Payment Plans & Pet Insurance

Payment Policy

All fees must please be paid in full at the time of consultation, or at discharge if your pet has been admitted for treatment. We do not run accounts. A deposit is required when patients are admitted for major treatment or complex surgery.

Payment is accepted by Cash, EFTPOS, VISA or Mastercard. We do not accept cheques.

No accounts are offered, and so to avoid embarrassment please do not ask for credit, or an account. We can, however, take payments by more than one method – eg part cash and part credit card.

Payment Plans

If you wish to pay off your pet’s treatment in instalments then a Payment Plan is ideal for you. We offer Payment Plans with two providers and absorb the merchant fee costs associated with offering these facilities. Both companies have excellent reputations and we have many happy clients using each of them.

ZipMoney Mediplan offers interest free terms for 6 months and no establishment fee if the amount is under $1000 and they have a very fast and confidential electronic approval process and no deposit is required.

VetPay provides payment plans exclusively for vet treatment and have been in the industry since 2009. After paying a deposit, VetPay enables you to pay the balance off over 6-12 months in more manageable instalments. They too have a quick online approval process that can be completed confidentially from the comfort of your own home.

Expected Costs

We appreciate that good medical care is not cheap and we will always endeavour to provide you with an accurate and inclusive estimate of costs prior to any treatment. But please realise that while we make every effort to remain within this, it is an estimate and not a fixed quote, since medicine is not always completely predictable. It is also our policy to keep you updated with the ongoing costs for hospitalised patients and we will discuss a revised estimate if the treatment plan changes or needs to continue for longer than initially anticipated.

Please feel free to discuss ANY financial concerns that you have, either at the initial consultation, or at any stage during your pet’s treatment. It is our practice policy to include pet owners in both medical and financial decisions regarding your pet’s treatment. Whilst we will always advice the best possible treatment for your pet and their welfare is our priority, there are sometimes options in the way that your pet may be treated.

In these situations we will discuss your options, the cost implications of each, as well as the expected outcomes or possible complications with each scenario. We will then work with you to decide what your preferred way to proceed is. At the end of the day, like you, we want your pet better and pain free, but we do also realise that we are not the ones having to pay the bill. The earlier that financial concerns are discussed, the easier it is for everyone, and the more promptly a pet can receive appropriate treatment.

Pet Insurance

Gold Coast Vet Surgery thoroughly recommends the concept of pet insurance. We are not aligned with any one insurance company, nor do we sell pet insurance or receive commissions. Pet insurance is the equivalent of Private Health Insurance for humans, only it is even more relevant since there is no Medicare for animals, and pet insurance, unlike most private health, covers the cost of consultations, medications and all treatment, not only in-hospital treatment.

Pet Insurance provides you with peace of mind – knowing that whatever happens, your pet will be able to get the best treatment available, irrespective of cost. Instead of having to worry about what it will cost, you can just focus on deciding what the best treatment is for your pet. Not only does pet insurance cover visits to us as a general practice clinic, but also after hours emergency centre visits or referrals to specialists.

Direct Pet Insurance Claims – No Forms Required

Gold Coast Vet Surgery is able to process claims directly with most pet insurance providers in Australia. This is done by a direct link between our Practice Management Software and the insurance company meaning that you don’t ever have to complete a form, submit an invoice or request a vet history! We will do it all for you. And most importantly, this simplifies and speeds up the claims process, meaning that you get reimbursed quicker than any other method of claiming. Check with us if your insurance company offers e-claims.

If your pet is covered by Pet Insurance, please bring the details with you, especially your policy number, so that we can best assist you to lodge your claim.

Even if your insurer doesn’t offer e-claims, we will still assist you (at no charge) to complete your claim forms, sign our section and promptly provide any medical history or invoices required by your insurance company.

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