Pet Insurance Guide Podcast

Preventive Vet - Saving You Money On Your Pet's Healthcare Expenses - Episode 75

This is part 2 of my interview with Anne Tomsic, the CEO of Preventive Vet. In the last episode, she highlighted how pet insurance had saved her money over the last 20 years on her pets' healthcare. When she worked at Trupanion pet insurance company 10 years ago, she saw first hand that the vast majority of problems that policyholders filed claims for could easily have been prevented. So, in this episode, she shares her passion for helping pet owners... Read more →

How Bay Beach Vets Help Pet Parents Afford The Care Their Pets Need - Episode 73

In this episode, I interview Allison Rye, the hospital administrator at Bay Beach Vets in Virginia Beach, VA. She talks about how they provide ways for pet parents to pay for the care their pets need via working with pet insurance companies, 3rd party financing and VetBilling. This is essentially a "how to" interview that practice owners and hospital managers/administrators can discover tips in going the extra mile when it comes to great customer service and helping more sick or... Read more →

The Positive Impact Of VetBilling And Pet Insurance On Patient Care, Staff Morale And Client Relations At An Emergency/Specialty Hospital

Kathy Cavanagh, the Client Care Coordinator at Central Hospital for Veterinary Medicine, shares some amazing stories of how pet's lives have been saved as a result of making available multiple payment options for pet parents at a very large emergency/specialty practice. Because they are able to provide the care that their patients need, it has led to improved staff morale and better client relations. For those pet parents who can't afford the diagnostics and treatment their doctors recommend, Kathy finds... Read more →

Why You Need A Pet Insurance Policy That Covers Dental Illnesses

Coverage for dental problems in dogs and cats varies greatly between companies. Some companies cover dental accidents only while others cover both dental accidents and illnesses. There is variation between what dental procedures that veterinarians use to treat these problems that are covered by each company. My guest in this episode, Dr. Barden Greenfield (previously a guest in Episode 26), talks about the most common dental accidents and illnesses he sees and the potential costs to treat each problem. He... Read more →

Veterinarian Talks About How Trupanion Express Changes Conversation With Clients About Pet Insurance - Episode 69

Dr. John Faught was a guest on the podcast back in 2015 (Episode 33). At that time he had 2 practices in Austin, Texas. Now the practice has expanded to 5 locations in Austin and 2 practices in Denver, Colorado. When we talked before, he was recommending primarily Trupanion pet insurance to his clients, but hadn't yet gotten on board with Trupanion's software that allows real-time claim pre-approvals and direct payment to the veterinary practice. Now all 7 practices are... Read more →

VetBilling Makes An Unexpected Pet Healthcare Expense Affordable - Interview With Cofounder Suzanne Cannon - Episode 68

It's likely that a majority of pet owners cannot afford to pay several thousand dollars out-of-pocket if their pet suffers an unexpected healthcare event. One thing that sticks out in my interview with Suzanne Cannon, CoFounder of VetBilling, is that just because a pet owner cannot afford to pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket all at once doesn't mean they cannot afford the care needed for their pet. Suzanne's personal story illustrates this. Even though she had a pet insurance policy... Read more →

Wellness, Dental, Chronic Disease Payment Plans Make Pet Healthcare Affordable - Veterinary Care Plans (VCP) - Episode 67

Payment plans seem to be making a comeback as a way to help pet owners afford the care their pets need. In this episode, I interview Bob Richardson, President of Veterinary Care Plans (VCP). His company helps veterinarians design and offer payment plans to clients taking the burden of marketing and administrating the plans off the plate of veterinary hospitals. I knew there had been companies in the past who had attempted to offer wellness plans for veterinary hospitals and... Read more →

Pet Insurance Tips For Emergency And Specialty Practices - Episode 66

My guest today is Dr. Ezra Steinberg, a board-certified veterinary surgeon at Maine Veterinary Medical Center. This is without a doubt one of the most informative interviews I've ever done. There is something for pet owners, veterinarians and their staffs, and pet insurance industry insiders. We talk about: The cost of care in the emergency/specialty setting - something pet owners definitely need to hear. The advantages of providing pet health insurance for employees vs. discounted care on the treatment of... Read more →

