Vets turning away patients who can't pay up front

[tulosai]

Its very hard but you have to way the facts. Can I afford my animal or not? 

I also think that it obviously does NOT make you a bad pet owner or unable to afford a pet if you can't pay for thousands of dollars worth of vet car in one go. In my mind if you can afford standard routine vet care but can't afford to pay for a catastrophic injury, that doesn't make you a bad person or unworthy to own pets. Pet insurance is something to consider if you are worried about not being able to afford an accident.  However, if something bad has happened unexpectedly and you can't afford the treatment, you do need to consider your options and what you can do- from care credit to humane euthanization. 

 

[ayeshajae]

Tulosai your post is a real eye opener for me, I had no idea it was this bad for some vets and makes me rethink my notions of vets taking us out to the cleaners, milking us for all we're worth et

Edit: I only just learned pet insurance existed from this site can you tell me if it is actually worth getting, as in does it cover all of the basics and help cover more expensive surgeries. Do you know of pet insurance companies?

 

[Willowy]

Pet insurance can be worth it for some people. You can get coverage for routine expenses, but it's very expensive so it would be better to just budget for the regular stuff and only get insurance for emergencies. Most I've looked at seem to be around $20-$30 a month for young animals. Pre-existing conditions excluded of course, so it's best to start on insurance when they're young and healthy so nothing gets excluded. If you want company recommendations and more info you could start a separate thread.

 

[denice]

Pet insurance is, in a way, like other insurance.  You could pay on it for a long period of time and not need it, then it would seem like a waste.  If you need it then it was money well spent.  One thing with pet insurance at least the ones that I have looked at, you have to pay the bill then file for reimbursement.

 

[marc999]

 
Pet insurance is, in a way, like other insurance.  You could pay on it for a long period of time and not need it, then it would seem like a waste.  If you need it then it was money well spent.  One thing with pet insurance at least the ones that I have looked at, you have to pay the bill then file for reimbursement.

Bingo - and therein lies a potential problem.  

You have no idea whether or not they're going to cover it.  There may be some loop hole/pre-existing condition etc. that they will claim.

I've read both great and poor reviews on various pet insurance companies.  The end result being, I have no idea whom to believe in any of these reviews, considering the complete opposite experience with the same company.  It just doesn't seem as cut&dry as auto/home/life insurance etc. 

edit - in my case it would be way too late anyway. Adopting my 4-yr. old cat with an eye issue and heart murmur makes it difficult to make claims.

I think for a perfectly healthy kitten, it's a consideration for some people. 

 

[tulosai]

I personally recommend doing what I do and putting what you'd pay into pet insurance every month into an account for your cat(s). There are pros and cons to this just as with insurance- for example,you definitely  have a finite amount but at least you know you do have that amount and what it is (in addition many insurance policies cap out at a certain dollar amount anyway). You also then don't throw money away- if the cat needs it it gets spent but if not, it sits there and is yours to put toward something else or for your next kitty if a cat crosses the bridge before you tap into or fully deplete the fund. The main cons to this as I see it are either a pet getting sick or injured before you save much or else flatly not having the discipline to make the contributions.

 

[ayeshajae]

Tulosai

I love that idea of creating an emergency fund for the pets, I'm trying to make one for myself too ;D

I've been reading on pet insurance actually and not sure I'd go for since they don't do routine visits( all of what my visits would be for a long time having young cats with no health problems)

I wish something could be done about pet insurance cause I think it might get more money to vets but I'm not too bright on these things so could be wrong

 

[goholistic]

 
I personally recommend doing what I do and putting what you'd pay into pet insurance every month into an account for your cat(s). There are pros and cons to this just as with insurance- for example,you definitely  have a finite amount but at least you know you do have that amount and what it is (in addition many insurance policies cap out at a certain dollar amount anyway). You also then don't throw money away- if the cat needs it it gets spent but if not, it sits there and is yours to put toward something else or for your next kitty if a cat crosses the bridge before you tap into or fully deplete the fund. The main cons to this as I see it are either a pet getting sick or injured before you save much or else flatly not having the discipline to make the contributions.

  This is what I also suggest for people with pets. It's the same concept as having an account for a child. It does require some discipline and ideally you would want the money to automatically get transferred (from checking to savings, for example).

 

[denice]

I try to keep an emergency fund set aside for everything including kitty vet care.  In addition I keep room on my credit card.  The credit card is my back up for when I have a run of bad luck that has depleted my emergency fund.  I don't have insurance.  The main reason is because I would still need the money to pay the bill and then wait for reimbursement.  If it worked the way people insurance does and I just pay my part and the vet is paid by the insurance then I might have gotten it.  My kitties will both be 11 this year so they are now considered senior kitties and one has chronic health problems so insurance would be very expensive.  The main extra bills wouldn't be covered now because of pre-existing condition.

