Once your vet has suggested a referral for your pet, or maybe you have requested to be referred to a specialist, the process ahead can be a little daunting but with the help of good communication it is easy to get through it all and just focus on your pet. Your pet may be referred if they have a complex medical condition, need a specialist surgery or to see someone that specialises in the particular area or ailment affecting your pet. Here we will explain what happens next.
Table of contents
Location
There are a large number of referral practices within the UK and worldwide that offer different treatments; often with vets that have undergone additional training and qualifications to be specialists in certain areas.
Where you live and your pet’s condition will influence which referral centres your vet advises for you. It is likely you will need to drive some distance to them and potentially leave your pet overnight for tests or procedures to be done. Some centres are near to train stations, and they can advise on the best way to get to them.
Types
There are various types of referral centres; some specialise in medicine or surgery, whereas others offer radiotherapy and specialised treatment for thyroid or unusual conditions. When your vet tells you what they think your pet needs from a referral vet, they can often explain what procedures may happen to your pet and help reassure you about the next steps.
Contact
Once you have agreed for your pet to be referred, your vet will have to complete some forms or even phone calls and spend time organising with the referral vet. This involves sending your pet’s full history and any test results or radiographs (X-rays) to them. One of the referral centre coordinators will contact you, usually within a few days. They will ask some more questions about your pet and to organise an appointment. They will explain what will happen at that time and any special things you need to do or bring with you.
We would advise that once your vet has recommended a referral that you contact your insurance company to make them aware that your pet is unfortunately unwell; and you have been seen by the vet and advised to go to a specialist. This keeps your insurance company aware of what is happening throughout the process. This then should make making a claim easier.
Insurance
In your policy documents for your pet insurance, it will state all the terms and conditions. And, depending on who the policy is with, it may state preferred referral centres (or they may tell you on the phone). These are the ones that your insurance would prefer you to use.
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This can raise a couple of questions.
Firstly, if you are advised to go elsewhere or somewhere closer for instance will your insurance company pay for it? Secondly, if none of those preferred centres have the treatment required then what do you do?
The insurance company should still pay if you use a different centre not on their list if your vet is advising a particular one for a reason. If none of those preferred centres offer the treatment required then you will need to go elsewhere, so, again, they should pay the claim.
What may vary is the co-payment, excess or any exclusions on the policy that may change depending on the referral centre used. We would advise you to speak to your vet about where your insurance prefers and have an open conversation about where the right place is for your pet to go. Then call your insurance and explain why you need to go to a certain referral vet. And ask them if it changes what they will pay and any additional exclusions.
It is much better to have an open conversation with both your vet and your insurance company
That way you know where you stand and what they are likely to pay and not pay for. If you have any doubts following your consultation with your vet, or your pet suddenly worsens, then please contact your vet as soon as possible; they may need to change the importance of the referral. Your pet insurance will be invaluable when it comes to the bills that may arise from routine vets visits as well as referral vet visits. If you have any concerns, then always speak to your vet.
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