Pet owners are becoming increasingly aware that there is a growing gap between the costs of the healthcare they would like to provide for their pet and what they can actually afford. Pet insurance is one of the ways to help them bridge that gap.
Having more clients with insured pets allows veterinarians and their staff to practice the quality of medicine and surgery they are trained to provide. Clients with insured pets are more likely to say "Yes" to the diagnostic and treatment plans you offer them. It's a win for you and your staff as well as the pet owner and their pet especially when faced with unexpected, serious illness in their pets.
Several episodes of my podcast will help you and your staff learn more about pet insurance and how other veterinary practices are promoting pet insurance to their clients.
Most practice management advisers recommend that veterinarians do their own research and pick one or two companies to recommend to their clients. However, many veterinarians I've talked to claim they don't have the time or the desire to do that. Perhaps you've been contacted by one of more companies seeking to display their brochures in your hospital. How do you know that company is the best one for all of your clients? The fact is, pet insurance isn't a one-size-fits-all product.
A pet insurance policy is a contract between the pet insurance company and the pet owner. Therefore, I believe this is a decision pet owners should be allowed to make themselves after thoroughly researching their choices of pet insurance companies in the United States.
One of the regrets I hear from pet owners when they are displeased with a company they bought a policy from that their veterinarian or a friend recommended is that they didn't realize they had other options when they bought a policy. Unfortunately, if their pet has had several problems for which they have filed claims, those conditions may not be covered if they switch insurance companies because pre-existing conditions aren't covered. Therefore, it is important for them to make an informed and wise choice the first time.
I have designed a Pet Insurance Toolkit that provides a step by step process of researching companies that helps pet owners narrow down their choices and choose a company that best fits their needs. You can link to it on your practice's website if you'd like.
Also, subscribe to this blog and download the short ebook, "How To Pay For Your Pet's Healthcare." Read it, and if appropriate, make it available to your clients. It will help you broach the subject of the costs of veterinary healthcare and gives several practical tips on formulating a plan to pay for it. It also introduces pet insurance and several alternatives to pet insurance.
