Insurance and vets question

pjuk · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:40 am Post subject: Insurance and vets question

We are looking at changing our insurance policy for one of our labs we were with pet plan was paying £13 something last 2 years on there budget insurance.
Just had the renewal and its £18.97 and they dropped the cover from £5000 per year to £3000.

I have been looking around and can get lifetime cover for this money with about £5000 cover per condition.

Our vet won't claim from insurance companies anyway and you have to pay up front.

Are there any insurance companies out there that use there own vets and pay them direct.

the only reason i ask is that this year money has been really tight and if something happened to one of my dogs and i got a say £4000 vet bill there is no way i can get this upfront and i dare say there are a lot of people in my position.

If something was to happen i would ring ever vet in my area to see if could find one that claims direct or even claim a part of it direct.

If i couldn't find one it may mean the dog would have to get PTS just because i may not be able to afford to pay the whole fee up front.
I would probably sell my business if it came to this to be able to pay the vets

dogsrock · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

I think there are lots of vets out there who deal with insurance companies directly. You could ring round some of your local ones and see what their policy is. You could even ask them which companies they work with most often, to give you and idea of who to get a quote from.

Good luck, hope you find something to suit you.

Basil · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

The only thing I can add is that my vets also won't liase with insurance companies and have big signs up everywhere saying paymnet must be made in full.

BUT Smile

....

When Basil was very poorly his bill was only (well relative to the £4k you give as an example) £600.
My vets asked if I wanted to pay a small amount, say £100 and said I could have a month or 2's credit until the insurance paid up (which I knew they wouldn't so i just paid it in full) to pay the remainder.

Obviously not all vets are as nice but I should add that I had only joined the practice 2 weeks previous and it was Basils first visit Very Happy

pjuk · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject:

To be fair to our vets they have been really good in the past and the biggest bill we ever had was £750 when one of our dogs had a brain tumor.

And i had the money on me as i knew i was going to be quite a bit.
But when i went to pay they said just pop it down in a couple of days when you next come back.
But as i had it on me i paid there and then.

but our vets do also have a sign saying all treatment has to be paid up front before any treatment.

But its always a worry that something major may happen and they want all the money upfront.
Even though they know they will get it from the insurance company.

I can understand them wanting there money.
But maybe if its going to be a lot of money maybe they call the insurance company first to make sure they will pay that way you pet would get treatment sooner and suffer less.

But as you said some just want there money upfront and are not interested in calling the insurance company.

dogsrock · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

If they are quite nice and happy to take a bit of payment and hold off for the insurance money, I wouldn't worry. If you've had a good experience with them in the past, I'm sure they would be the same, especially if it is a larger amount. Hope it works out for you.

kaladancer · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:

both my vet and a big referral place i went to - were happy to be paid direct (but i am sure it would depend on what insurance company i was with!!) - but obviously they do say that i am liable for anything the insurance company won't pay ...........

some vets will let you pay in instalments (whether you are insured or not) ..... trouble is that people who let them down ruin it for those of us who don't