Start small with pet insurance for big payoffs

The crew at Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Pa., wanted to find a way to ensure clients could accept recommendations for gold-standard care without money being the determining factor. So last spring, the clinic began including information on pet insurance in all kitten and puppy kits.

Why start so young? Because wellness care and diagnostics can add up, plus there are no pre-existing conditions in babies, says Caitlin Rivers, a Firstline Editorial Advisory Board member and the hospital's client coordinator and senior staff trainer. Team members recommend pet insurance to clients on their first visit with a new puppy or kitten. In the exam room, the team even pulls up the insurance company's Web site so the client can get a rate quote.

The extra time spent talking about the annual costs for kitten and puppy care and explaining how insurance will help offset those costs and prepare for any emergencies does two things, Rivers says. "First, it gives clients peace of mind knowing they can afford to take care of their new furball," she says. "And second, it gives the veterinary practice a certain comfort level. It's just so much easier to discuss safety and scheduling without the worry of whether the client can afford all of this."