Emergency Vet Bills

[Anonymous]

Pet insurance is great but make sure you read the exclusions on your plan carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

That's very civilized, and how it should be given the astronomical bills. Friendship Animal Hospital said we had to pay the whole 8K up front. We didn't have it, it was awful. Though it would have been hard, we gladly would have used a payment plan over six months.

Friendship Animal hospital is a bunch of crooks. They kept our dog for almost 4 days for a vestibular incident. Which if you look it up can be treated by giving a dog antibiotics and keeping them at home. Thank god we had pet insurance. Also...as other stated they suggested a number of unnecessary tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

That's very civilized, and how it should be given the astronomical bills. Friendship Animal Hospital said we had to pay the whole 8K up front. We didn't have it, it was awful. Though it would have been hard, we gladly would have used a payment plan over six months.

Friendship Animal hospital is a bunch of crooks. They kept our dog for almost 4 days for a vestibular incident. Which if you look it up can be treated by giving a dog antibiotics and keeping them at home. Thank god we had pet insurance. Also...as other stated they suggested a number of unnecessary tests.

I wonder if this is due to their location in a wealthy area where they figure people won't hesitate to spend big bucks ion their pets. The two vets I used to go to in the suburbs were very conservative with treatments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

Which vet?

Someone should come up with a list of which emergency vets take deferred payments!

Sad to say but my vet explained that a large corporation is buying up as many of the emergency vet practices as they can.
VCA and the Hope Center in Rockville are owned by the same company, for instance.
It’s sad because now the Hope Center costs as much as VCA...which is a small fortune.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

Which vet?

Someone should come up with a list of which emergency vets take deferred payments!

Sad to say but my vet explained that a large corporation is buying up as many of the emergency vet practices as they can.
VCA and the Hope Center in Rockville are owned by the same company, for instance.
It’s sad because now the Hope Center costs as much as VCA...which is a small fortune.

Which large corporation?

[Anonymous]

Np. Is it BluePearl? Buying up emergency centers? ^

I

[Anonymous]

OK, I'm so glad to hear your story. I had an emergency involving my cat and they basically just stabilized her then scared me to death with all of these could be scenarios. When they were done they had a $500 bill waiting for me and another sheet listing all of the additional tests that need to be run.
She is doing better now but I trusted my gut when the vet kept calling to get me in to run all of the additional tests on her. In the meantime,
I applied for Credit Care just in case and have it on hand should I need it. But now I know NOT to go back to Friendship unless it is a dire emergency.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

That's very civilized, and how it should be given the astronomical bills. Friendship Animal Hospital said we had to pay the whole 8K up front. We didn't have it, it was awful. Though it would have been hard, we gladly would have used a payment plan over six months.

They've saved my cat's life and are nice people. But DAMN if they aren't the most expensive vet I've EVER been to (and I've had to take pets to an exotic animal ER more than once). They suggested really expensive care (keep him in the ICU for three days for monitoring after the emergency non-surgical intervention) or said if that wasn't feasible we could explore euthanasia (the cat recovered easily and several years later, is still alive and well, btw). Luckily we were able to get them to just stabilize the cat overnight until our regular vet opened in the morning and we took him over there for much more conservative (and less expensive) treatment. Maybe their WOTP clientele doesn't bat an eye at the price tag, but I was in sticker shock (and ours was only $1800).

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is a very nice facility and it is 24 hours so that is expensive to maintain. It is also a full service vet hospital. And yes, the older clientele is willing to pay a premium for pet care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

That's very civilized, and how it should be given the astronomical bills. Friendship Animal Hospital said we had to pay the whole 8K up front. We didn't have it, it was awful. Though it would have been hard, we gladly would have used a payment plan over six months.

Friendship Animal hospital is a bunch of crooks. They kept our dog for almost 4 days for a vestibular incident. Which if you look it up can be treated by giving a dog antibiotics and keeping them at home. Thank god we had pet insurance. Also...as other stated they suggested a number of unnecessary tests.

