Information about Paying the Costs of Referral Care

If you would like to bring your pet to see Lincolnshire Veterinary Referrals, you are very welcome to call us on 01472 362 821 and speak to our helpful nursing team who will be able to talk you through:

• the procedure which your pet may need.
• any questions about who we are and what we do when we see pets with complex problems.
• the likely costs of the procedure which your vet considers might be needed. This may change when one of our veterinary surgeons meets your pet and examines them.

Insured Clients

All insurance companies need to pre-authorise your pet’s care before we begin any treatment or investigation.

This involves completing and sending the insurance company information before we see your pet.

Please make sure you read your policy information fully before attending an appointment so we can do what the company requires.

If you would like your insurer to pay us directly for your pet’s care, please discuss this with us 48 hours before booking an appointment.

Our policy is to ensure that your insurers are happy to cover the problem which your pet has and that the insurance is sufficient to cover the cost to avoid the situation of you suddenly becoming liable for the whole cost, wherever possible before your appointment with us.

Processing Direct Insurance Payments

Before we arrange direct payment from your insurers, you need to be aware of the following points:

• To organise a direct claim from your insurance company, you need to pay in advance a non-refundable administration fee of £99 to cover the administration required when making a direct insurance claim. This cannot be reclaimed from your insurance company.

• You will also need to pay your insurance’s policy excess (if applicable), any uncovered costs by your policy plus a 10% deposit of the full estimate on the day of your appointment.
  
  This 10% deposit will be refunded after we received payment from your insurance company less any reduction by your insurance company. 

• You will need to speak to your insurance company to give them permission to discuss your policy details with Lincolnshire Veterinary Referrals before we can begin.

We need a minimum of 48 hours’ notice before your appointment to arrange direct insurance payments.

• In emergency situations or for pets needing urgent surgery, it may be impossible to organise direct payment from the company which insures your pet, in which case you may need to pay for care yourself.We will do our utmost to help you to reclaim the cost from your insurance afterwards.

• We will notify you when the authorisation arrives from your insurers and arrange to see your pet as soon as we have members of the appropriate veterinary team available.

• Even after a direct insurance claim has been agreed, you remain responsible for all costs until the insurers settle the claim.

• If your insurers do not settle the whole amount, you will need to pay in full any deductions made by your insurer.

Non-Insured Clients

If your pet is not insured, we may ask you for a deposit of half (50%) the estimated cost when you sign to consent to this care.

While your pet is in our care, we will keep you informed of any change to the treatment plan or the predicted cost of their treatment so you remain fully informed.

Before they are ready to go home, we expect you to pay the whole cost of your pet’s stay with us.

Payments in cash, by BACs and major credit/debit cards are accepted.

Please note, we do not accept cheques, American Express or Diners Club cards.

It is important to note that Lincolnshire Veterinary Referrals is not licensed to offer credit so we cannot provide payment plans.