Payment and Insurance
We aim to make the payment process as smooth and straightforward as possible for our clients. All fees are due at the time of collection of your pet, and we offer a few different payment options depending on your insurance cover.
Financial aspects
We do try to ensure that all aspects of your pet’s treatment at ChesterGates are looked after as efficiently as possible including the financial aspects.
When you come for your initial consultation, the vet will give you an estimate of costs for any further recommended investigations and/or treatment. The cost of our consultations are £275.
Insured Pets
If you are insured, we would prefer that you pay us at the time of discharge and claim back the funds from the insurance company yourself.
We are happy to submit your insurance claim on your behalf to your insurance company. All we need is the completed and signed claim form, your Insurance policy number and the full medical history from your registered veterinary surgeon.
We strongly advise that prior to any investigations or treatment being undertaken, you check with your insurance company first about your level of cover; details of any exclusions or inner limits on your policy and what excess you will need to pay (the excess is the first amount of the bill that your insurance company will not settle and which you must pay).
Direct Claims
We may be able to submit a direct claim for your pet’s treatment if you are unable to settle the bill in full and cannot wait for reimbursement from your insurance provider. In this instance, we will claim the invoices due directly from your insurance provider.
Please note direct claims must be arranged in advance, prior to your appointment. Please contact us direct for more information.
There is a small administration fee to administer and submit your direct claim.
Payment
If your pet does not have insurance cover, we will ask for a 50% deposit of the estimated costs for the treatment up front, with the remaining balance due upon leaving the hospital.
We prefer debit and card payments if possible, but also accept cheques and cash. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept American Express card payments. Please contact us if you have any queries on the acceptable forms of payment.
We will endeavour to provide you with an accurate estimate of treatment before we perform any further investigations or procedures, and the team will keep you updated about charges on your account.
Invoices
Invoices are sent for all outstanding balances, regardless of whether you have pet insurance or not. We send these invoices to keep you informed of the outstanding balance until the insurance company pays out. We will also let you know if further payment is due in the event there has been a shortfall on your insurance claim.