Vet prices...!!

krlyr

zaksmum wrote: »

I don't see the advantage for the owner to buy online with a prescription from the vet. Surely once the excess is reached, it costs the owner nothing more? Apart from the 20% of the remainder of the vet fees? So buying online only saves money for the insurance company?

No extra cost at the time, but you would use up more of your insurance allowance if you went for the higher priced medication. Not such an issue if its a few quid, but in GR's case for example, where she's claiming her full allowance each year, if she was claiming, say, £30 more a month on meds, that's £360 less a year she could claim for other things. If she's already used it up, that £360 comes out of her own pocket.

mtbbuxton

Rev wrote: »

I do think some vets will bump prices up if they know your pet is insured.

I went to a vet once and the first thing out of his mouth wasn't what's the problem or how is your dog it was 'is your dog insured'. I lost confidence instantly that he was interested in my dogs welfare before he was interested in money. I never went back.


I realise vets are expensive and at the end of the day they're a business. But if I think for one second the vet is more interested in getting as much cash as possible than they are in my animals well being. Then they can consider me an ex customer.

It's a standard question that allows a Vet to determine what treatment options are available to them.
For example, they could detect a heart murmur by simply listening for it and prescribe medication on what they can hear. Alternatively, if your pet is insured, they could request an echo cardiogram and then prescribe based on what is actually wrong.
I speak from experience on this exact health issue. My dog presented with a heart murmur and was prescribed a drug to increase the strength of the heartbeat - all perfectly standard and reasonable. However, when she had a scan it revealed a clot in her heart and the last thing we needed to happen was a stronger heartbeat. A change of medication was instigated immediately and I'm very happy to say she made a full recovery. OK, it's an unusual case, but illustrates the difference insurance can make to a care plan.

Ultimately as the owner you are purchasing private healthcare for your pet and it's your decision what you will or won't consent to.

M x

thorsoak

hmc wrote: »

That is a lot
The metacam mines just had after his op was only £40
Another colie we had got on better with the cheaper rimidil ( not sure how you spell it)

Rimadyl can have severe side-effects - often fatal - in some breeds. You have to take veterinary advice - see http://www.rimadylsideeffects.net/what-are-the-rimadyl-side-effects-in-dogs/

gettingready

zaksmum wrote: »

I don't see the advantage for the owner to buy online with a prescription from the vet. Surely once the excess is reached, it costs the owner nothing more? Apart from the 20% of the remainder of the vet fees? So buying online only saves money for the insurance company?

Look at this another way.

Part of the cost of insurance premiums is "average claims cost in the area".

So lets just say I get my dog's meds from a reputable online pet pharmacy for say £20 per month and someone else gets meds for his dog from the vets at say £80.00 per month. So just between those 2 people that is £100 per month so AVERAGE of £50 per person.

Insurance will go up for BOTH people's pet's premiums because of that average.

So you may not see the benefit for yourself as such but perhaps it may be a good idea to look at the bigger picture?


I pay nearly £130.00 per month (yes, per month) just for Zara's insurance (also got 6 cats insured, 4 with me and 2 with y daughter) - from that I currently claim about £22 every month for Zara's meds plus the £11 or so every 6 months for the prescription.

I could claim much more but buying meds at the vets but why make everyone pay for this at the end?

I had no choice with Zara's hip replacement claims but I do have a choice of minimizing the cost with the meds without affecting the quality of care. So I do it.

We all have to do our little bit for everyone else

gettingready

krlyr wrote: »

No extra cost at the time, but you would use up more of your insurance allowance if you went for the higher priced medication.

As above.

krlyr wrote: »

Not such an issue if its a few quid, but in GR's case for example, where she's claiming her full allowance each year, if she was claiming, say, £30 more a month on meds, that's £360 less a year she could claim for other things. If she's already used it up, that £360 comes out of her own pocket.

Not every year no but for 2 years while Zara had the THR we were really pushing it and I had to top up a fair bit myself as Zara is insured for 7k per year and each hip was a bit over plus of course the cos of getting to/from vets (3 hours each way etc etc)

Insurance paid all up to 7k for 2 years running, we have done one hip in one insurance year, towards the end and the other hip at the beginning of the next insurance year.

She is ok-is ow but she is 8 and I do not want to use the insurance pot for small things just in case we need it (touch wood we do not) for anything serious.

meritaten

ask the vet for a 'prescription' for Lucy's Metacalm. then you will be able to purchase online.

you will be charged for it, they wont like it - but, they are overcharging you.

gettingready

meritaten wrote: »

ask the vet for a 'prescription' for Lucy's Metacalm. then you will be able to purchase online.

you will be charged for it, they wont like it - but, they are overcharging you.

ermmm but....

zaksmum wrote: »

I don't see the advantage for the owner to buy online with a prescription from the vet. Surely once the excess is reached, it costs the owner nothing more? Apart from the 20% of the remainder of the vet fees? So buying online only saves money for the insurance company?

krlyr

meritaten wrote: »

you will be charged for it, they wont like it - but, they are overcharging you.

My vets are happy to write me a prescription, and if they weren't, I'd be taking my business elsewhere. They've asked me out of interest what I was buying it for online, and were surprised at how little it cost - they said they just wouldn't be able to price match because of the cost of it to them

zaksmum

Still don't see the point if the insurance company is paying. The excess is the same wherever I get Lucy's Metacam from. I have already gone over the excess with this one consultation and the Metacam. The annual insurance renewal date has only just passed about a week ago so this is the first claim.

I may as well just get it directly from the vet despite the ridiculous price as I'm only now going to be paying 20% of the cost myself.

sheramber

It depends on the type of insurance.

some insurance policies have a limit on the amount that can be claimed per condition over the lifetime of the pet- e.g. £3000 or £6000m, in that case the fixed amount would be used up sooner.

Others limit how much can be claimed per conditon per 12 months period, although total amount available per year will be higher.