4 Options to Help You Pay for Vet Bills

Taking the best care of your pet includes having a plan to care for them in every way, from the food you feed them to the veterinary care they receive. While veterinary care costs have increased in recent years, adding to a pet’s expected lifetime cost of care,¹ many solutions are available to help pet families manage these expenses and provide for their furry pals.

Here, we explore practical ways to pay for veterinary care, including in-house payment plans, pet insurance, promotional financing and assistance programs, and how to choose the option that best meets your needs.

1. Veterinary Payment Plans

A payment agreement with your local veterinarian could help you defer costs without relying on outside banks or resources.

In-house veterinary payment plans are financing options offered directly through your veterinary hospital. Instead of paying the entire bill at the time of your pet’s care, some hospitals allow a billing and statement system that you pay in monthly installments. However, veterinarians aren’t bankers or lenders, and setting up these payment plans can put their businesses at risk, so you may struggle to find a vet who offers them.²

Benefits

• Minimal delays. Veterinary hospitals that allow payments over time don’t usually run your credit or require an application, so your pet can receive treatment immediately.
• Flexibility. Payment plans are often informal agreements, providing more flexibility.
• Interest-free option. Some hospitals provide no-interest payment plans, depending on the bill amount and how long you’ve been a client.

Considerations

• Limited availability. Many veterinary hospitals use third-party rather than in-house payment plans.
• Added fees. To safeguard the business, some clinics charge interest and fees if you can’t pay your installments on time, which could cost more later.
• Relationship disruptions. If you unexpectedly can’t pay your bill, your relationship with your veterinary clinic could break down, leaving your pet without a vet.

In-house payment plans can be a lifesaver for pet owners facing an unexpected veterinary bill. Your veterinarian may be hesitant, but it never hurts to ask. The longer your relationship with a hospital or particular veterinarian, the more likely they’ll agree to a payment plan when you’re in a jam. The key is open and honest communication.²

2. Pet Health Insurance

Pet health insurance safeguards your wallet from unexpected pet expenses by limiting your out-of-pocket spending over your pet’s lifetime. However, you must thoroughly understand how pet insurance works before purchasing a policy.

Pet insurance works like human health insurance, with a few crucial differences. You pay a monthly premium to purchase coverage, and in return, the policy covers a percentage of your veterinary expenses. Most policies include deductibles, waiting periods, annual limits and exclusions, and coverage can vary widely. Policyholders can choose from accident-only or accident and illness coverage, and select providers will cover optional wellness and preventive care.

Importantly, pet insurance does not cover preexisting conditions, so you must enroll your pet when they’re young to get the most from your policy.

Benefits

• Peace of mind. Pet insurance can help you make confident health decisions for your pet when significant veterinary bills arise because you know you have a safety net.
• Customizable plans. Pet insurance policies are customizable, so you can choose options that suit your budget.
• Long-term savings. Pet insurance policyholders can save money throughout a pet’s lifetime, depending on how much the plans are needed.

Considerations

• Reimbursement models. With a few exceptions, pet insurance policies require you to pay your pet’s bill up front and file for reimbursement later, which means your funds are tied up while you wait.
• Plan limitations. Pet insurance plans exclude some treatments and conditions and cover only a percentage of eligible expenses. You’ll still be responsible for paying a portion of your pet’s bills.
• Monthly costs. Not all policyholders save money on a plan. You could spend more in premiums than the policy pays out over your pet’s lifetime.

Pet insurance can be a valuable tool and is on the rise — more than 6 million pets are now insured in the United States alone.³ When a pet experiences an emergency or develops a serious health condition, insurance policyholders can choose the best treatment option without worrying too much about cost.

Pet insurance is a helpful adjunct to other payment solutions, but it is not a replacement. You’ll still need to pay for veterinary bills up front while you await reimbursement. Insurance is a good value when pets are young and relatively healthy, but less so as pets age and the likelihood of preexisting conditions and their costs increase.

