Triggermortis
Well-Known Member
If you were a doctor pre-covid why would you return to working for a living when you can now go part time and still
Get paid the same?
Get paid the same?
Vet Bill
- Thread starter Yorkie
- Start date
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
That would be getting towards fraud territory at that stage if you were intentionally charging clients more because they’re insured. Be it private or corporate owned practice, the price is largely pre set.
I can honestly say that I’ve never charged a client more because a patient is insured.
Insured or not, I’ll offer options A, B and C . Client can then pick what works best for them. Option A may be the most expensive but that’s not to say that there is anything wrong with option C. It’s just providing an informed choice.
Insurance does make referral to a specialist easier for a lot of folk. Which is usually where these larger bills that are quoted come from. In which case, the clinic sending,(and has the fun job of providiing the client with the estimate) isn’t getting any of the fee but you’re actually sending the patient elsewhere where you think it will do best.
Obliged to give all options and you can’t judge a book by its cover regarding how much a client wishes to spend. Just doing your job by discussing all avenues then working with the client.
kenbro
Well-Known Member
On Thursday I took an 87 year old German neighbour to a private hospital appointment (NHS wait too long) where she’d been referred by her GP.
They knew beforehand she wanted a cyst removing from her head.
On arrival receptionist asked for credit card #.
2 mins later Doc comes and beckons her into office and invites me too.
He tells her he will give a local anesthetic, cut her scalp, remove cyst and stitch wound. Can do it on 05-12-‘24.
See you then at 09.00.
By this time 12 mins have elapsed since we arrived.
Back to reception to confirm app. date.
We will now take £200 from your card.
Thank you.
Total time from clock in to out, less than 20 mins.
Dread to think what the op will cost her but she’s happy.
Her previous cysts were removed under NHS.
Probably be same hospital and same Doc.
Ken.
They knew beforehand she wanted a cyst removing from her head.
On arrival receptionist asked for credit card #.
2 mins later Doc comes and beckons her into office and invites me too.
He tells her he will give a local anesthetic, cut her scalp, remove cyst and stitch wound. Can do it on 05-12-‘24.
See you then at 09.00.
By this time 12 mins have elapsed since we arrived.
Back to reception to confirm app. date.
We will now take £200 from your card.
Thank you.
Total time from clock in to out, less than 20 mins.
Dread to think what the op will cost her but she’s happy.
Her previous cysts were removed under NHS.
Probably be same hospital and same Doc.
Ken.
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
Had a neighbour pay several thousands for a hip replacement just because the NHS waiting list was a couple of years. He could afford to and was too sore.
Now, I think it’s amazing if you can save thousands on a surgery through the NHS, particularly if you don’t have that to spend. It’s a huge asset.
Just imagine if vets started taking credit card bills at the start of consults though. Hotels, private doctors, restaurants - all the norm. But there would be outrage..
I imagine most professionals are able to charge what they like for their services, insofar as the customer will pay it.
My thought is not that anyone would fraudulently charge more for insured animals; but that the insurance gives a practioner the latidude to order lab work, scans etc - which, since there'll be no direct financial impact on the customer might, if there's any doubt either way, be done - whereas a 'self-funding' customer might be spared more-expensive investigations and treatments if a less labour-intensive clinical exam-based strategy were thought to fit better with their financial circumstances.
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
I think I get what you’re trying to say. I think the above would be the “option C” as I chatted about earlier. You’ve still to advise the client of all the bells and whistles options but there’s nothing wrong with going for the conservative route which should also be offered.
Norfolk Horn
Well-Known Member
I was unfortunate to have my HWV Meg euthanized on Monday she was fourteen, it was very well handled by the vets I must say as I was a blubbering mess.
I took her home and buried her in the paddock next to the wife's pony.
Friday I rang up to pay the bill £214.50 of which £35.75 was vat so £178.75 for the vets.
Fortunately I haven't been in this position for several years and last time it was the wife's pony which was about £320 about three years ago but this included the vet coming out, examination, drugs to try and help the finally euthanasia so was with use quiet sometime
Now the question is £214.50 the going rate to have my dog euthanized.
I don't want to start a bun fight so please don't turn it into one.
NH
I took her home and buried her in the paddock next to the wife's pony.
Friday I rang up to pay the bill £214.50 of which £35.75 was vat so £178.75 for the vets.
Fortunately I haven't been in this position for several years and last time it was the wife's pony which was about £320 about three years ago but this included the vet coming out, examination, drugs to try and help the finally euthanasia so was with use quiet sometime
Now the question is £214.50 the going rate to have my dog euthanized.
I don't want to start a bun fight so please don't turn it into one.
NH
Sorry hear this, never easy, even with what looks like a good innings.
Cost of euthanasia has gone up quite a lot in recent years. I suspect many vets of my age would have a flat fee that really didn't cover the time that it actually took. Add in extra staff, routine use of intravenous cannula, sedation, using long giving sets so you can hold and the vet isn't in the way trying to inject and yes I can see £170 plus VAT.
Would I feel comfortable charging that - probably not, maybe that's why I'm not in business any more.
Cost of euthanasia has gone up quite a lot in recent years. I suspect many vets of my age would have a flat fee that really didn't cover the time that it actually took. Add in extra staff, routine use of intravenous cannula, sedation, using long giving sets so you can hold and the vet isn't in the way trying to inject and yes I can see £170 plus VAT.
Would I feel comfortable charging that - probably not, maybe that's why I'm not in business any more.
Norfolk Horn
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much appreciate your reply. Its another practice that has been swallowed up so everything is menu priced for general health care.
You are my vintage I'm guessing and when I was self employed as a carpenter I would do favours on the way home for a couple of pints when they next see me.
You know spent a small fortune on a new carpet but the door just!!! needs a bit off the bottom.
That's probably in line with down here, possibly quite a bit cheaper than down here in fact depending on the practice. Always hated billing so much for euthanasias. Usually price depends on size.
SikaSeeker
Well-Known Member
My vet will come out to the house and put to sleep for €50
Norfolk Horn
Well-Known Member
Well you are luck having a vet like that I would make sure they have a nice Christmas present
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
I call those "Love Jobs"... all you get at the end is a "Thanks, Love"Thank you very much appreciate your reply. Its another practice that has been swallowed up so everything is menu priced for general health care.
You are my vintage I'm guessing and when I was self employed as a carpenter I would do favours on the way home for a couple of pints when they next see me.
You know spent a small fortune on a new carpet but the door just!!! needs a bit off the bottom.
... not that I mind, what goes around comes around.
SikaSeeker
Well-Known Member
It’s the normal around here, vets working for themselves. I’d suppose if you went to a pet “clinic” it’d be about €100/150.
Brought the lab to the vet today. Got annual check up / vaccines and kennel cough jab.
Vet administered injections, put her on scales, tole me she needs to lose 4kg and charged me €100.
Never so much as looked in her mouth, ears etc or feel her over.Was on the table for 2 mins max after waiting an hour. Don't mind paying the rate but felt it was all very rushed and certainly not thorough.
Maybe I am being unrealistic...??
Vet administered injections, put her on scales, tole me she needs to lose 4kg and charged me €100.
Never so much as looked in her mouth, ears etc or feel her over.Was on the table for 2 mins max after waiting an hour. Don't mind paying the rate but felt it was all very rushed and certainly not thorough.
Maybe I am being unrealistic...??
ripped off. I'd run amok 
Ouch. Vaccines have consistently crept up around here, annual booster often around £50 or so. KC on top usually extra, varies but most places likely to charge another £20-30ish IIRC. Did you get any flea/worm treatment?
Corporate or independent practice?
Sorry you feel fobbed off.
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