• Pet insurance works by reimbursement
• Can pet insurance pay my veterinarian directly?
• Healthy Paws can pay your veterinarian directly for covered claims
• How to request direct vet payment with Healthy Paws

Pet insurance in the United States has gained traction as the costs of veterinary care continue to increase. Because they are considered valued family members, pet parents want to protect their four-legged friends and ensure they can afford veterinary care in case an injury or illness occurs. Pet insurance can help them to say “yes” to life-saving treatments with less worry about the cost.

Generally speaking, most pet insurance plans reimburse the pet parent for covered expenses after they have paid their vet bill. Essentially, the claim filing process for pet insurance usually goes like this:

1. When a dog or cat is sick or injured, their pet parent takes them to the vet and pays the invoice.
2. The pet parent files a claim with their pet insurance provider by submitting the vet bill and any other necessary documentation.
3. The pet insurance claim team reviews the information to determine if the vet bill is eligible for coverage and then calculates the reimbursement amount based on the deductible and reimbursement rate for the policy.
4. The pet insurance provider sends out the reimbursement via check or direct deposit.

Many prospective pet insurance customers wonder if pet insurance providers will pay their veterinarian directly. They may be accustomed to human health insurance, where they only have to pay a co-pay, and the insurance provider pays for covered medical expenses directly to the healthcare provider.

Though it isn’t standard, the good news is that there are options for pet insurance providers to pay the covered part of a claim directly to your veterinarian.

There may be situations where it’s difficult for a pet parent to front the cost of the vet bill, such as a high-dollar invoice. Fortunately, Healthy Paws can pay claims directly to your veterinarian.

Here’s what you need to know regarding when Healthy Paws may make a claim payment directly to your veterinarian.

• Direct payment is available for licensed veterinarians across the United States who are willing to accept direct payment from an insurer.
• You must make your request for direct payment in advance of the treatment. This gives our claims team time to coordinate direct payment.
• Prior approval for direct payment is not a coverage determination. If the claim isn’t covered, you will remain responsible for all amounts due.
• If your veterinarian is willing to accept direct payment, we can work with them to expedite the transfer of your pet’s medical records and the processing of your claim.
• Direct payment on covered claims is available during business hours. Please call (855) 898-8991 and select the option to speak with a Claims Representative.

At Healthy Paws, we understand how stressful it can be when your pet is sick or injured, so we want to do what we can to help free your mental resources to focus on loving and caring for your pet while they are down rather than worrying about the costs of veterinary care.