Pet insurance
We do not sell insurance, we are not paid by any insurer, and we do not have a company we push. What we do have is a strong opinion about when to buy it, which is: before you need it, and earlier than most people think.
How it works with us
Almost all pet insurance is reimbursement-based. That means you pay us at the time of service the way you always would, then submit the invoice to your insurer and they pay you back according to your policy. We do not bill insurers directly, and neither do most practices. Practically:
- You still need the money available on the day.
- We will give you an itemised invoice, and your pet's records if the insurer asks for them.
- You submit the claim; the reimbursement goes to you, not to us.
The one thing that matters most: pre-existing conditions
No policy covers a condition your pet already has. This is the rule that makes or breaks pet insurance, and it is why the advice is always the same: insure a healthy young animal. Once the limp, the lump, or the itchy skin is in the record, that body system is usually excluded for life. Buying insurance after a diagnosis is not a plan.
What to compare
- Accident-only vs. accident and illness. Accident-only is cheaper and does not cover cancer, diabetes, or the chronic problems that actually cost the most over a lifetime.
- Annual limit and whether it resets.
- Deductible, and crucially whether it is per year or per condition.
- Reimbursement percentage, and whether it is calculated on your actual invoice or on a benefit schedule. Benefit schedules pay far less than they appear to.
- Waiting periods, especially the longer ones some policies apply to orthopaedic conditions.
- Whether premiums rise with age, which most do. Check what the policy looks like at ten years old, not just at one.
- Breed exclusions, which matter for breeds with known predispositions.
Insurance is not the only answer
If a monthly premium is not realistic, the honest alternatives are a dedicated savings account you do not touch, or CareCredit, which lets you spread a large bill over monthly payments. Plenty of our clients use one of those instead and are fine.
And this is worth saying plainly: if cost is what is standing between your pet and care, tell us. There is usually more than one way to treat a problem. We would much rather build a plan that fits than have you not come in.