All healthcare, both human and veterinary, comes at a price. In the UK we are fortunate to have the NHS, which shields us from many of these costs. However, an animal equivalent doesn’t exist, so owners are left to pick up the bill. However, things are not always as black and white as they seem.
We’re going to explore your options when presented with a treatment plan that you’re unhappy with, as well as ways that you can budget for your vet bills in the future.
The cost of veterinary care
First things first, costs are going up. This isn’t just on our groceries and domestic bills but also in other areas. Vet bills in particular have come under the spotlight. In fact, the Competition and Markets Authority decided to launch a formal marketing investigation after the following concerns had been raised –
- price rises of 60% or more between 2016 and 2023
- medicines sold for 3 to 4 times the purchase cost
- very limited price transparency
- limited visibility on whether practices, referral centres and online pharmacies are part of large national groups
- considerable dissatisfaction with the complaints system
- veterinary businesses owned by non-vets not being subject to mandatory quality or professional regulation
- budget-conscious pet owners not being given a sufficiently wide range of choices
- a sector radically changed with large groups now controlling 60% of first opinion practices and many related businesses
The inquiry is still ongoing at the time of writing, and it could take time to come up with solutions to the problems listed above. Many individual vets have welcomed the CMA investigation and are hoping for changes in the way things are managed, which may mean amendments to the legislation are needed.
But any proposed remedies need to be balanced with keeping veterinary businesses open and viable. Running a vet practice is an expensive business, with the building and bills to pay for, the staffing costs, equipment and maintenance fees, drugs and stock, training fees and waste disposal charges – to name but a few! There are also still many misconceptions about how much the average vet earns that need addressing.
Can I ask for an alternative treatment plan?
Vets are sympathetic to the finances of owners and with many health conditions, there is usually an array of treatment options available. These will often have different outcomes and different price points. The job of the vet is to talk you through the pros and cons of each treatment option, as well as give you a reasonable estimate as to what these might cost. This allows you to make an informed decision about your pet’s care.
Some vets make the mistake of only offering ‘the gold standard’, or the treatment they consider to be the best available, without fully discussing any other options. Your vet is trying to act in your pet’s interests, but this doesn’t mean that it is necessarily the right option for you and your family.
While not excusable, time constraints and juggling multiple complicated cases may mean your vet has not been able to fully explain all the options to you in detail. This doesn’t make it right, but we are human.
If this is the case, and you genuinely don’t feel that any other plans have been explored, ask your vet why. It could just be an oversight, or it could be because there are very limited options available to your pet’s case. Either way, it is perfectly acceptable to speak up and ask, your vet won’t mind a polite request to look at your pet’s case again.
Choosing an alternative treatment plan to the one your vet first suggested is not the wrong answer. Veterinary medicine is a constant juggle between patient outcomes, owner finances and what the individual animal will allow (some animals are just not great candidates for surgery, others hate oral medication, and some will have adverse reactions to certain drugs). It is always a balancing act for all involved!
Can I ask for a second opinion?
If you are not happy with the information your vet has provided or the estimated costs they have given you, then it is absolutely fine to get a second opinion. This could be from another vet in the practice or from another practice altogether.
Again, we understand that it can be a worrying and stressful time for you, but if requests to seek a second opinion are calm and respectful, then nobody will mind at all. The second opinion may just confirm what the original vet said, in which case at least you know that the recommended treatment plan is probably the best one for your pet. Or you may find that the second vet considers things from a different angle, which could change the likely cost of your bill.
If you are seeking a second opinion from another veterinary practice, then your notes from your original vet practice will need to be released to them. To provide the best patient care your new vet will need to see all of your pet’s clinical history, and they could refuse to comment on the case without seeing these notes first.
Ways to manage veterinary fees
Sometimes there is just no way of getting around these things, and vet bills are a big part of pet ownership. It is therefore important that you are responsible when choosing your pet in the first place and to ensure put some provisions in place for when things go wrong.
There are a few different ways of managing your vet bills as follows –
Healthcare plans
Think about signing up to your practice’s healthcare plan. These are usually designed to spread the cost of your preventative treatments, such as vaccinations and parasite control, but they often offer plenty of savings too. Some healthcare plans give owners free vet consultations, and money off certain procedures, blood tests or medications which may help reduce your outgoings slightly. It is best to sign up for a healthcare plan before your pet becomes ill, checking the small print to understand what’s included.
Payment plans
Some practices offer payment plans which can be helpful for owners who are suddenly faced with a large veterinary bill. These payment plans allow owners to pay their bills in instalments rather than one lump sum, which may be more manageable. However, these are often provided through an external finance company that will do credit checks, so they may not be an option for everyone. Speak to your practice about the terms and conditions and whether this would be an option for your pet’s treatment. Don’t forget that often a smaller sum of money is still needed upfront, as a deposit.
Pet insurance
Pet insurance gives many owners peace of mind. By paying monthly premiums, you can access help for your pet when they need it. Pets that are insured are likely to receive veterinary attention more quickly than an uninsured pet and are more likely to access higher levels of care including referral to a specialist for their treatment.
The cost of your premiums will depend on many factors including your pet’s age, breed, pre-existing health complaints as well as the type of coverage you require for them. It is always best to read the small print to be sure exactly what you are covered for and for how long, so that there are no surprises later down the road. Again, you will need to make sure your pet is insured before they become unwell as many insurance companies will not cover pre-existing health conditions.
Learn more about pet insurance
Savings accounts
You might choose to set aside money regularly into a separate account for your pet’s veterinary bills. This can work well if you are disciplined and don’t dip into it for other things. Where it falls down is if your pet becomes unwell at an early age (before you’ve built your pot up) or if your pet needs ongoing treatment or medication on a long-term basis, which quickly erodes your savings.
Charity help
Some owners may be eligible for charity help, depending on their circumstances. It is best to find out more and register with a charity before you have an emergency, if possible. The PDSA is an example of this, and they have more information on their website.
Summary
Vets are sympathetic and should be realistic about owners’ finances. A good vet will work with you to come up with the best treatment plan for both you and your pet. This involves giving you the pros and cons of the different treatments available as well as an approximate cost estimate. This allows you to make an informed decision about your animal. However, it is ultimately your responsibility to make provisions for your pet’s veterinary bills so a bit of forward planning can help to buffer you against emergencies.
Above all, never be afraid to speak up. If you are unhappy with what your vet has discussed, then politely raise this with them. Plus, please remember that it is always acceptable to seek a second opinion and a different estimate elsewhere.
Further Reading
VetHelpDirect UK Vet Price Comparison
Vet Bills – Where does the money go?
Consultation prices: How much does it cost to see a vet in the UK in 2024?
Discussion