Do insured pets get priority at vet practices?

victoriav

I wonder if anybody can answer me this..do pets that are insured get preferential treatment/priority at vet practices? Especially if the insurance has been purchased from that vet......just curious...i have witnessed the school leaving time appointments are given to those not insured, and those that are insured dont wait as long, thats to say if they have a 10.30 appointment they are seen at 10.35..unlike an unisured pet whose appointment was 12.30 did not get seen til 3pm and had to wait in car as dog nervous...the first thi g i hear the receptionist say is are they an insured pet. Obviously if an emergency has taken place then people are very understanding and dont mind waiting. Although this would not be an everyday occurence.

Silvertabby

That's certainly not the case with our Vet. No appointments, first come first treated (although any emergency would obviously be seen first).

We do have insurance, but I can't remember ever being asked that. There's just a notice on the surgery waiting room wall stating that anyone with concerns about possible costs should discuss that with the vet before approving any treatment.

victoriav

Silvertabby...my old vets used to be like that, plus a homeopathic vet too..they were great..then the owners sold it to a franchise....

victoriav

Regarding costs my old vets would allow leeway on.large bills..ie pay in 2 halves. My current vet is similarly good on that point. Some wont treat until money is paid first. Charity ones will only do basic ops for your donation (same price as a regular vet)

Silvertabby

Our vet is a small family concern (father and son). No posh waiting room or receptionists helps keep the overheads down, which is reflected in the (very reasonable) bills.

For example, a recent infected anal gland (ouch - poor puss!) involved 3 consultations, one drainage procedure (local anaesthetic), 2 antibiotic injections and 1 tube of something soothing for her bum came to the grand total of just over £50.

Owain_Moneysaver

The nervous dog might have been kept in the car intentionally, until the surgery was empty so he wouldn't meet other animals.

melbury

Silvertabby wrote: »

Our vet is a small family concern (father and son). No posh waiting room or receptionists helps keep the overheads down, which is reflected in the (very reasonable) bills.

For example, a recent infected anal gland (ouch - poor puss!) involved 3 consultations, one drainage procedure (local anaesthetic), 2 antibiotic injections and 1 tube of something soothing for her bum came to the grand total of just over £50.

That is amazing value.

May I ask which area of the country you live in?

onwards&upwards

victoriav wrote: »

Silvertabby...my old vets used to be like that, plus a homeopathic vet too..they were great..then the owners sold it to a franchise....

A placebo vet then. I hope they didn’t charge much!

RelievedSheff

There is no distinction between insured pets and non insured pets at our vets. All customers and their animals are treated with the same high standard of care.

mluton

Over the last few months with our cat and a failed hematoma op and then ear removal op and 10+ visits I have encountered all the scenarios as you have mentioned above. Being seen on time, being seen hours late, superb service and poor service depending on how busy they are. Also having to rearrange due to them being busy after waiting.

An emergency visit will always take priority due to the animal suffering and this all has to be done with an already fully appointed calendar on most days for the vets. Out of the 10+ visits I have been to most of them have had emergency's in, they display a sign inside the vets to make customers aware.

We have had no insurance through all our on goings with our cat, but don't feel treated any different and of course they will ask, this may more to do with cash flow as insurance company's pay at different stages of an animals treatment.

Brambling

I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes at my very small vet practice and that was when a emergency had come in. There are only two vets one who takes the appointments and the other usually carries out any procedures and they swap around. My cats have been the unlucky ones needing the emergency appointment and I've appreciate them 'fitting us in'. The only restrictions are they are open to 6pm but won't take appointments in advance after 5.30pm and that slot is saved for people who come home from work and find an emergency and need to rush an animal in.

I've never been asked if i'm insured and never heard anyone else being asked that when I've been sitting in the waiting room, I'm not Insure however after 30 years we all know each very well. I think the advantage of non-insured pets is the vet does not have to wait for the insurance company to pay up, there is a note to say they do charge to complete any insurance forms which I assume is for the vets time.