Why do people think vets should discount services or allow you to make payments?

Question

I haven't been on here very long, but a lot of you seem to think that vet's should allow people to make payments. Why? You took on the responsbility of an animal- you need to take care of it. If you can't pay for vet services- don't get an animal. Do you go to the grocery store and say "OOPS- can you bill me, I don't have enough money this week." Veterinary offices are buisnesses just like everywhere else- they have bills, overhead, inventory and staff to pay. It is not their responsiblity to take care of your sick pet when you can't afford it. I mean seriously- do I go to your place of work and ask for a payment plan? Do breeders allow you to make payments on the pup you bought? Before you get an animal- make sure you can afford it. You can expect to average around $350- $500 PER PET a year just in vet services- vaccines, heartworm prevention and dental cleanings. So, then you can add in another $200+ for a high quality food. Emergency= $1000+. Can you afford this???

Answer 1

I have been a vet tech for 17 years and was around back when making payments was commonplace. The sad truth is that the vets got screwed at least 70% of the time!!!!!
All these people on here want the vet to take payments and think they will MAKE the payments, but when it comes right down to it, they don't. Many do not even have a credit card, and if you can't even get that, why does a vet think you are a good risk????? They are not in the loan business.
Doctors kind of have to treat people and allow payments, it is the law. Vets do not. Pets are not a right, they are in fact a luxury!!! Kind of like a Corvette. If you can't afford a Vette, you don't get one....but people get all kinds of cheap and free pets and think they won't need a vet...the last pet never got sick until it dropped dead. So they go on thinking they will never need a vet, and one day..POOF!....a sick pet. Then they are all down on the vets because they will not make their lives easier by taking payments that they will never get. It is another reason why vet costs are so high!! People do not pay, or bounce a check and then the vet has to write off that money and the rest of us pay for it in higher costs!!!!!!
These type people will never get any better. They think the world owes them and if there is nobody standing there offering to help them, then the rest of us are bad and don't care!!!! These people HAVE computers and internet service!!!!! I have not read any post here that says someone will go and hock their computer to get vet care for the pet!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is easler for them to cry about it here!!!!!

And yes, I HAVE had a problem...a dog needing a hip replacement...and I got a CREDIT CARD to pay for it!!!! It was my problem, not the vets. I provide for my pets. I do not expect the vet to do it for me!!!!!!!!!! I also set aside a MONTHLY amount for pet care and put it in an account!!! That is what people do to ensure the pets can have care if they need it!!!!

Where do you draw the line for vets??? What if you bring a cat in that was hit by a car. The vet says it will cost $500 to TRY and save the cat. You say you do not have it but will make payments. The vet..if he was going to pay it himself, would euthanize the cat because he cannot foot such a high bill....but you are going to make payments so he goes ahead and treats it. $400 later and the cat dies anyway. Then you have a high vet bill and no cat. So you don't pay. How is that fair to the vet??????
Then he can either eat the cost, or shell out MORE money to send you to collections and probably still not get it. Now the next time you go to the vet, costs are higher.
People need to plan better. That is the bottom line!! ANd take more responsibility for your own pets....or maybe you should get insurance for them!!!!!!

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with looking for discount services or payment plans for veterinary care. It can be very expensive, and sometimes people have other emergencies or large expenses that come up at the same time, whereas they could normally afford the vet bills (their own medical care, their car broke down last month and dog got sick this month, family emergency, they got laid off). It's not a perfect world and stuff happens. People DO work out payment plans for their own medical care, vehicles, and homes. And many people work out payment plans for groceries, gasoline, clothing, electronics, etc.--they are called credit cards. It is still better for the pet to be in a home where they don't get premium food all the time and their vet bills have to be made in payments than to be "euthanized" in a shelter. Yes, people should weigh the costs before adopting a pet, but there are many wonderful pet owners out there who are not wealthy.

Answer 3

I do not expect to get a kitten or puppy that would cost me 350-500 per pet. That is ridiculous!! I adopted 2 kittens, and paid 75 which covered their shots, worming, and being spayed. The contract I signed stated they were in good health when I got them. I have taken care of their basic needs, spent time with the vet, and done everything I am supposed to, but would not expect to pay 350-500 for each at this point. I understand they can get more expensive as they age, but you expect that. With my old cat, my vet would give all the prices, and what he felt was the best thing to do. But, I have no doubt that with my long relationship with him, he would have allowed a payment plan. I think it depends on the individual situation. Maybe you have enough money to always set aside this amount for your pet, but I also am a single homeowner that has more important issues that may come up, and use that fund.