I wonder if this is due to their location in a wealthy area where they figure people won't hesitate to spend big bucks ion their pets. The two vets I used to go to in the suburbs were very conservative with treatments.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Too many shift changes and trainees on staff. Is it a teaching hospital as well? I couldn't figure out why so many people seemed to be tripping over each other's feet in there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

That's very civilized, and how it should be given the astronomical bills. Friendship Animal Hospital said we had to pay the whole 8K up front. We didn't have it, it was awful. Though it would have been hard, we gladly would have used a payment plan over six months.

They've saved my cat's life and are nice people. But DAMN if they aren't the most expensive vet I've EVER been to (and I've had to take pets to an exotic animal ER more than once). They suggested really expensive care (keep him in the ICU for three days for monitoring after the emergency non-surgical intervention) or said if that wasn't feasible we could explore euthanasia (the cat recovered easily and several years later, is still alive and well, btw). Luckily we were able to get them to just stabilize the cat overnight until our regular vet opened in the morning and we took him over there for much more conservative (and less expensive) treatment. Maybe their WOTP clientele doesn't bat an eye at the price tag, but I was in sticker shock (and ours was only $1800).

Yes and everyone we talked to there when our dog had a walnut lodged in her intestine was very nice and professional but they seemed not to coordinate well with each other which led to a lot of frustration on top of the huge vet bills.

[Anonymous]

np and I am also wondering what pet insurance you use?

[Anonymous]

There is an emergency vet in Ellicott City, MD, its called the Emergency Animal Hospital on Baltimore National Pike that I took my dog to for an eye infection from another dog biting him on a holiday. The vet and receptionist were amazing. They talked through all the options and the costs up front and really worked with me to minimize my out of pocket cost. The vet was also so gentle and sweet with my dog who was freaking out, she was like an animal whisperer! My sister also had a wonderful experience there when her dog went into medical distress and passed away in the car. The vets were extremely compassionate on the phone on the way there and meeting her in the parking lot. It may be too far to go in a life and death emergency, but if you can get there I highly recommend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Np. Is it BluePearl? Buying up emergency centers? ^

I

Mars Petcare owns VCA and Blue Pearl both. Also Banfield pet hospital. And pet food and candy bars and...

http://www.mars.com/global/brands

Apparently they were pursued by the govt for antitrust and they have had to sell off some pet hospitals but not a lot.

So, odds are you are getting screwed over when Fluffy has an emergency and there are few other options except home emergency surgery - start reading up on the Internet now.

[Anonymous]

Our vet said the insurance company she sees the least claim rejections, the least runaround with is Healthy Paws. For our one year old collie, cost is $35 monthly for $250 annual deductible and 80% coverage of meds, diagnostic tests, surgeries & treatments, etc. As with all, does not cover exams or vaccines, heartworm or flea/tick prevention meds, no preexisting conditions, one year wait period after sign-up for hip dysplasia coverage. It’s important to get signed up earlier before a preexisting condition is identified on their medical charts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most vets take interest free payments. We have split most large bills into 6 monthly installments at no additional costs. He didn't have a formal plan or a pre approved card or anything like that so I just popped in there with a check on the 1st of every month. This is something that was never advertised but welcomed as soon as I brought it up. I say that so you have the courage to bring it up because I think its a pretty common request.

That's very civilized, and how it should be given the astronomical bills. Friendship Animal Hospital said we had to pay the whole 8K up front. We didn't have it, it was awful. Though it would have been hard, we gladly would have used a payment plan over six months.

Friendship Animal hospital is a bunch of crooks. They kept our dog for almost 4 days for a vestibular incident. Which if you look it up can be treated by giving a dog antibiotics and keeping them at home. Thank god we had pet insurance. Also...as other stated they suggested a number of unnecessary tests.

I wonder if this is due to their location in a wealthy area where they figure people won't hesitate to spend big bucks ion their pets. The two vets I used to go to in the suburbs were very conservative with treatments.

I think this is the reason. PP with the dog w/ the vestibular problem. It just irritated me too because my dog is not happy in a cage with no interaction for days on end.

[Anonymous]

For pet insurance, we went w/a deductible of 1K and then insurance covers 90% of the next 5K. It's really necessary to play around with the sliding scale of deductible vs monthly cost. Two dogs/4 yrs, this is the first year we filed for any compensation. No well visits covered/vacs