 

[jclark]

This is a story about a dog, not a cat. It wasn't even our dog. But what happened to her upset me so much I had to vent somewhere, so here I am.





We rescue and care for special needs kitties. We've dealt with blind cats, FIV, FELV, stress cases, and amputees. There are only two of us, we are private and we do this out of our own pockets, so we don't usually take on any pets other than cats.





But a month ago we were contacted as a last resort by a vet tech who was trying to help a disabled man who'd been turned away by the practice she worked at and every other vet within twenty miles. This man's dog was extremely ill. Lethargic, whimpering, vomiting, and not eating or drinking.





He brought her in to see the vet who had cared for her for the past five years. After spending $500 on bloodwork, x-rays, and the exam, he was told that his dog needed to be hospitalized for observation and more tests - they gave him an estimate of $1200, or the option of euthanizing her for $350...



He was told that either way, he needed to pay in full up front. 





This man is severely disabled  - he has one leg and diabetic ulcers on the other - and lives on less than $700 a month. Oh, he also gets $15 a month in food vouchers. He had a longstanding relationship with this vet and ZERO outstanding bills with them, but they refused to offer him a payment plan. Their excuse was that they had changed their policy and no longer offered credit.





Every other vet he tried told him they wanted payment up front as well, although a few stated that if he had been their customer for five years they would have tried to arrange a payment plan. Finally, he tried the vet that we use - who also turned him away because he was "not an established account" - but the vet tech remembered that we were always helping unwanted cats, and called to ask if we would try to help this dog.





Of course, we did. Oh, and even though we HAD (as in "we're out of here")  a long standing relationship with this vet's office, they still refused to see her on OUR account until we put down $500 cash up front. So much for being a loyal - and lucrative, customer.





Sadly, the dog was in terrible shape and vomiting up blood that looked like coffee grounds by the time she was seen. Turns out she had been poisoned and had internal bleeding. She died that day. The vet actually commented that it was "too bad" that she had not gotten in sooner because she might have lived.





We've done A LOT of business with vets over the years. Even though we're a small rescue we probably average 50 pet visits a year. We've never seen this sort of attitude before, but I have noticed a lot of the vets we used to see have moved on, and most of the practices seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Our old vets drove pick ups, the new ones at this place all have BMWs and Mercedes...





Sorry to rant, but we're still disgusted and in shock. When did it become all about the money?

My $.02

#1 If they violate their policy for you they open themselves up to discrimination lawsuits. Especially so if the practice becomes "large" due to the perception of having deeper pockets. I don't know what would be worse, turning away or euthenizing (sp?) the dog.

#2 Judging by the number of stray dogs and cats I thinnk you would agree that there are a lot of deadbeat pet owners out there also there are a lot of owners who really are not financially stable. A $200 vet bill could really put them behind. Hell a visit to an emergency vet could run $800 easily. Especially for a large dog.

#3 I wouldn't get too caught up in assumptions with regards to how much a vet earns based upon his/her car. Many Vets maximize earnings by working in different offices throughout the week. Vet school is VERY expensive and grueling.

#4 Yes its terrible that the dog died, but more importantly the Vet who saw the animal last should never have said he/she could've probably saved the animal. Judging by the description of the owner I think teh cost of animal care was probably very difficult for him/her. $700 month is nothing.

 

[jodiethierry64]

I try to keep an emergency fund set aside for everything including kitty vet care.  In addition I keep room on my credit card.  The credit card is my back up for when I have a run of bad luck that has depleted my emergency fund.  I don't have insurance.  The main reason is because I would still need the money to pay the bill and then wait for reimbursement.  If it worked the way people insurance does and I just pay my part and the vet is paid by the insurance then I might have gotten it.  My kitties will both be 11 this year so they are now considered senior kitties and one has chronic health problems so insurance would be very expensive.  The main extra bills wouldn't be covered now because of pre-existing condition.

That's the reason I wouldn't spend a dime to a company like that. They do find all kinds of reasons not to reimburse.

Even if you get a kitten. If it's a rescue, and so no history, they can say preexisting.

I have a checking account at a separate bank for my kids (feline). It's just a small local bank.
I have another checking account , at a larger bank, for my bills.

Money goes into the account like a regular bill.

 

[ayeshajae]

 

[jodiethierry64]

When a vet keeps their business small so are their expenses. When they expand to include multiple vets, techs and their own newsletter, their expenses increase and so does your bill.

When my lone vet was in business, he knew his patients and their parents. These multiple money makers don't.

When I have to take my babies in I don't know what vet they will see.

I personally saw this change when pet ins. was introduced. Just like what happened to human health care when H.M.O.s came along. When we paid for our Drs and meds and health ins. only paid for hospitals. All of a sudden Drs and prescriptions are through the roof.

Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!

