Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Francisco Gomez — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:27:44 GMT

I always do because I feel part of my job for the community is education. Some years ago I asked a client how much they thought a fracture repair would cost and they said £50-£60

That however leads me to add something to this part.

[quote user="GrooveJet"]

I just find making clinical decisions so much easier when you don't have to factor in financial restrictions

[/quote]

Financial restrictions still apply when the patient is insured. We must make sure we don't just feel free because of this. Otherwise we are putting pressure on insurers unnecessarily and we can easily get to the patient's limit too quickly.

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Julie Innes — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 14:15:42 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]sorry to go off topic slightly, but a sofa in your waiting room?! Nice![/quote]

We have 2 in the waiting room and one in the "bereavement" room. Its a bit of a pain for the nurses having to wash the throws frequently, but I feel it makes the place a bit less clinical, and makes the animals a bit more relaxed (on or off the sofas!)

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Kate Richardson — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:14:57 GMT

Lucy Fleming They'd better not!!! Did think about having a scratching post, but then thought don't really want lots of random cats scent marks left in the room which will add to the stress not reduce it!!! Hopefully will be able to sit and cuddle them on th sofa and examine them, really helps some cats. Also makes the room more relaxing for the owner, less tension in the room the better!

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Lucy Fleming — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 11:35:22 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]will have one in the consult room soon as well, however we only see cats! [/quote]

Is that to give them something to scratch?

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Kate Richardson — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 10:29:37 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]

[quote user="Julie Innes"](which had been placed in the sofa in the waiting room and allowed to fall off)[/quote]

sorry to go off topic slightly, but a sofa in your waiting room?! Nice!

[/quote]

we’ve got 2 and will have one in the consult room soon as well, however we only see cats!

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 09:02:21 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"](which had been placed in the sofa in the waiting room and allowed to fall off)[/quote]

sorry to go off topic slightly, but a sofa in your waiting room?! Nice!

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Julie Innes — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 10:41:17 GMT

I had one yesterday- a pug, bought on Christmas Eve for the woman's son.....

Not a clue! I brought up insurance, and explained how expensive it could be, say, for example if their pup (which had been placed in the sofa in the waiting room and allowed to fall off) fractured its leg doing similar. Her eyes widened at the cost and then she said "Yeah, but if you didn't have the money the vet would fix it anyway, wouldn't they? Because you all love animals so much!"

My vet student's eyes nearly fell out of her head. I had the job of explaining to Ms Incredulous client that no, we don't and can't work for free! Hopefully she WILL get insurance....

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 09:11:53 GMT

I have enough to talk about in a first puppy consult without starting on insurance but will answer questions if they ask. However every owner who brings in a pet for first vaccination/health check is given a puppy pack which contains information on pet insurance

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Kate Richardson — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 22:24:17 GMT

One thing I have started to advise regarding insurance is to choose one that provides cover for dental disease- certainly the most common health condition I see in cats. Am definitely seeing more cover than say 5-10 years ago

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 11:33:54 GMT

Additionally, if someone mentions that they plan to "have a savings account" for the pet instead of insurance, I make sure to give them approximate costs (especially of "unexpected" things like fracture repair) so they have a good idea of how much they might need to have available early on.

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Nicola Cole — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 10:29:59 GMT

Another that generally mentions it, and I point out different types of policies ie lifelong versus year per condition and to read small print.

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Julie Innes — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:48:38 GMT

I generally mention that they should consider insurance at my puppy checks, and advise them to compare policies carefully- as Gillian said, there are some policies out there that are worth nothing when you look at the small print!

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 15:29:36 GMT

Always mention it, all except the most difficult of clients will accept the 4 weeks free pet plan IVC. Once they realise there's no financial obligation to continue it they'll take it.

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Bob Russell — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 13:44:54 GMT

Always!

We had someone who was reluctant to take the free 4 weeks cover. Thankfully they did as the lurcher puppy got caught up in a chair and fractured a leg two days later!

I tend to offer the free insurance, suggest owners think about insuring permanently and leave it at that. They don't get pushed much more than that.

RE: Should you bring up insurance at first puppy consults?

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 13:15:23 GMT

I absolutely always do. I don't tell them they need it, just discuss the options and, more importantly, the pitfalls.

It is so sad when someone has tried to do the right thing, bought insurance, but was oblivious to the fact that it is a useless policy. Lots of people think all policies are the same.