In January, 2014 the VA contracted with Trupanion Pet Insurance company to pay for 100% of the wellness and accident/illness care for U.S. veteran's service dogs.
In this episode, I talk with Lisa Marcotte, Trupanion's Business Development Manager about how the program works for both veterans and veterinarians.
We discuss:
- Why the VA selected a pet insurance company to administer this program rather than continue the program in-house.
- How the program works.
- What's not covered.
- Are pre-existing conditions covered.
- How veterinarians can get paid within 48 hours.
- What about emergency situations?
- Veterinarians get paid according to whatever they charge and not a negotiated fee schedule.
- Trupanions's experiences so far with their "direct pay to veterinarians" programs - Trupanion Express and Claims Express and the feedback they've gotten from pet owners and veterinarians.
- How the pre-certification process works in the case of a large claim.
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Relevant Links:
Trupanion pet insurance company
U.S. Veteran Service Dog Program
Trupanion Express Podcast (Part 1)
