Pet insurers which pay vet directly could be lifesavers for pet parents who are faced with high veterinary fees. You may not have to worry about an emergency. However, if it does happen, you will be grateful that your pet's insurance policy reimburses you for some of these costs.
What are some of the companies that offer pet insurance?
Some pet insurance companies offer a service that allows you to pay your veterinarian directly once coverage is activated. Some do it automatically, and others require you to submit paperwork and your veterinarian must agree to the process.
Most pet insurance plans are reimbursed 80% to 90% of the cost of your pet's treatment, after you meet your deductible (if you have one). There are annual and incidental limits.
The deductibles for these insurance policies can be very high, especially when you have a costly medical condition or chronic illness. In this case, you may need to consider other financing options before paying your vet bill in full.
Trupanion Healthy Paws Pets Best are some of the pet insurance companies that pay vets direct. In addition to offering coverage for common treatments like exams, surgery and vaccines, these companies also cover emergency care, dental illness, prosthetic devices and prescription food.
Trupanion has a feature on their website that lets you check if your vet accepts this plan. If they do, you will only have to pay a small portion of the bill at checkout, and Trupanion will then cover the rest.
Health Paws advertises this option less than Trupanion or Pets Best. You can still use it, however, during normal business hours. This is Monday-Friday between 7am and 4pm PST. Saturdays from 8am-5pm PST. This option requires a bit more effort on your part, but for some pet owners it is worth the hassle.
This direct-payment method is only available in business hours and may take several days to process your claim. If you have a serious issue, you should call Healthy Paws and ask for an expedited processing time.
This option of direct payment is only available in certain States. So, make sure you check the policy of your state before you select a provider.
If your vet is willing to accept this option, you will have the ability to pay them directly after you've met your deductible or covered costs. You'll need to file an insurance claim and the company will pay your vet the rest.
Direct payment is convenient both for the veterinarian and pet owner. This saves time and money by not paying the vet upfront and waiting to be reimbursed.
If your pet is frequently in the hospital you may want to consider a policy which covers extended care. This includes boarding and trip cancelation costs. You will end up saving a lot of cash and it makes traveling easier when your pet's in the hospital.