PetHealthSavingsMoney is tight for everyone these days!  Paying your every day bills is hard enough, so what happens when your pet needs emergency care?  A new idea just might keep your pet, and your wallet, from suffering!

Historically, veterinary medicine has always been a bargain for pet owners.  Unfortunately, when a serious illness strikes or the pet is injured, pet owners are often shocked by the estimates and invoices they receive.  Furthermore, when the estimate exceeds the amount in their checking account, some owners feel trapped between a decision to fix the pet and hurt their savings, or lose their pet forever.

Sadly, this scenario is all too common in veterinary medicine.  Many pets with fixable problems or curable diseases have suffered euthanasia due to financial reasons. 

Pet insurance can help, but since there are no third party payment systems in veterinary medicine, the pet owner must still pay the invoice up front and wait for reimbursement.

Likewise, personal financing options are available.  Unfortunately, the very people who need the most help aren’t often able to qualify for credit.

Thankfully, Pet Health Savings Plans may provide some hope for pet owners as a new option in covering pet healthcare costs.  Pet Health Savings Plans allow an owner to make an automatic deposit into an FDIC insured account set up specifically for them and their pet.  Since the deposit is automatic, most owners never truly miss the money. The account is also interest-bearing, so pet owners can actually see sustained growth in their pet’s nest egg!

One of the major controversies with pet insurance is that if your pet never needs it, owners feel as if they have paid the premiums for nothing.  With the new pet health savings plans, the money stays with you, so that you can use it for any purpose.

Conversely, pet health savings plans do take time to build and a sudden pet emergency could still leave you without funds.   Many pet insurance policies will provide reimbursements even after payment of just a single premium.

Unlike personal financing options, pet health savings plans aren’t going to require a substantial credit check.  If you have a checking or savings account, you will likely be eligible for one of these plans as well.

A great example of a pet health savings plan can be found at www.pawsitivesavings.com.  Pawsitive Savings was started by Dr. Tom Beall as another way to try and help his clients handle unexpected pet expenses.

Pawsitive Savings gives their members a debit card complete with a picture of their own pet on the front.  Through a network of veterinarians and veterinary suppliers, owners enrolled in Pawsitive Savings also receive numerous benefits and coupons for products and services.

But, perhaps the biggest advantage pet owners and veterinarians have seen with pet health savings accounts is the fact that the money stays with the owner.   If the pet never needs emergency care, special surgery, or long-term healthcare, the money can be used for the next pet or for whatever the owner would like. 

Beyond finding out how to pay for an emergency situation with your pet, veterinarians remind owners that one key to lower pet healthcare costs is to practice good preventive care and some common sense. 

Don’t skimp on heartworm preventive or vaccines in an effort to save money.  Likewise, trying to cut costs by using less expensive foods or over the counter imitation products can also lead to a pet health emergency.

We know that we can’t prevent every single accident our pets might have, but preparing for future situations makes a lot of sense.  Pet health savings plans help provide pet owners with some peace of mind and, these accounts designed for saving money just might be life-saving as well!  You can learn more about this great new idea by visiting www.pawsitivesavings.com.   Also, for all your pet health questions, visit www.gardneranimalcarecenter.com and www.PetDocsOnCall.com for access to more than 100 professional veterinarians.

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