Answer 4

Some vets do allow for payments, but you have to talk to them before hand. You also can purchase pet insurance if you think your pet is likely to get sick or if you think you will need it. I do not plan on getting a dog until I have $1000 put aside just for emergency dog care and I have budgeted for the extra expenses. Inside cats can have lower costs and less upkeep costs but I still take them to the vet every year.
Vets, should be paid when services are rendered, just like any other medical appointment, if that is going to be a problem working something out with the vet is a good idea.
If I don't have enough money for grocery bills I put it on a credit card, if I have a pet emergency I would probably put that on a credit card as well, that way I can make payments.
I really hate seeing and hearing about people who don't get simple vet care and then are upset when their dog has to be put to sleep. Then they also don't take responsability, like someone was supose to tell them that their sick dog has to go to the vet, or that a dog needs rabies shots.

Answer 5

I agree with you a 100%. I work for an animal hospital and you get a lot of people who come in and want to be billed. Half the people who do ask for this do have problems at home or where ever it might be and we do allow them that but they have to be clients that we know for a very long time. They have pet insurance or what we call care credit where most animal hospitals will accept.
For everyone else who has a problem with what she says; she's right it is not our responsibility to take care of your sick pet if you can't come up with the money. We provide a service to help you take care of your sick pet but it's up to you to let us know how much you can afford to pay for treatment on your pet.
There aren't many doctors out there (human Dr.'s) who will allow you to make payments for their service. You either come up with the full amount or have health insurance or they are not going to give you the time or day.

Answer 6

o.k. when you were born did your parents have all the money for 18 yrs of possible medical bills in an emergency situation. they said bill me insurance don't pay all

with the reg vet visits no people shouldn't expect anything they definetly should be prepared for the cost.
I believe if you have a good standing with the vet, which most vets will help you out in that case, if you have been going there for a long time and something tragic happened then yeah i would want some help. if i'm not in good standing with the vet then i don't expect them to help me. if you were a first time customer and never been there before then no i can understand them not wanting to help out. I got help on a surgery my dog had to have i didn't ask the vet but i've been going there so long he cut the price down to 1/3, he did it on his own, i didn't ask. in other words i paid like 25$ on a hundred dollar surgery(example)

I do understand where you are coming from but in an emergency situation i will say bill me, but i am in good standing with my vet.

Answer 7

People doctors and hospitals take payments, so do dentists. So, it is reasonable to assume that another medical professional would.

As to the costs of owning a pet, they are real and can be kept to a minimum, if you are smart about animal medicine

As to why people have dogs and can't afford vet care. Life happens. Everyday. There is no job security in this world. There are accidents, family emergencies, layoffs, downsizing. Any number of things can happen to a family. Most people are 1 paycheck away from bankruptcy & up to their eyeballs in debt. Most people live way beyond their means.

I think that it is wonderful that you have never experienced a financial problem. And I hope that your family remains so blessed.

Answer 8

just say your dog suddenly got sick, like mine and you took him to your vet and all the proper tests were done and you found out nothing, but it cost you $386.00PAID IN FULL. then a few days later your dog got sicker after doing everything the vet said to do, diet and rest, meds, etc. take him back to the vet and the vet does some more tests, x-rays, bloodwork, fecal analysis, etc. the cost this time is another $243.00 PAID IN FULL. after about 3 weeks of shitting blood and losing weight that the vet could not answer for my puppy of 6 months old was dying right before my eyes. The only other option was a CT scan of her abdomen which could only be done by a specialist from OHIO University Vet School. The cost another $500.00 for the Ct only. after completing that test, we found that her intestines had been conjoined and her bowl was damaged. The emergency surgey was going to cost about $1500.00 to 1700.00. I could not have imagined losing this wonderful puppy. I purchased her for my daughters birthday. After discussing it with my vet and family we decided to go ahead and have the surgery. Total cost $1861.00. Payable to my vet in installments of $105.00 for the next 18 months. A truly loving and caring vet. I guess my point is. what is wrong with taking payments in extreme cases such as that. Have you ever watched Animal Planet??? Could you make payments to a hospital if your hurt in an accident and you have no insurance....YES!!!
I rest my case.

Answer 9

You get 100% agreement from me.
i have no clue as to why people think a vet should be the finance company.
He pays for equipment and staff and meds and everything else. He has to pay his bills and to do that you must pay your bills.
I own and run a business and I understand how cash flow works.
I you do not pay me for your tree work I can not pay my insurance company or my workers or what ever I have to pay.
It all comes down to responsibility and people have very little of that. It is always someone Else's fault or one other reason why they can not pay for things.
Even if the vet took payment how many people really make good and pay them or is it just like every thing else they get to many bills and file bankruptcy.

Answer 10

wow, what a piece of work you are!!! My vet allows people to make payments if they can't afford to tackle a large vet bill. He cares that the animal is taken care of. So you need to relax and go into politics or some other line of work. Sounds like your not a vet cause you like animals, but because you like the money. I bet you over charge too.