Vets accepting payments from insurance direct

[Liza]

Here's a picture of my gorgeous boy Indi (you can't really see his tail but can get the impression of how it was). Miss you baby boy xxx

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[Ela]

was the hardest decision ever to sign the piece of paper.

I understand exactly what you mean, while Stuart was holding Badger who was dying before our eyes on the vets table I signed the form. I just picked up the pen and signed or rather scribbled on the paper, I couldn't even look so possibley I had signed in the wrong place. It was horrible. It was also so hard not to ask for him back but as I have to authorise so many cats PTS in the interest of fairness I couldn't. I knew he would be at the vets until the Tuesday and it was very hard for me not to ring the vets and ask for his ashes back.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I don't think cremation is included but that didn't bother me when Magpie died as it wasn't very much and I suppose they're going on the assumption that it's a choice - not everyone will have their pet cremated (eg might prefer to bury in the garden) but I'd have thought pts would be included?  That's part of treatment, surely?  It certainly wouldn't make sense to exclude it as that might mean people not having pets pts and letting them suffer longer than necessary just to save money.  I'll have to check my policies when I get home.

[Desley (booktigger)]

I actually find that quite insensitive on PetPlans side. I Can understand you not questioning the cremation, but it is something worth looking at when you initially take out a policy so you know just what you are and aren't covered for - Sainsbury's have it on all of their claim forms, it is a box on the back where the vet signs to say if they are included. Fingers crossed you wont need it for a while though.

[Liza]

it was all on the final bill - but then got a letter from the vet with the excess on their and the pts cost - didn't feel like questioning or arguing the point.  No idea on cremation - didn't even think to check that out to be honest, we just wanted it done so didn't think about it.  The 2 girls are now with Sainsburys but fingers crossed won't need to use it for a while

[Desley (booktigger)]

I just find it unusual, I am with Sainsburys, and they covered the cost of PEbbles being pts, it was on the bill so they paid it (although they also paid £10 for STronghold on that bill, no idea why, it wasn't for her illness!!), and they also pay up to £100 for cremation costs. Am sorry to hear the sad story of Indi though, it sounds like you did hte right thing for him.

[Liza]

nope.........I was surprised that I had to pay the £30 to pts as it wasn't really a choice, it was the only think fair for him. 

He was there for about 6 days had lots of drugs and an op including removing his tail (it was lovely and bushy like a fox - will have to show you all a picture of him - he was truly gorgeous) but sadly he couldn't go to the toilet and walk very well (his vertibrate at the base of the tail was broken) then went into an oxygen tank so we went and saw him 2 days before xmas in 2005 and made the choice.  He was fading before our eyes, and his black coat had taken a grey tone - was the hardest decision ever to sign the piece of paper. We opted for the private cremation as we wanted only him back so assume thats why (think is was about £140ish with the carving)

[Desley (booktigger)]

Sorry to ask Liza, but does Petplan not cover pts and cremation costs?

[Liza]

My vets take payment direct from Petplan (they have an advisor linked to the surgeries).  They were very helpful when my little boy Indi was there after being hit by a car and just took care of everything.  I just bought in the insurance doc and signed a form and that was it.   Sadly despite the final bill being over £600 he didn't make it.  I just had to pay the vet the excess and the cost of the injection to pts.  Then obviously the cost of the private cremation and his carved cat box that he now permanently sleeps in.

[Desley (booktigger)]

That's true too Ela, my vets wont use PDSA due to issue with getting paid. Sad really.

[Ela]

Both vets I have used have said it is due to them not getting their money back,

I too hear that story and see no reason to doubt it. I expect some insurance companies are better than others. I hear the same about a Charity that helps people with their vet fees, I understand some vets have stopped doing work for them as they do not get paid or not the correct fee for the work they do.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Both vets I have used have said it is due to them not getting their money back, and can't see them saying that just to shut me up, sadly I am a very regular customer!!

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

When i was with petplan they always paid my vet direct.

The only time i had to pay up and claim it back was when Issey was referred to a specialist hospital

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

My vets gave up dealing directly with the insurer years ago (round about the time I took out insurance!) as I remember them telling me that they used to but had recently stopped doing so due to problems getting paid.

I don't know about it being illegal for them to discuss a claim with an insurer - petplan have a specific vet line for just that purpose.  When I claimed for Jaffa's dental they wanted a bit more information than the dates of his previous 2 health checks that the receptionist put on the claimn form (they asked for previous 2 years dental history) so they discussed it with my vet and they sorted it out between them. 

[Millys Mum]

I always thought that vets like the client to pay and be reimbursed because it meant them being out of pocket but iv read otherwise.
Its apparently to do with whether or not the practice registers with the FSA as insurance broker. If they dont then they cant advise about a particular policy, assist a client with filling out the form or negotiate on behalf of a client. So it makes it illegal for them to discuss a claim with the insurance company! These rules came in Jan 05.

So its not the vets being difficult afterall!