Absolutely not! Vet practices charge the same prices whether your pet is insured or not.
If your pet has recently been unwell or required diagnostic tests, then you know that the cost of veterinary care is not cheap. You may even feel like you are being charged more because you are insured, but this is not the case. Read on to find out why your vet bills may be higher but also why this has nothing to do with your insurance.
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It is against the veterinary code of conduct
All practising vets in the UK must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and they must abide by the RCVS professional code of conduct which sets out their professional responsibilities. The code states that “the existence of animal insurance is no excuse for charging inflated fees” and that “a veterinary surgeon who acts dishonestly or fraudulently may be liable to criminal investigation and/or disciplinary action”. Therefore, a vet sticking to the code must charge the same whether your pet is insured or not.
The cost of veterinary care has gone up
With no NHS for pets, the cost of looking after pets’ health falls to the owner. There are a lot of costs involved with running a veterinary practice, including rent, energy bills and a practice’s greatest asset, the staff. Then there is all the equipment – anaesthetic machines, x-rays, ultrasound to name a few.
A veterinary practice is a business and therefore needs to make money to exist and continue to be there to look after your pets. The costs of running a veterinary practice are high and form a large part of the charges made to clients. Any profit will allow a practice to reinvest, on equipment and staff.
Veterinary medicine has become more advanced in recent years, which means that we can do more for our pets, but this does come at a higher price. Pets frequently undergo advanced imaging e.g. MRI or CT scans, or complex surgeries, which all cost thousands of pounds. The recent rise in the cost of living has also contributed to increasing vet bills.
Insurance gives you more freedom to choose
Having your pet insured gives you the option to decide on whether you would like to undertake tests and treatments for your pet if these would otherwise be unaffordable, without worrying about the cost.
If your pet is insured, it does not mean that you must undertake tests and treatments so never feel pressured; it is always up to you, the owner, to decide.
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How to choose insurance
Vets are not financial advisors so cannot recommend specific policies. However, there are a few things to consider when looking at insuring your pet:
- Not all insurance companies are listed on comparison websites so try to shop around.
- Insurance companies do not tend to cover pre-existing conditions. This is more relevant if your pet is older and/or you’re considering switching companies at renewal time. E.g. if your pet has suffered previously with an ear infection, ear problems are unlikely to be covered by a new policy.
- Look at the policy limit – this is the maximum the company will pay out per year for your pet’s healthcare. Bear in mind that £2000 sounds like a lot but it may not go that far if your pet needs referring to a specialist where an MRI scan may cost £2,000 and spinal surgery can cost £5000!
- Make sure you understand the different types of policies:
- Lifetime – will cover ongoing conditions for the lifetime of the pet. The policy limit will be topped up every year but you will have to pay the excess each year
- Time limited – will pay for a condition for a set period of time (usually a year); but will not cover that condition after that time
- Maximum benefit – will pay up to a certain amount for a condition but will not cover that condition after that is used up
- Read the small print to find out what is and isn’t covered e.g. routine dental work is often not covered.
Insurance does not affect the cost of your pet’s healthcare
If your pet isn’t very well, make sure you discuss with your vet all the options, including how they will benefit your pet and how much they will cost, regardless of whether your pet is insured. If your pet is insured, it is always a good idea to look at your policy and even contact your insurer to verify that the veterinary costs are covered by the policy.
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