3. Promotional Financing

Promotional financing is a way to pay for care over time using a third-party payer. When you make a qualifying purchase at a veterinary hospital, you may be able to take advantage of promotional financing.*

Healthcare credit cards are designed for veterinary and human healthcare expenses that insurance doesn’t cover and can be an excellent companion to pet health insurance. You can use your credit card to pay a bill and then pay off your balance with your reimbursement.

Benefits

• Widely accepted. Many veterinary practices accept healthcare credit cards that offer promotional financing, which can make it a convenient option for almost anyone.
• Quick approval. You may be offered the option to apply for a credit card that offers promotional financing on your phone or a computer and receive an instant decision. If approved, you can typically use your card immediately, which is helpful for emergencies and urgent circumstances.

Considerations

• Deferred interest. You may be offered financing with Deferred Interest. With this offer, interest accrues on your account from the purchase date, but is only charged if you do not pay off your promotional balance within the defined promotional period.
• Debt management. Like any credit card or loan, promotional financing can add to your overall debt load and requires careful budget management.

Promotional financing is a great solution when you want to manage your budget and make convenient monthly payments.* A credit card, like the CareCredit credit card, may come in handy for emergencies, specialty procedures, advanced diagnostics and chronic illnesses and can be used in tandem with pet insurance.

4. Nonprofit Financial Assistance

Nonprofit assistance programs can help pet owners who are in financial hardship pay their veterinary bills.

When money is tight, low-cost clinics can provide limited solutions, but they cannot help pets with serious health issues.² Many pet-centric nonprofit organizations have funds to help people who cannot afford their pet’s care or have limited other payment means. Organizations like Red Rover, The Pet Fund and your local animal welfare groups can assist during extenuating circumstances, including significant life events like home displacement or job loss.

Benefits

• Compassionate support. A nonprofit’s mission of helping pets and their families ensures they offer support without judgment.
• No repayment. Most nonprofit programs provide grants or donations that do not require repayment.
• Resource access. Beyond financial aid, nonprofits can connect pet owners with other resources, including local low-cost veterinary clinics.⁴

Considerations

• Application process. Applying for an assistance grant and waiting for a determination can take time, which may delay care in emergencies.
• Limited funding. A nonprofit’s funding relies on donations, which limits the assistance they can provide.
• Eligibility requirements. You’ll need to meet specific criteria and likely demonstrate financial need to qualify for assistance.²

If you or your family are in crisis and cannot afford your pet’s veterinary care through other means, nonprofit assistance could be for you. Assistance costs nothing up front and requires no payback, but most nonprofit organizations have limited funds for limited situations.

Alternative Payment Solutions for Vet Bills

For most people, a combination of payment solutions helps cover veterinary bills that arise over a pet’s lifetime. Budgeting helps with routine expenses, pet insurance prepares you for unexpected illnesses, financing helps spread out remaining costs and assistance programs help individuals with a low income or during life transitions.

If none of these options work with your circumstances, alternative strategies that may help with veterinary bills include:

• Starting a pet-specific savings account and contributing monthly⁵
• Discussing your budget and lower-cost treatments with your veterinarian⁵
• Seeking financial assistance from family members or using a crowdfunding app for pet emergencies⁶

Navigating rising care costs can be challenging, but understanding and using appropriate payment solutions ensures you can afford the veterinary care your pet needs. Applying for pet insurance and promotional financing in advance of emergencies helps you plan for your pet’s future and minimizes financial stress related to the cost of care.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Pets

Taking good care of your pet's well-being from nose to tail is essential. Make sure to stay up to date on their regular checkups at the vet to help keep your pet happy and healthy for a lifetime of love. You can use your CareCredit credit card for pet care throughout the year for routine veterinary services as well as emergencies and surgeries.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian near you that accepts CareCredit.

CareCredit is there for you and your pet every step of the way; continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to pet care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Elizabeth Kowalski, C.V.T., has more than 10 years of experience as a certified veterinary technician. She combines years of practical knowledge with a talent and passion for writing, creating content for pet owners and veterinary professionals.