I am with pet plan and when my kitty's were hospitalised pet plan payed my vet direct. But if the problem is something minor I usually pay the vet direct and claim back. Pet plan are also very good at paying out too.

Viv xx

 

My vet makes the claim direct to petplan if it is over £300, otherwise I have to pay upfront. So maybe you could check what your vet's way of working is and then you could keep the £300 or whatever separate, knowing that it will be the most you have to pay? Also find out if your vet does payment plans for huge bills while you are asking, as that can be another way to manage an unexpected cost.

 

It is not up to the insurance company it is up to the vet. My last vet always claimed direct from the insurance no matter who it is, but some vets I am told will only deal direct with certain companies.

When I changed vets I specifically asked if they claimed direct before I registered with them, so I should ask your vet if I were you.

 

Yes, I think it usually depends on the vet rather than the insurance policy.. For a large operation (£'000s) they did a direct claim - which was pre approved by petplan so they knew they would get the money - but for everything else I have paid then claimed. Although I've never actually asked about them doing direct claims for the other amounts. As previous posters said, check with your vet

 

I have to pay up front with my vet but as I'm with Petplan (which they recommended) I think it would be different it it were a large amount.
Kx

 

It is not up to the insurance company it is up to the vet. My last vet always claimed direct from the insurance no matter who it is, but some vets I am told will only deal direct with certain companies.

When I changed vets I specifically asked if they claimed direct before I registered with them, so I should ask your vet if I were you.

My vets dont do direct payment
While i would never be without insurance because i could never afford a huge bill, i find it hard to understand why many vets wont do it

 

Our vet will claim direct if you are with Petplan - any other insurance and they ask for payment first and then you claim it back - although they do fill out the form, attach the associated receipts and send the claim off for you.

I wonder if there is a lesson to be learned here - does the fact that most vets are happy to claim direct from Petplan and are reluctant to so so with other companies mean that Petplan is the best company for paying out claims? We used to be with Petplan but changed to Direct Line because we could not afford their premiums - but is it a case of you get what you pay for?

 

I am with Pet Plan my cat is registered with Pets at Home Pet Plan want £75 excess fee which is understandable but Pets at Home slso want £60 direct upfront from me I’m on a pension they won’t let me pay in 3 I can’t find anyone in my area most don’t take insurers

 

It is not up to the insurance company it is up to the vet. My last vet always claimed direct from the insurance no matter who it is, but some vets I am told will only deal direct with certain companies.

When I changed vets I specifically asked if they claimed direct before I registered with them, so I should ask your vet if I were you.

yarp - its down to the individual vets, my small animal and equine vets allow me to claim direct x

 

My vets dont do direct payment
While i would never be without insurance because i could never afford a huge bill, i find it hard to understand why many vets wont do it

I wouldn't go to a vet who did not claim direct from any insurance company. It was the first question I asked when I was looking for a new vet.

If your carpet gets damaged, the carpet shop will wait for the insurance to pay them; I see no reason for a vet to be any different.

Our vet will claim direct if you are with Petplan - any other insurance and they ask for payment first and then you claim it back - although they do fill out the form, attach the associated receipts and send the claim off for you.

I wonder if there is a lesson to be learned here - does the fact that most vets are happy to claim direct from Petplan and are reluctant to so so with other companies mean that Petplan is the best company for paying out claims? We used to be with Petplan but changed to Direct Line because we could not afford their premiums - but is it a case of you get what you pay for?

I think it is more a case of they get commission from Petplan, personally.

 

I think it is more a case of they get commission from Petplan, personally.

:lol: I never thought of that - you're probably right!

 

:lol: I never thought of that - you're probably right!

Well, who's leaflets do they have on their reception desks?

 

Newfiesmum...I wish i had asked before i fell in love with our vet. She is the best vet ive ever seen, she is fantastic with the cats and very caring. When 2 of mine had to stay in she gave me her mobile no and told me to ring her anytime
If she ever leaves i will be out of there and find a vet that does do direct payment

 

Our vets allows direct claims of over £1000, although to be honest they have been really good with us and often let us put any amount on the tab! That said, they have had a fair amount of money out of us! We're finally caught up now though! Hoorah!!

 

We did the first time but after that they just got the money from the insurance company.

