Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks, this is why it's important to have pet health insurance.

This.
The day we got our pup, we signed up for insurance. We pay $40/month and have a $100/year deductible and then they cover 90%. They cover everything except for routine exams and vaccines. It is so worth it to know that we don't have to make emotional decisions based on our finances

Which insurance do you have?

Anonymous wrote:Folks, this is why it's important to have pet health insurance.

This.
The day we got our pup, we signed up for insurance. We pay $40/month and have a $100/year deductible and then they cover 90%. They cover everything except for routine exams and vaccines. It is so worth it to know that we don't have to make emotional decisions based on our finances

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.

Folks, this is why it's important to have pet health insurance.

4 month old puppy swallowed a toy last weekend. Several surgeries and many complications later, we are stuck with a vet bill at almost 15k and climbing. Each day just leads to more problems. She’s a rescue and very dear to our hearts.

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).

No. This shouldn't happen. I think most people have a limit as to what their pet is worth and how much pain they'll put their pet through.

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!

Care Credit offers zero interest if you can get it. Otherwise try working with your vet on a payment plan. If you go to an emergency vet they will most likely require you to pay up front.

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.

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.

The vet should be able to work with you on a series of payments - it's in his or her interest.

It's so hard when you have a beloved pet with an emergency where they are suggesting all sorts of tests. And the overnight rate is horrendous, but he's too sick to take care of at home.

This is what happened to us. We had to make a decision quickly about care at astronomical rates knowing that if we didn't do anything he would be in more distress and possibly die.

So I put the enormous bill on a zero percent credit card and am slowly chipping away at it.

Then I bought pet insurance. It's not great, with premiums, deductibles and co-insurance, but it will hopefully ensure we won't have to pay an entire $8,000 bill ever again.

But to answer your question, I don't know of anywhere that helps with the bills. Let us know if you find something, and I hope your pet improves soon.

I hope not. It's your pet OP, don't expect others to pay for you!!

Are there any charities or organizations in the area that offer assistance for mounting vet bills?