Pet insurance and payment options
Payment is due when services are provided. Here is what we accept, and how insurance actually works at a vet's office.
What we accept
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, cash, and personal checks. We also accept CareCredit, a healthcare credit card that lets you pay a larger bill in monthly installments. You can apply online in a few minutes and use it the same day.
How pet insurance works
Pet insurance is reimbursement-based. You pay us at the visit, submit the invoice to your insurer, and they pay you back according to your plan. We will provide itemized invoices and medical records for any claim, at no charge.
Plans differ in a few ways worth comparing before you buy:
- Whether hereditary and congenital conditions, like hip dysplasia or heart defects, are covered.
- How reimbursement is calculated: a percentage of the actual bill, a benefit schedule, or "usual and customary" rates.
- Whether the deductible is per incident or annual.
- Annual, per-incident, or lifetime caps.
- How pre-existing conditions are defined at renewal.
Insurance is most valuable when it is bought while a pet is young and healthy, before anything is pre-existing. Companies our clients commonly use include Trupanion, Nationwide, and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. We do not sell insurance and do not receive anything from these companies; ask us if you would like a recommendation for your pet.
Estimates
You will always get a written estimate before a surgery, dental, or hospitalization, and we will call before any additional work. If cost is a concern, tell us. There is usually more than one reasonable plan.