Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Insurance Pet Insurance Pet Insurance That Pays the Vet Directly Updated Sep 30, 2024 7-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Bob Haegele Written by Bob Haegele Expertise: Bob Haegele has been a freelance personal finance writer since 2018. In January 2020, he turned this side hustle into a full-time job. He is passionate about helping people master topics such as investing, credit cards, and student loans. Learn more about Bob Haegele Reviewed by Kerry O'Brien, CFP® Reviewed by Kerry O'Brien, CFP® Expertise: Financial planning, retirement planning, tax planning, education planning, small business planning Kerry O'Brien, CFP®, is passionate about financial planning and going beyond the numbers to help people live the life they want. Her mission is to help people gain and maintain optimal financial health—and to support living with overall wellness and intention. Learn more about Kerry O'Brien, CFP® Pet owners with health insurance typically deal with the reimbursement model, where they pay for services upfront, and the insurer reimburses them later. Pet insurance that pays the vet directly eliminates that reimbursement step and pays the insurer’s part of the bill immediately, preventing you from having to pay for your vet visits upfront. We’ve researched the the best pet insurance that pays the vet directly. In addition, we’ll review details like each insurer’s benefit limits and reimbursement rates. CompanyHow it worksTrupanionIf the vet uses Trupanion’s software, payment can be made directly—eliminating the reimbursement model.Pets BestAvailable if you can’t pay the bill and your hospital accepts this payment. Only possible during business hours.Healthy PawsDownload the release form and have your vet sign it. Once your claim is processed, Pets Best will send eligible reimbursements directly to the vet’s office. The best pet insurance companies that pay the vet directly Although pet insurance can save you money in the long run, it typically doesn’t work the same as human health insurance. Instead of insurance paying part of the bill for your pet’s medical care, you usually pay the entire cost after the visit. Later, you submit a claim to the insurance company, and the insurer will reimburse you if it covers the services your pet received. This can create a cost burden for pet owners, who may not have the money to pay for everything upfront. However, some pet insurance plans pay the vet directly. These plans work more like human health insurance, paying for services during the visit. With these pet insurance plans, you pay a monthly or annual premium. You might also be responsible for a deductible and copay. The insurance company is then responsible for any remaining costs. This simplifies the process for pet owners, though some make it easier to pay than others. Below, we’ll cover the best pet insurance companies that pay your vet directly. Trupanion Best for Direct Vet Payment 4.4 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Quote Why it’s one of the best Trupanion is LendEDU’s best pet insurance company for vet direct pay, thanks to the ease of the process and the fact that you can get paid in a matter of seconds. If your vet accepts direct payments from Trupanion, it can pay your veterinary bill at the time of checkout. You can check to see if your vet accepts direct payment with a lookup feature on the Trupanion website. If your vet is listed as accepting direct payment, the process is simple: Your veterinary hospital submits a claim with Trupanion at checkout You are responsible for paying your portion of the bill at checkout Trupanion pays your vet directly, within seconds This simple system comes with a drawback—if your vet isn’t listed as accepting direct payment from Trupanion, you’ll have to pay for the care yourself and then submit a claim to be reimbursed. Other benefits of Trupanion include unlimited coverage, no minimum age limits, and no increase in rates as your pet ages. While Trupanion has several advantages, it also has its downsides. For instance, there is a 30-day waiting period for illnesses, and there is no add-on for preventive care. Trupanion doesn’t offer discounts, either. Plans vary based on state. Please review your state’s policy for full coverage details. Monthly premiumStarting around $35Benefit limitUnlimitedDeductible$0 – $1,000Reimbursement amount90%Eligible petsCats, dogs Pets Best 4.6 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Quote Why it’s one of the best Direct pay is an optional feature available with all Pet’s Best plans. You must download and fill out a release form to set up direct pay for your account. The process for using Pets Best’s direct pay option is as follows: Your vet needs to agree to be paid directly by Pets Best. If they do, you must fill out Pets Best’s vet direct pay release form and have your vet sign it. You’ll send that form in along with your claim, which you can do online through the mobile app or via fax or email. Your claim will be processed within five days, and your