What is vet direct-pay insurance?
Traditional pet insurance requires you to pay vet bills upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement. Direct-pay pet insurance is a bit different.
Instead of having you pay out of pocket, your insurance company pays the vet directly. You don’t have to wait for reimbursement, making this type of pet insurance more convenient for people who may not have the necessary funds immediately available or who simply can’t wait for reimbursement.
How does vet direct-pay work?
When you have pet insurance that pays a vet directly, it will most often work in one of two ways.
Some pet insurance plans offer direct payment at checkout, which is when your insurance company pays the bill within a few seconds or minutes of your visit. If you have this type of pet insurance, you may have to make a co-payment or meet a deductible first.
For example, imagine your dog jumps off the bed and hurts his paw. Fortunately, the veterinarian says it’s just a sprain. At the end of your visit, the vet files a claim with your insurer. A few minutes later, the dog insurance company pays the bill, and you return home with your dog.
Not all companies offer direct payment at checkout. If you have a direct pay plan, it may reimburse your vet for each visit. Instead of paying within a few seconds or minutes, this type of plan pays a few days or weeks later. How long it takes depends on the terms of the plan.
Here’s how it works. Your cat has the sniffles. The veterinarian says she has a respiratory infection and needs antibiotics. After you leave the office, your vet submits a claim to your cat insurance company. A few days to a few weeks later, your vet gets paid for the services rendered during your visit.
What are the benefits of direct-pay pet insurance?
Pet insurance that pays upfront has the following benefits:
- Convenience:
With traditional pet insurance, you have to submit a claim every time your pet sees a veterinarian. If you have pet insurance that pays a vet directly, you don’t have to do all the extra paperwork.
- Financial relief:
Not everyone has extra money on hand to cover unexpected vet bills. This type of pet insurance makes it easier to get your pet the care it needs without worrying about running up your credit card balance or draining your savings.
- Seamless care:
If you don’t have to wait for your insurance provider to reimburse you for vet bills, you can make decisions based on what’s best for your pet, not on what’s best for your wallet.
- Peace of mind:
Pet insurance that pays up front gives you extra peace of mind by covering a large portion of your pet’s eligible vet bills. With the right pet insurance, it’s easier to afford accident-related and illness-related veterinary expenses.
These benefits help to make the cost of your pet insurance worth it.
Which companies offer pet insurance that pays the vet directly?
These four pet insurance companies offer direct pay plans:
Trupanion
Trupanion was the first company to test paying the vet directly and invented a software called Trupanion Express to make this possible. When you’re at the vet’s office and ready to pay the bill, the claim is paid directly by Trupanion to the vet. Therefore, the customer is not involved in the transaction and pet owners are only responsible for their deductible and copay.
However, for this to work, the vet must have Trupanion’s software, and the number of vets in the US who have it is around 20% nationwide. If you use a vet that hasn’t opted into Trupanion Express, you’ll have to submit your own claims.
Trupanion has no per-condition limits, per-incident limits, annual coverage limits or lifetime limits. However, there is an age limit. You must enroll your pet before it turns 14, or else it won’t be eligible for Trupanion coverage. Trupanion doesn’t cover routine expenses, including exam fees, wellness checkups, or flea and tick prevention.
CarePlus by Chewy
CarePlus by Chewy is unique in the sense that all of its plans are offered through other insurance providers. Depending on the plan you choose it may be through a provider like Trupanion or another. Essentially, CarePlus acts as a sort of middle man. As a result, if the plan you choose is provided by Trupanion, you can have the option of Trupanion’s vet direct-pay solution. If not, then you won’t have direct pay as an option.
Paw Protect
Paw Protect is newer to the market and has taken this area by storm. It offers customers the option of a $2,000 interest-free line of credit via a virtual Visa card called Paytient. This allows customers to pay vet bills up-front with an allowance fund from Paw Protect.
It’s done through your phone like Apple Pay, and as it’s a Visa, it’s accepted at almost any vet. There aren’t any credit checks to get approved for it. You can also pay off your out-of-pocket expenses like copay and deductible over up to 12 months, with no interest or fees.
Although Paw Protect doesn’t require you to see a specific vet, if your vet doesn’t have a participating Visa payment terminal, you won’t be able to use Paw Protect for direct payment. You’ll have to pay out of pocket and submit a claim for reimbursement.
Healthy Paws
Healthy paws can pay the vet directly for you, buy you must request payment in advance. Essentially, they require authorization before treating the animal, which can be a bit of a pain. The company’s claims team only works during normal business hours, so this can also affect your ability to make a direct vet payment in the evening or on weekends.
Healthy Paws works with any licensed veterinarian, so you don’t have to worry about choosing an in-network vet or getting billed for out-of-network expenses. That said, you remain responsible for all charges until the insurance company reimburses your vet. If a claim is denied, you’ll have to pay the bill yourself.
Pets Best
Although not well-known, Pets Best offers a direct pay option that works much like standard pet insurance. After each visit, you submit a claim via the company’s online portal. Instead of reimbursing you, Pets Best reimburses your vet for all eligible expenses. Before you use this option, your vet’s office must fill out waiver form agreeing to be paid by Pets Best instead of directly from the customer.