 

[jcat]

There are drawbacks, but also advantages, to multi-vet practices. The main one is being able to get an immediate appointment in an emergency. A clinic or partnership is more likely to have specialists, too, so you may not have to go out of town if a specific problem develops. The vets are often able to immediately consult with another vet who might have more experience with or insight into a particular illness. Some pets do better with certain vets than others, too, and the chances of getting somebody your pet "clicks" with are greater when there are a couple of vets to choose from.

 

[jodiethierry64]

There are drawbacks, but also advantages, to multi-vet practices. The main one is being able to get an immediate appointment in an emergency. A clinic or partnership is more likely to have specialists, too, so you may not have to go out of town if a specific problem develops. The vets are often able to immediately consult with another vet who might have more experience with or insight into a particular illness. Some pets do better with certain vets than others, too, and the chances of getting somebody your pet "clicks" with are greater when there are a couple of vets to choose from.

Well I do have to say the vets I take my babies to are experts with felines. Most vets are with canines.

The owner vet works with the big cat sanctuary in my county so she knows her felines and that's one of the reasons I stay. They're all women vets. 4 total and they charge through the booty but I do know my babies are in good hands when it comes to surgery and diagnoses but they really want you coming back so they don't mention things like lysine or healthy ways of eating.

This site taught me about nutrition and stomatitis and lysine. This site also educated me on holistic vets. I never knew they existed. Now I have one. I Love her. She has helped out so much on things I feel the vets I've been going to for yrs, and spent thousands at, should of handled. But they want you in- out ....next!!!

 

[catmommy81]

I am in that tough spot right now. My 6 month old baby cat Gizmo has a bad eye injury looking like cherry eye or an inflamed and protruding lower eye duct. But no vet will help me and I'm on disability and just paid my rent and bills so don't get paid for anything else for another week or so but Gizmo is so uncom for table and criecries if you wake him to move him and won't let anyone touch his face and his eye looks so bad and swollen. I have called every vet from here to an hour from here and none will help at all. They all said apply for care credit but I was denied. I am new to texas as we are military so they don't care about established relationships I have with vets back home, even though I offered them to call and check. So i feel terrible and don't know how to help my little guy whim is right now snuggled up on me asleep thankfully but you can tell he is in pain as soon as you move him.

 

[denice]

I am so sorry you are in this situation.  I know every time I see something like this I think why can't a vet do something but vets are in a business and unfortunately they have been stiffed too many times.  You say you are military, I used to be in the Army many many years ago.  I also see you are living in Killeen TX.  Are you able to use the vet clinic at Ft Hood?  I don't know how things are now but I know large installations used to have vet clinics.  They still expect payment at time of services but I remember their fees were much lower than fees at clinics off post.  They also had vet tech appts that had even lower fees than the fee to see a vet.

I don't have any advice for you as far as home care.  Maybe someone that does rescue can help.

 

[reba]

I assume you've done all the usual internet digging for stuff like this:  http://www.cat-health-guide.org/cateyeinfection.html

That said, this brings about the huge problem of the complete lack of access to inexpensive vet care.  I know there are a couple of organizations that pay the vet for you if you can prove need.  Here is a list of assistance organizations in Texas, some of which give that kind of help:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html#Texas

Google "funds for pet care" and you'll see things like this:  http://www.thepetfund.com/

Bottom line - Desperate times call for desperate measures.  If that means bringing the kitten to a shelter and saying you found it and turning it over for the night so be it.  Or say that you'll foster it if they can clear up it's eye problem.  I realize this is dishonest, but it's more wrong to let the kitten suffer. 

At any rate, please continue to be proactive and get your kitten the care it needs. 

Also did you post on the health forum here - you might get some advice there as well.

 

[misty8723]

 So yes I love my vet! I also love my precious kitties much more, so much that I would never let them suffer one day of pain just because I will miss them.

How do you know when they are "in pain."  And how do you know when the pain is bad enough to do away with them.  And what if the pain can be alleviated by medication?  I don't want to see my babies in pain either, but how can someone make the call that they are in too much pain to live any longer?  I'm in pain every day - wouldn't like to be PTD because of it.  I'm not saying Euthanasia is always wrong, just really don't know how a person would know for sure. I would have made that decision for Cynthia at the end, but you have to make a 24 - 48 hour advance appointment to have your cat PTD. and if you try calling the mobile vet at 7:00 AM on a Saturday, you get an answering machine with instructions to go to the vet site and make an appointment 24-48 hours in advance.  Fortunately, the pain medicine I gave her helped her go peacefully.

As for vets - the specialty hospital where Cindy spent a lot of her time always wanted a percentage of the fee upfront.  I am fortunate that I have a credit card.  I don't always know how I'm going to pay off that credit card, but it allows me to get care for my cats when needed.  I have a feeling my vet would treat the patient and then worry about collecting a fee.