Vet costs up front?

LauraES

Hi all, can I ask if it is common practice for vet surgeries to require all costs paid up front? I have comprehensive pet insurance for my dog, but my vet surgery requires all costs to be paid up front and in full, and for you to then claim it back later from your own insurer. Obviously I can understand why, and luckily my dog hasn’t needed anything I couldn’t afford up front, but I do worry what would happen if he was ever to need anything costing in the thousands of pounds - I don’t have that money lying around!

They make it very clear that you have to pay up immediately, there are large signs in reception stating that they don’t have an account service and that all treatment must be paid for in full and up front, and I just wondered if that was standard practice?

w06

Not everywhere, but it is common. It's because people often have less insurance cover than they think and vets have historically been left with bad unpaid debt by owners.

You'll likely find that if you were to suddenly find yourself with your dog needing treatment in the thousands the surgery might be willing to consider asking the insurance company to pre-approve (and so promise to pay). Although most bills in the thousands would be from a referral hospital who would be more likely to accept direct insurance claims.

I've an unused credit card as emergency back up for my dogs, if they broke a leg or suddenly needed something major it will cover most eventualities, and then be balance transferred to another card so that I can pay it off over a year or so.

sheramber

My vet will charge direct but if not paid within 30 days interest is charged.

My last vet would only claim direct form Petplan.

When my dog was treated by a specialist that practice did not charge direct. You had to pay when collecting your pet.

We used our credit card to pay and the money was received from the insurance before the card payment was due.

Deep_In_Debt

My vet require all costs to be paid up front. They deal with the paperwork and send it all off to the insurers who pay me directly.

I've recently had a large vet expense as my elderly cat had a cancerous tumour removed. I had to pay for the cost up front and I have a credit card to pay for vet fees. Fortunately, the insurance paid out quite quickly so I was able to pay off the balance of my credit card.

adonis

So for someone who cannot access funds or a credit card with their pet insured are stuffed if the vet want money up front.

John-K_3

Best then to have an emergency fund. Not having one is sheer lunacy if you would be stuffed by a bill like this.

adonis

What like two, three, four, five, thousand if you can save this for your vets bills why bother with insurance?

elsien

adonis wrote: »

What like two, three, four, five, thousand if you can save this for your vets bills why bother with insurance?

Because the insurance reimburses it?
I've always paid up front then reclaimed from the insurance. I suppose in part it's if the insurer knocks back the claim the vet still gets paid.

John-K_3

adonis wrote: »

What like two, three, four, five, thousand if you can save this for your vets bills why bother with insurance?

I genuinely cannot follow your logic there. It is like saying if you have an overdraft facility why work.

The money is used and then returned by the insurance company. How can you not understand that?

sheramber

If you didn't have insurance you would then have to save up again for further bills.

With insurance you can out the pay out back into the bank to use for any future bills.

melbury

I have found that paying the vet direct does sometimes slow up the process of them completing the necessary insurance claim forms;)