 

I do insurance claims for our practice and we do try to do direct claims a lot of the time, particularly if it's for a very large amount/for something we have claimed for for that patient in the past. We do have to be careful though, in the past we have been left with large outstanding amounts when it transpires that the animal wasn't insured or not covered for a particular condition because they've switched companies or have policy exclusions. The owners have paid the excess then disappeared!
I have Petplan insurance for both my cat and dog-both have had surgery at referral hospitals. In one instance I had to pay upfront and then make a claim (£900) and in the other the hospital made a direct claim and I paid the excess and an admin fee when I collected her, that bill was £1100.
The best thing to do is to ask your vets if they would be prepared to make a direct claim from whichever company you are insured with.

 

The vets I have visited recently (local & orthopedic) have both had notices stating which insurance companies they won't deal directly with - not sure why as Pet Plan who I am with wasn't on there!

With Toby (my dog) we had a claim for his first op which was more than £3k & this was paid directly by the insurance company to the vet

 

Cashflow is king in any business so vets won't deal direct with insurers who have shown themselves to be difficult or slow in paying. All insurers, including Petplan, are being more careful nowadays and not just paying out without question so there's every chance that having to pay up front will become more common rather than less. Getting pre approval means the vet knows they will be paid. It's something they tend to do on more expensive treatments hence some of them stating a minimum amount for claiming on your behalf.

 

Cashflow is king in any business so vets won't deal direct with insurers who have shown themselves to be difficult or slow in paying. All insurers, including Petplan, are being more careful nowadays and not just paying out without question so there's every chance that having to pay up front will become more common rather than less. Getting pre approval means the vet knows they will be paid. It's something they tend to do on more expensive treatments hence some of them stating a minimum amount for claiming on your behalf.

I am with Churchill for Ferdie and I was with them for Joshua. I have never had a problem with them and they pay out straight away, as soon as they get the claim from the vet.

Unless it is a company that is reknowned for wriggling out of paying, I would expect no less of any other company. There is absolutely no point in paying out for insurance if I am then expected to pay upfront for treatment, no point at all.

Insurance for my two dogs is £100 per month; I would be better off saving it if they didn't claim direct.

 

If your carpet gets damaged, the carpet shop will wait for the insurance to pay them; I see no reason for a vet to be any different.

If you damage your carpet you don't go straight out and buy a replacement. If you do then your insurer may refuse to pay out or only make a partial payment. You wait for your insurer to tell you it's OK - ie you get pre approval.

 

If you damage your carpet you don't go straight out and buy a replacement. If you do then your insurer may refuse to pay out or only make a partial payment. You wait for your insurer to tell you it's OK - ie you get pre approval.

Yes, and you phone your insurance for approval for vet treatment as well. The only difference is that if they refuse the vet claim, you are probably still going to have the treatment. That is how my insurance company do it, look at your policy and history and tell you if they will pay.

 

Yes, and you phone your insurance for approval for vet treatment as well

Vets don't phone below a certain amount hence they sometimes require payment up front below a given minimum.

 

Vets don't phone below a certain amount hence they sometimes require payment up front below a given minimum.

No the vet doesn't phone, I do. My vet has never asked for payment up front, not even the excess, and I made sure when I changed that they were the same.

 

My vet has never asked for payment up front

Some don't, some do. I was only explaining why.

 

It's really a simple matter of legality.

YOU incur the bill. It's YOUR responsibility. Your vet may (or may not) accept payment directly from an insurance company but it's a business decision of his. Some companies pay out quickly, some slowly and some fight to the death before they pay out. Therefore, probably having had a bad experience with a company the vet may decide it's simply not good sense to wait for them to pay out. Most vets are happy to be paid by Pet Plan (and although they also get commission if you sign up to Pet Plan via them they are more interested in getting paid for treatment that they give). VetsMediCover insisted that the vet had to accept direct payment when they started up - but I think they found that many vets wouldn't do so and changed their rules.

After all, why should a vet deal with your choice of insurance company? It was your choice - not theirs.

 

It's really a simple matter of legality.

YOU incur the bill. It's YOUR responsibility. Your vet may (or may not) accept payment directly from an insurance company but it's a business decision of his. Some companies pay out quickly, some slowly and some fight to the death before they pay out. Therefore, probably having had a bad experience with a company the vet may decide it's simply not good sense to wait for them to pay out. Most vets are happy to be paid by Pet Plan (and although they also get commission if you sign up to Pet Plan via them they are more interested in getting paid for treatment that they give). VetsMediCover insisted that the vet had to accept direct payment when they started up - but I think they found that many vets wouldn't do so and changed their rules.

After all, why should a vet deal with your choice of insurance company? It was your choice - not theirs.

If their choice, i.e. Petplan, were not so damned expensive it would make for an easier time all round then. I couldn't possibly afford to insure my two via petplan.