Pet Health Insurance - The Elephant In The Room - Episode 65

This is Part 3 of my discussion with Kent Kruse on the topic of pet insurance. We discuss what both of us feel is the primary limiting factor to the pet insurance industry insuring a higher percentage of pets in the United States. The market penetration has been stuck at the 1-2% level for decades. Although there are likely multiple factors influencing this, one factor stands out above all others. Kent and I discuss what that is and the one... Read more →

Should Veterinarians Recommend Specific Pet Insurance Companies To Their Clients - Two Viewpoints - Episode 64

This is Part 2 of my discussion with Kent Kruse, a veterinarian who also spent a number of years in leadership positions at several pet insurance companies. He also consults with veterinarians about how to best recommend pet insurance to clients and grow the number of insured pets in their practices. Some veterinarians feel comfortable recommending specific pet insurance companies to their clients while others don't. We discuss both positions in this episode. Contact Kent Kruse Subscribe to Podcast (get... Read more →

Pet Insurance 101 For Veterinarians and Veterinary Staffs - Episode - Episode 63

Today's episode is a discussion with Kent Kruse, a veterinarian who has also served in leadership positions with three different pet insurance companies. Currently he is a consultant to veterinarians on how to recommend and increase the utilization of pet insurance in their practices. This allows them to practice the very best medicine the way they were trained to do and improve the practice culture where team members can thrive. We discuss some of the strategies he teaches to help... Read more →

Veterinarian Shares Benefits To Recommending Pet Insurance To Clients - Episode 58

Dr. Joe Zuckerman is co-owner of Ardsley Veterinary Associates and Yorktown Veterinary Associates just north of New York City. He has been recommending pet insurance to his clients for over a decade. He shares why he recommends pet insurance and how he introduces it to his clients. He talks about the benefits he has seen for his practice, the doctors and staff, as well as his clients who've insured their pets. He shares stories of how it has benefited younger... Read more →

Eusoh - An Alternative to Pet Insurance - Interview With Founder/CEO Dr. Allen Kamrava (Part 1) - Episode 51

Not long ago, I was contacted by a representative at Eusoh, a community sharing platform that is an alternative to the pet insurance model. In this episode, the Founder and CEO, Allen Kamrava - a physician in Los Angeles gives us a good overview of the model and how it was developed. In the next podcast (Part 2) we will discuss more in-depth details of how it actually works. In today's podcast, we talk about: Allen's background and how it... Read more →

Pet Insurance Can Help End Economic Euthanasia - Episode 50

I've been working on an audiobook version of my book, "Pet Health Insurance:A Veterinarian's Perspective." I decided to include a sample chapter of the book entitled "Putting An End To Economic Euthanasia" in this episode. Perhaps you've never heard the term "economic euthanasia" before. It is a sad reality that costs pets their lives everyday in this country. The good news is that economic euthanasia is a problem that is preventable when pet owners have a plan in place to... Read more →

Pet Insurance Coverage of Prescription Diets - Episode 44

At this time, only half of the pet insurance companies in the United States cover therapeutic diets to help treat medical conditions in dogs and cats. These diets can cost 30-70% more than the diet pets normally eat. This can present a financial burden on pet owners - especially if a pet has a chronic condition. In this episode, I'll make the case from a veterinarian's perspective that these diets should be covered by pet insurance companies. Check out these... Read more →

Pet Health Insurance Tip: Pet Health Savings Account vs. Pet Health Insurance - Episode 43

For years there has been a debate about which is better - a pet health savings account or pet insurance. Again, this is one of the most frequently accessed articles on my blog. I address this topic in this episode explaining that the purpose of savings differs from the purpose of pet insurance and how each compliments the other to help you be able to afford your pet's healthcare needs. Therefore, it is wise to have both. Check out these... Read more →