Which is the best direct-pay pet insurance?
Our favorite choice for direct-pay insurance is Paw Protect. We like this option best because you don’t have to mess with difficult waivers or authorizations. We also like that you are pre-approved with a line of credit and can use it whenever you need. That said, it may not be the best option for everyone.
At the end of the day, the best direct-pay pet insurance depends on what type of pet you have, how much you can afford to spend and whether your vet agrees to accept your coverage.
Therefore, before deciding, we recommend you check the terms of each provider to determine the best fit for your needs.
In addition to choosing the best coverage levels, you’ll also want to consider the following factors when choosing a policy:
What if I need help with my vet bills?
Pet insurance gives you extra peace of mind, but it doesn’t cover everything.
For example, many plans don’t cover exam fees and other routine expenses unless you pay for a wellness add-on. Some policies also have a payout limit, which limits the total amount of money the insurer pays out for covered expenses.
It’s also common for pet insurance companies to exclude preexisting conditions from their policies. A preexisting condition is a health problem that exists before you purchase pet insurance. For example, if your dog shows signs of hip dysplasia before you sign up for coverage, there’s a good chance the policy won’t cover any expenses related to hip dysplasia treatment.
If you need help paying veterinary expenses that pet insurance companies just won’t cover, you have a few options.
The Onyx and Breezy Foundation
The Onyx and Breezy Foundation provides grants to pet owners who need help paying veterinary expenses. Before you can apply for a grant, you must apply for Care Credit, a medical credit card. If you don’t qualify for Care Credit, you must include the denial letter with your application. If you’re approved, you must provide a copy of the approval letter to show that your credit limit is less than you need to pay your pet’s expenses.
When applying for a grant through The Onyx and Breezy Foundation, you must also provide the following:
- Tax return
- Pet’s diagnosis and prognosis
- Estimate of treatment costs
Waggle
Waggle is a crowdfunding platform specifically for pet owners and animal rescue groups. If pet insurance companies won’t cover your veterinary bills, try creating a Waggle campaign. You must submit your veterinarian’s contact information, an estimate of your pet’s treatment expenses and several photos of your pet.
Once Waggle approves your campaign, you’ll be able to post the link on social media, making it easier to raise funds. For best results, make sure you submit compelling photos. If a donor has to choose between your pet and someone else’s, a good photo may draw their attention to your beloved dog or cat.
The Pet Fund
The Pet Fund provides financial assistance directly to pet owners. To qualify, your pet must need non-basic, non-emergent care. This means that The Pet Fund doesn’t cover routine dental care, spaying, neutering or treatment for broken limbs. It does cover treatment for cancer, heart disease and other non-emergent conditions.
If pet insurance companies won’t cover your pet’s bills, send an email to info@thepetfund.com. In the email, describe your pet’s needs as thoroughly as possible. If you meet the organization’s funding criteria, someone will ask you to complete a formal application. Be sure to include your telephone number in case the reviewer has any questions.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe isn’t specifically for pet owners, but it may help you raise money for vet expenses if the pet insurance companies won’t cover your bills. To solicit donations, set up a campaign on the GoFundMe website. If possible, post a copy of your pet’s treatment estimate to help potential donors feel comfortable supporting your cause.
The Magic Bullet Fund
The Magic Bullet Fund provides funds to help pay for chemotherapy or surgery to treat cancer. It doesn’t pay for experimental treatments, euthanasia, palliative care or treatments for other diseases.
To qualify for help from The Magic Bullet Fund, you must meet the following criteria:
- You are the pet’s primary owner.
- Your pet has a cancer diagnosis from a licensed veterinarian, or it has a mass that must be removed surgically to make a cancer diagnosis.
- You have a treatment estimate from your vet.
- Your vet has permission to speak to a representative from the Magic Bullet Fund about your pet’s diagnosis.
The organization also has the following age and weight limits for pets:
- Cats: Age limit of 15
- Dogs up to 40 pounds: 14 or younger
- Dogs 40 to 80 pounds: 12 or younger
- Dogs 80 to 100 pounds: 10 or younger
- Dogs 100+ pounds: 9 or younger
When you apply, you must provide the following information:
- Most recent tax return
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) letter, if applicable
- Diagnostic report showing cancer
- Treatment estimate
- Previous month’s bank statement
- Other financial documents to help demonstrate need, if applicable
RedRover
RedRover is another option of one of the pet insurance plans with direct pay that will cover your pet’s bills. The organization’s Urgent Relief Program provides small grants to help with the treatment of life-threatening injuries and illnesses.
To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:
- Your pet has an injury or illness requiring urgent treatment.
- You have a diagnosis and treatment plan from a veterinary professional.
- Your household income doesn’t exceed $60,000 per year.
- The recommended treatment is likely to have a favorable outcome.
- You must live in the United States.
- You must agree to provide updates to RedRover if you’re selected for a grant.
