What to do when vet centers won't accept payment plans?

Gehanna · Nov 8, 2007

There are three cats at my home. All 3 of them are in need of vet care. One of them has a serious eye infection, the other has a large swollen area on its jaw and the third one has worms.

I already have two cats and a dog who live in the house with me. They are healthy, but they still require things such as flea medicine and grooming.

I called every vet in town to see if they would accept a payment plan for treatment of the three ill cats. None of them would do it. I am upset because I don't know what to do. There is no way I can afford the huge cost that will come from vet care without being able to make payments.

I am going to look around the house to see what I can pawn. If anyone has any additional ideas short of my having to illegally sell one of my organs on ebay, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Gehanna

oarsman · Nov 8, 2007

Hi Gehanna,
I am not sure if this will help, but here is a list of some organizations that help manage the cost of vet bills. Will your vet take Care Credit? http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/whycc.html I don't know much about Care Credit, but I think it works like a credit card.

Glenn

Gehanna · Nov 8, 2007

Hello

They may take credit. I will certainly check it out.

Thank You,
Gehanna

Maryn · Nov 8, 2007

At the risk of sounding foolish (since when did that bother me?), you could always charge it on a credit card and move the payment-plan part to Visa or whatever. Yes, you'll pay interest, but isn't the health of the animals in your care worth i?

Maryn, practical

wombat · Nov 8, 2007

Have you called your local animal shelter? Some can help low-income people with vet care. Maybe only in big cities, but it's worth a call.

Gehanna · Nov 9, 2007

Hello Maryn

Your comment did not come off as being foolish. Truth is, I have had to learn a hard lesson, the hard way, about credit cards.

Hello to you Wombat

We are one of those families who make just enough money not to qualify for financial assistance.

I do have some good news being that I have a plan of action. It is far too easy for whomever answers the phone at the vet centers to tell me, "We don't accept payment plans."

I need to see the Vet face to face and the Vet needs to see the Cats. I will leave the rest to Faith.

Sincerely,
Gehanna

eldragon · Nov 9, 2007

First - go to Walmart or any other store like Walmart and buy the stuff to get rid of the worms. It's not expensive.

I always ask the costs up front. Sometimes it's less than what you think.

For instance, we found a vet that gives our dogs their rabies shots for only $12 each. No office call or anything.

We only found that out by calling. So call around.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 9, 2007

oarsman said:
Hi Gehanna,
I am not sure if this will help, but here is a list of some organizations that help manage the cost of vet bills. Will your vet take Care Credit? http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/whycc.html I don't know much about Care Credit, but I think it works like a credit card.

Glenn

I'd second this. My dentist uses Care Credit and I had the card for them. I then realized I could also use the Care Credit at certain vets and switched to one that takes it.

ModoReese · Nov 11, 2007

If you are in the US, there's a group that helps pets and their people in need. You can find them at:

IMOM.org

I'm not in the US, so I have no experience with them. Their name comes up often on the cat care mailing list I am on.

A couple of other groups that pop up in discussion (again, I know little about either, but I thought I'd throw these out there):

http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html
www.uan.org

Michelle

Soccer Mom · Nov 12, 2007

I second (third) Care Credit. I use them for dental care and for emergency vet care. The payments are very reasonable.

auntybug · Nov 12, 2007

I worked for vets for four years. Neither of the 2 clinics I worked at ever wanted to do a payment plan or give out meds without an office call. Sure enough though, if someone came in & explained the situation, they usually gave in. You are smart to go talk to him face to face.
The wormer is an easy enough 2 part dose. You can try a store one unless its tape worms.
They eye infection - they should give you some antibiotics & an eye ointment without grumbling too much. I found out if you sound like you know what you're talking about, they usually gave in.
The jaw is probably an abcess tooth or cat fight battle wound - you may want that looked at.
I recently had a barn cat show up with a 5" hole in her neck. I couldn't even dream of the $100+ the bill would have been or have been able to probably catch her so I let nature take its course. She healed fine in just days.

Good Luck. PM me if you want

threedogpeople · Nov 22, 2007

I would make an appointment and get your kitties seen. When you are with the vet (at the end of your visit, after all the care has been given) THEN tell the vet that you need to spread out the payment. They've already done the work so what are they going to do, hold your pets hostage???

I would suggest paying by post-dated checks (3 or 4). That way the Vet's office has more comfort that you'll make the payments. Just make sure that the payments will clear.

Judy

PS - Yes, it's a sneaky and unfair to the vet's office but these kitties need to be seen and as a pet-parent you need to do whatever it takes to get them taken care of.

Fern · Nov 23, 2007

Are post dated checks even honored anymore? Might check with your bank before doing that because I'm thinking if he has them in hand and decides to run them through for payment they very likely may be paid by the bank upon receipt.

If the vet won't extend credit, perhaps the receptionist could recommend products for you to use - - maybe they will even sell you something to give the one with eye infection. Like someone else said, you can buy wormer about anywhere, farm supply store, Walmart, etc.

I've even asked a pharmacist about products for a pet before and gotten good information.

Also, try to see if there are any local rescue organizations that might take them.

threedogpeople · Nov 24, 2007

We have a couple of rentals and take post-dated checks from our tenants. I give them to my credit union and they hold them. They charge me $1 per check for the service but no problems so far. BUT we're in Canada so.....

joyce · Nov 24, 2007

Several years back I owned an old female lab who needed emergency surgery. I did not know how serious her condition was until I visited the vet. I had no extra money to pay for the surgery and explained this to the vet at the time of the visit. The vet agreed to let me pay off the bill in monthly payments. Of course I came into the office for the visit before I started my begging poor speech. I hope you are or have been able to find a vet or animal clinic that will work with you. Good luck.

What to do when vet centers won't accept payment plans?

Gehanna

Introvert

oarsman

Salt water is the cure

Gehanna

Introvert

Maryn

I Tried

wombat

wombats galore

Gehanna

Introvert

eldragon

in a van down by the river

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

ModoReese

Bang head here for service

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

auntybug

teh other evil broad

threedogpeople

This is my BEST side!

Fern

practical experience, FTW

threedogpeople

This is my BEST side!

joyce

I'm really shy...