Pet Health Insurance Tip: Pre-Existing Conditions - Episode 42

Today's episode is the first in a series where I'll be offering tips and advice about common questions and issues that arise about pet health insurance. One of the most frequently accessed blog posts by readers of my blog pertains to pre-existing conditions. In this episode, I'll give you some insight from my perspective as a veterinarian and offer 3 steps you can take to minimize the chances of one of your claims being denied because of a pre-existing condition.... Read more →

Keeping Your Dog Safe - Interview With Dr. Jason Nicholas, The Preventive Vet - Episode 41

In this episode, I interview Dr. Jason Nicholas, The Preventive Vet, about the recently published updated edition of his book "101 Essential Tips for Puppy or Dog Health and Safety." We discuss: How the new book is more user friendly and what's new. How the information in the book can not only save dog owners money, but in some cases actually save their dog's life. How veterinarians and their staffs can use the book in their practice as an aid... Read more →

Attitudes Of Pet Owners And Veterinarians Toward Pet Health Insurance - Interview With Dr. Mary Beth Leininger - Episode 38

Dr. Mary Beth Leininger is the Vice President of Veterinary Relations at ASPCA pet health insurance company. She and her husband formerly owned a small animal practice in Michigan and she was the first woman elected President of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). In this episode, we talk about the recently released North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) study describing the attitudes of pet owners and veterinarians toward pet health insurance. Both she and I were surprised at... Read more →

How A Referral Specialty/Emergency Hospital Promotes Pet Insurance - Episode 36

Pets Best pet insurance company reviewed their claims over $500 to determine where pets were treated and found that: Therefore, if your pet experiences an unexpected and serious injury or illness, you have almost a 50% chance of being seen at an emergency hospital or being referred to a specialist. Emergency hospitals often deal with life-threatening problems that need intensive care or even emergency surgery – usually at hours when your primary care veterinarian’s hospital isn’t open. Specialists have more... Read more →

Thriving Veterinary Practice Is On Cutting Edge With Pet Insurance - Episode 33

In today's episode, I interview Dr. John Faught, the founding partner in a rapidly growing veterinary practice in Austin, Texas called Firehouse Animal Health Center. We talk about: How the hospital got it's unique name. Why he decided to promote pet insurance in his practice. How he and his staff introduces clients to pet insurance. Why he decided to promote only one company. Which company they use and why. His personal story - how pet insurance came in handy when... Read more →

Pets Best Helps Veterinary Hospital Promote Pet Insurance To Their Clients - Episode 32

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Bob Beede, co-owner of Intermountain Pet Hospital in Meridian, Idaho. He talks about why they recommend pet insurance in their practice and why they chose Pets Best as the company they endorse to their clients. We also talk about how Pets Best helps them promote pet insurance and he encourages the industry to "think outside the box" in coming up with ways to help veterinarians be more effective in getting the word out about... Read more →

Veterinarian Sees Benefits Of Pet Insurance After Insuring Her Own Pets - Episode 31

Dr. Darlene Cook has owned The Bluffs Pet Clinic in Red Wing, Minnesota since 2001. She is an enthusiastic promoter of pet insurance because she experienced first hand the benefits of having pet insurance when her dog developed a rare form of cancer and her cat swallowed a string. We talk about the process she and her staff used when choosing which pet insurance companies they would recommend to clients and the ways they educate clients about pet insurance. I... Read more →

Veterinarians And Staff See Benefits Of Promoting Pet Insurance - Episode 30

I recently interviewed Dr. Chad Bailey who along with his wife own the award winning Cleveland Road Animal Hospital in Wooster, Ohio. After talking a little bit about his hospital and practice, we discussed: Why the doctors and staff decided to actively promote pet health insurance. Why they decided to promote only one pet insurance company to their clients. Which company they selected and why and whether that turned out to be a good decision. How they go about introducing... Read more →

Promoting Pet Insurance A Factor In Rapid Growth of Veterinary Practice Startup - Interview With Dr. Heather Steyn - Episode 28

