Money: The Only Part of Your Pet’s Health Care That Might Hurt a Little!
The veterinary practices of Chastain Veterinary Medical Group are committed to providing the finest primary veterinary care available anywhere, for all of our patients. We are dedicated to making your pet’s treatment and overall experience in our offices a success. Please understand that payment of your bill is considered a part of your pet’s treatment.
The following is a statement of our Financial Policies.
Veterinary Fees
Our fees are fixed at the lowest possible level which still enables us to pay rent, buy medications and supplies, cover the cost of running and maintaining the veterinary hospital, provide for medical equipment upkeep and acquisition, and pay the hospital staff members a reasonable, living wage.
Please keep in mind that the original cost of your pet has little to do with the costs of its medical care. Medicines, laboratory tests, building rent and staff labor costs are all the same, whether they are applied to an inexpensive pet or a highly prized breed champion.
Why We Can’t Cut Corners
We at Chastain Veterinary Medical Group are committed to promoting the Health and Happiness of Pets and their Families.
This is a commitment which we take seriously, but as much as we’d love to, we can’t do it on a shoestring budget.
So to make it as easy as we can on everyone, we’ve developed a system of payment policies that work. Here are the details:
How Do We Charge?
Cash, Check, Credit Card, or Pet Health Insurance? Not a problem – You tell us which.
Whether you’re an established client or a new client, if you have a new pet of any species, that pet’s first exam is free. You will only be responsible for any tests, treatments, procedures, or medicines.
Follow Up Exams
This is not just for fun; it is very, very important that we re-evaluate some pets after certain illnesses, surgeries, treatments or hospitalization. This is especially true for very sick pets and pets requiring orthopedic surgery or repair of broken bones with splints or casts.
Outpatient recheck appointments are only about $34 or so.
Generally, there are no additional office-call or examination fees charged for the first two (2) recheck appointments for pets that have had surgery with us. Any tests, treatments or medications dispensed during those first two re-check appointments will be charged at regular price. Please be aware that some pets may require more than two follow up visits after their original surgery, treatment, or hospitalization. In these cases, the costs of any further or additional recheck appointments and the costs associated with any tests, treatments, or medications are also charged at regular price.
When Do We Charge?
To ensure the system works for all, it is important that all services are paid for in full at the time the service is rendered. A receipt will be issued detailing these services.
If your pet is admitted for treatment due to an accident, illness or injury, or, if your pet is boarding with us for more than two weeks we do ask for a deposit of at least 33% or $200 whichever is the greater.
Deposits will be collected at the time of patient admission.
Available Payment options include Cash, Check, Credit Card, and Pet Health Insurance.
OK. What’s a “Hold Check”?
If your bill is over $200, we can “hold” a personal check for part of the payment for up to 60 days. This is subject to a fee of $7.50 and certain conditions as set out in the Hold Check Agreement.
Please ask a Client Service Assistant for this information and read the conditions carefully.
We’re sorry: Hold check privileges are not available to clients who have had checks returned three or more times within the past year.
What’s Pet Health Insurance?
Several independent companies, such Pets Best Insurance Company, for example, now offer health insurance for pets. Please speak with a Client Services representative for a brochure or more information.
In general, these insurance policies work much like automobile insurance does: If your pet is sick or injured, you take him or her to the veterinarian of your choice and have the problem “fixed.” You submit an insurance claim and then the insurance company reimburses you for covered losses.
Questions
If you have any questions about fees and billing, the place to start is with a Client Service Assistant.
They will answer your questions, or find the right answers for you, or refer your questions to the Group Administrator or Hospital Administrator.
Please do not discuss fees and billing with your Vet. Yes! Your veterinarian knows your pet better than anybody else (except you of course!). However, your Veterinarian is there to service the needs of your pet and others. Veterinarians are not authorized to make billing or credit arrangements. Fees and billing are handled by others in a different department.
Remember!
We’re “Vets with Pets” and we understand, more than you might imagine, what you may be feeling right now.
We understand that many of us put the well-being of our pets ahead of our own and we understand the concerns caused by the financial burdens of pet health care.
But like you, we have responsibilities and obligations to others. Failure to meet those responsibilities and obligations would seriously hamper our ability to provide the quality pet health care that we all want for our loved ones.
We have streamlined our payment policy to make it as easy on you as we possibly can, while avoiding costly financial arrangements. This way we can give your pet the ultimate in care and personal attention, and keep it as affordable as possible.
And we will!