How does pet insurance handle it if you can’t pay your vet bill upfront? Like, say I get a $10k bill and I don’t have the $5k needed to start treatment, will insurance help with that or do I need to pay it all upfront? Would I be stuck in that situation? Also, how does reimbursement work if I use a CareCredit card? I’m debating between Pets Best and Trupanion for my new puppy. I already have Trupanion for my other dog because of the direct vet pay, but I heard Pets Best does that too if you fill out a form. Does anyone know if that’s true and how often you’d need to do it? Is it a one-time thing or does it need to be requested each time? I’m especially worried about emergencies happening at night or on the weekend and not having the funds ready.
I do like Trupanion, but I’ve heard their monthly rates can jump up a lot. Pets Best seems cheaper and has a yearly deductible, plus they cover some pre-existing conditions if they’re curable (I’m a bit worried because my puppy had flaky skin at his first vet visit, and I don’t want to get stuck with them not covering skin issues later). But I also like Trupanion’s lifetime per-condition deductible. So, has anyone with Pets Best been able to get pre-existing conditions covered? Do they try to avoid paying out claims? What about their direct pay option?
I’m a college student, so while I prioritize saving for my pups, I’m not prepared for a huge emergency bill. I’m down to choosing between Trupanion and Pets Best, which one would you go for?
Most vets do ask for payment upfront before they start treatment, so if you can’t pay and are waiting for reimbursement, you’d likely need to use a CareCredit or another credit card. There are a few exceptions though. Trupanion does direct vet pay as long as the vet or emergency hospital accepts it, but they need to approve the claim first. Pets Best works on a case-by-case basis for direct pay, so both your vet and the insurance company would have to agree each time. It might work for planned procedures, but I wouldn’t count on it for emergencies.
Basically, you’d use the CareCredit or credit card for the charges and then wait for reimbursement from the insurance company. So, you’d need a credit limit high enough to cover the bill upfront. The insurance company will either transfer the reimbursement to your bank or send a check, and then you can pay off the card. Just remember the reimbursement happens after deductibles and the percentage you’ve chosen.
About the pre-existing conditions, it really depends. I’ve heard mixed stories; some people get them covered, while others struggle. For flaky skin, it would depend on what your vet diagnosed. I’d definitely call them directly to ask, and don’t forget there’s usually a waiting period for any coverage to kick in.
And yeah, most insurance companies are raising their rates lately, Trupanion included. The pet insurance industry is still growing, and with inflation hitting all industries, prices have been going up. I’d compare what’s covered with both plans to decide. Pets Best has a plan with a $5k annual max payout and an unlimited one, but I’d be curious if the unlimited plan is similar to Trupanion’s. The $5k might feel low in today’s world, but it’s up to you. Keep in mind that Pets Best calculates reimbursement before deducting the deductible, so you get a bit less back than with Trupanion. Some people are okay with that, while others feel shorted.
You might want to check out Fursure. They’re one of the few companies that pay the vet directly at checkout. I haven’t used them myself though, I’m with Pets Best. I usually pay with a credit card, then submit the claim for reimbursement.
I’ve used CareCredit just for pet bills. If I spend $200 or more, I get six months interest-free, which helps a lot. So when I have a big vet bill, I charge it to that card and use the six months to get reimbursed by insurance. Once I get the reimbursement, I pay it straight to the card.