U.S. own a furry companion. As much as we love pets, they often come with costly emergencies. According to PetPlan, the average cost of the most common, unanticipated veterinary care for cats and dogs is around $800 and can go up to $1,500.

Now, even if your pets are insured, you’ll still have to pay the initial costs of the emergency treatment, after which the insurance company will reimburse you with around 80% to 90% of those costs, assuming the condition or accident is covered.

This means you will have to pay for the vet costs yourself and then wait for the pet insurance firm to reimburse you. And that’s a lot to pay out of your pocket.

The solution: direct vet pay

There are, though, some pet insurance companies that directly pay the vet, a process which is called direct vet pay.

With Trupanion, for instance, such a procedure is made available in only a matter of minutes after the miraculous creature checks out. This implies this firm makes the payment directly to the vet, without the parent having to pay the treatment bill out of his or her own pocket, without having to submit any paperwork, and without having to wait for reimbursement. The procedure is available at any clinic, emergency hospital, or specialty center within the U.S, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Another pet insurance provider that directly pays the vet is Pets Best. With this company, however, an optional claim reimbursement feature can be acquired with all pet insurance plans. Direct vet pay with Pets Best implies that the company directly pays the vet its part of the treatment costs, enabling you to cut expenses and only pay for your share of the invoice.

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In order to use this feature, all you have to do is send the firm a copy of the vet reimbursement release form, along with the filled-in claim. After it has been accepted, the reimbursement amount is sent directly to the vet’s office. Claims with this company are generally processed in a maximum of five days.

After the claim has been processed through this feature and the vet has received the reimbursement, the parent still has to pay the vet the deductible, co-insurance amount, and all the items that are not covered by insurance.

If you know that you don’t have enough savings to cover pet-related medical emergencies, it is recommendable to choose an insurance company that offers direct vet pay, so that all you’ll have to worry about is your (smaller) part of the payment. What a great way to take care of your dear friend.


Best pet insurance services of 2024

Editors' choice
Trupanion logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Simple plan structure
24/7 customer care
Good coverage
No payout caps
Budget-friendly
Lemonade logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Quick reimbursement process
Customizable policy
Several handy add-ons
Responsive customer support
Multiple pets
Pet Assure logo
Editor's rating:
(4)
Budget friendly
No risk
Accepts exotic petss
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