vet should receive payment. You’ll still have to pay the deductible, co-insurance, and any other items not covered directly to your vet. Pets Best offers three different plan levels from which to choose in addition to an accident-only plan, which doesn’t cover routine medical care or illness. The company scores well for its customizable, lack of upper age limits for obtaining coverage, reliable claims processing timeline, and 24/7 support. However, it doesn’t cover dogs or cats with pre-existing conditions; premiums can increase as your pet ages. Some customers complain of large increases in their monthly premiums for older pets. Monthly premiumStarts at $9 for dogs; average premium of $35 to $58 for an accident-only planDeductible$50 – $1,000Reimbursement70%, 80%, or 90%Benefit limit$5,000 or unlimitedEligible petsDogs, cats Healthy Paws 3.8 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Quote Why it’s one of the best While Healthy Paws typically asks its customers to pay the vet and then wait to get reimbursed when they file a claim, it does offer an option to pay the vet directly for pet owners who need it. If you can’t pay for your pet’s care upfront and your vet accepts direct pay, you can arrange for Healthy Paws to pay the vet directly. However, you must request direct payment before the appointment so the Healthy Paws’s claims team can coordinate the payment. If your vet agrees to receive direct payment and you’ve made arrangements in advance, call (855) 898-8991 and select the option to speak to a claims representative. The claims team is available during normal business hours. Managing reimbursement is easy as Healthy Paws doesn’t require a claim form—everything can be done online or through the mobile app. Monthly premium: Starting around $40 Benefit limit: Unlimited Deductible: $0 – $1,000 Reimbursement amount: 90% Eligible pets: Cats, dogs Monthly premiumStarting around $40Benefit limitUnlimitedDeductible$0 – $1,000Reimbursement amount90%Eligible petCats, dogs Pros and cons of pet insurance that pays upfront Having your pet insurer pay the vet directly is generally good for pet owners, but there are some pros and cons to consider: Pros Smaller bill upfront You may still have to pay a deductible and any uncovered costs, but your bill will likely be smaller after your vet visit. Easier claims process Instead of having to submit an extra claim, your insurance automatically kicks in for any remaining costs on covered services after you pay your deductible. Easier to get an appointment It might be easier to get an appointment if the vet knows they will receive payment. Cons Can limit vet choices Some insurers might require you to stay in-network to be covered, limiting your vet choices. Can be complex to set up Direct pay systems may require prior authorization or other paperwork, which can be time-consuming and take a lot of work to set up. Additional restrictions Direct pay can have certain restrictions, like only processing claims during business hours. Ask the expert Kery O’Brien CFP® Maintaining an adequate emergency reserve that covers unexpected large costs, such as pet medical bills, should always be a priority. Just like in other areas, having a financial cushion provides more choice and flexibility for the pet owner and decreases the need to utilize high-interest debt. How to get started with pet insurance It’s a great idea to have pet insurance, as costly medications and procedures are not uncommon for pets. Start by comparing quotes from the best insurance companies. It’s important to shop around, as different companies may have better options for your pet. Pay close attention to what each company offers, including coverage options, exclusions, deductibles, and reimbursement rates. Also check how the company is rated, both by customers and in online reviews. Lastly, you can also consider factors like whether each company has certain features you want, such as offering direct pay. Remember there can be waiting periods for pet insurance, but these can vary widely depending on the company and what you need to be covered. The typical waiting period for accidents and illnesses is 14 or 15 days, but waiting periods can be anywhere from two days to six months. Be sure to find the right option for your pet before moving forward. How we rated the best pet insurance that pays vets directly Since 2018, LendEDU has evaluated insurance companies to help readers find the best pet insurance. Our latest analysis reviewed 357 data points from 17 companies, with 21 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, online applications, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once. CompanyHow it worksTrupanionIf the vet uses Trupanion’s software, payment can be made directly—eliminating the reimbursement model.Pets BestAvailable if you can’t pay the bill and your hospital accepts this payment. Only possible during business hours.Healthy PawsDownload the release form and have your vet sign it. Once your claim is processed, Pets Best will send eligible reimbursements directly to the vet’s office.