In this episode, I interview Dr. Heather Steyn who started Advanced Animal Care of Colorado in 2011. The practice has grown rapidly - now having 4 doctors who practice very high quality medicine, surgery, and dentistry. She explains how promoting pet insurance has become part of the practice culture and why she believes this has been a significant factor in the unusual growth of the practice. After dealing with several pet insurance companies over the years, she now promotes exclusively... Read more →

Promoting Pet Insurance Enables Veterinary Hospital To Provide Best Care To Clients And Their Pets - Episode 27

Marathon Veterinary Hospital in the Florida Keys actively promotes pet insurance to their clients so that over 10% of their clients have pets that are insured. I recently interviewed Megan and Vicki, two of their receptionist who are the designated pet insurance advocates for the practice. However, the whole staff, including the doctors, recommend pet insurance to their clients. In the future, I hope to feature other veterinary hospitals who are having success promoting pet insurance and the impact it... Read more →

Pet Insurance Coverage For The Most Common Dental Diseases In Dogs and Cats - Episode 26 - Interview with Dr. Barden Greenfield

In this episode, I interview Dr. Barden Greenfield who is board-certified in veterinary dentistry. He was recently elected President of the American Veterinary Dental College. He gives us an overview of the most common dental diseases in pets and why maintaining good oral health can actually help your pet live a longer, happier life. We discuss: Why he decided to specialize in dentistry after being in general practice for several years and what it takes to become a specialist in... Read more →

Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 19 - Interview with Dr. Fran Wilkerson

In this episode, I interview Dr. Fran Wilkerson, a veterinary colleague in the Chicago area. She has a very informative website about pet insurance that she was developing several years ago at the same time I was starting this blog. She is one of the most knowledgable veterinarians in the United States about pet insurance and I'm happy to introduce her to you. She shares with us: Why she started her website Some of the "must have" coverages if you... Read more →

Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 18 (Part 2) - Trupanion Express - Interview with Dr. Kerri Marshall

In the last episode, we got an overview of Trupanion Express and the vision that led to it's development from Trupanion's CEO Darryl Rawlings and COO Howard Rubin. In this episode I talk with Dr. Kerri Marshall who led the team that actually designed the software and is now in the process of implementing it in veterinary practices across America. We talk about some of the details of how it is used in everyday veterinary practice. Relavant Links: Direct Pay... Read more →

Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 17 - Trupanion Express (Part 1)

In this episode, I interview Darryl Rawlings, the CEO and Howard Rubin, the COO of Trupanion pet insurance company. We talk about their recently introduced program called Trupanion Express. Darryl Rawlings Howard Rubin Since pet insurance was introduced in the United States in 1982, it has operated according to a "reimbursement" model where pet owners pay their veterinarian and then file a claim seeking reimbursement for covered expenses minus the deductible and copay. Trupanion Express is an innovative alternative to... Read more →

Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 12 - Interview with Dr. Jason Nicholas - How To Keep Your Pet Healthy And Avoid Big Veterinary Bills

In this episode, I interview Dr. Jason Nicholas, the Preventive Vet about how pet owners can keep their pets healthy and happy while at the same time saving significant amounts of money on their pet's healthcare expenses. We talk about: Information that will keep pets safe and healthy and save pet owners money. How the brand "The Preventive Vet" got started. The more preventable problems that veterinarians routinely see like drug overdoses, toxins (e.g.human over-the-counter or prescription medications, grapes/raisins, plants),... Read more →

Pet Insurance Guide Podcast - Episode 10 - Why I'm a Proponent of Pet Insurance - Interview with Dr. Barry Kipperman

In this episode, I interview Dr. Barry Kipperman, a board certified internist and founder of VetCare - a veterinary emergency and specialty hospital located in Dublin, California. Dr. Kipperman wrote an article for DVM magazine explaining why he believes veterinarians have a role in helping prepare their clients for the potential costs should their pet ever face a serious accident or illness. We discuss: The desparity between what pet owners expect the costs of diagnosing and treating their seriously injured... Read more →