Simplifying Pet Care in 4 Easy Steps

As a pet parent, there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for your fur baby. But if they become sick or injured, the prospect of a large veterinarian bill might force people to choose between financial strain or having to compromise the health of their beloved pets.

“As a veterinarian, I see firsthand how rising pet healthcare costs have required pet parents to make tough decisions about budgeting and paying for their pet’s vet bills,” says Dr. Courtney Campbell, a board-certified small animal surgeon and founder of Stitches Veterinary Surgery in Long Beach, California. 

Even a $250 vet bill could be enough to trigger anxiety for pet parents, as revealed in Synchrony’s Pet Lifetime of Care study.¹ Pet insurance policies can certainly help, but oftentimes, that still requires having to come up with out-of-pocket costs and then waiting to get reimbursed.

Helping Ease the Financial Burden of Vet Care

To help pet parents get the care they want for their furry friends, CareCredit and Pets Best have partnered in a first-of-its-kind collaboration to help alleviate the potential financial distress of having a sick pet.

CareCredit is a credit card that can be used for out-of-pocket costs, not just for veterinary care (although it's currently offered in more than 26,000 veterinary practices across the U.S.), but also for dental work, cosmetic treatments, skin care and more at locations that accept CareCredit. Promotional financing options are offered for purchases of $200 or more.*

Pets Best is an animal care insurance provider offering various plans that cover accidents, illnesses, routine care or coverage for all of the above.²

People who have both the CareCredit health and wellness credit card and Pets Best insurance can use the card to pay for emergency and wellness vet costs wherever CareCredit is accepted, and then get reimbursed directly to their CareCredit account. This allows pet parents to manage not only their pet’s health, but their own financial health, too.

4 Steps to Help Make Pet Care Affordable

To be eligible for this benefit, you must be both a CareCredit credit cardholder and enrolled in Pets Best insurance. Once you are, the process is simple:

1. Bring your pet in for treatment at a vet that accepts CareCredit. Whether your pet needs routine well care, is due for a vaccination, or is feeling under the weather, there may be some out-of-pocket costs involved.

2. Pay with your CareCredit health and wellness credit card. In most cases, you will have to pay your vet any balance due on the day of service. Let’s say the visit and medications needed comes to $400. By putting the cost on your CareCredit card, you can spread the payments over time.

3. File a claim with Pets Best Insurance online or by using your Pets Best app. Be sure to get the proper paperwork needed to file a claim. How much of your visit and exactly what is covered will depend on your policy. 

4. Once processed, you'll receive an automatic reimbursement credit for eligible expenses to your CareCredit credit card.** You could receive your reimbursement in as little as two days after the claim is processed.³

Caring for Your Pet – and Your Budget

This can give pet parents peace of mind, says movie actress Amanda Seyfried, who is teaming up with Synchrony to promote the partnership. “In our home, caring for our pets is a big job, especially for some of our older pets like my pup Finn who just turned 15,” explains the star of "Mama Mia," "The Dropout," and "The Crowded Role." “This innovation will make veterinary visits less stressful and enable more pets to get the veterinary care they need.”

Vets like Dr. Campbell are excited. “I’m looking forward to being able to offer this to my clients as it creates a seamless connection that allows more pets to get the care they need. This not only enhances the veterinary experience but also helps make visits less stressful for pet parents," he says.

CareCredit and Pets Best offer a more streamlined way to handle veterinary expenses, ensuring your pets receive the care they deserve.

To learn more, visit CareCredit Pet Better Together.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Pets

Taking good care of your pet's well-being from nose to tail is essential. Make sure to stay up to date on their regular checkups at the vet to help keep your pet happy and healthy for a lifetime of love. You can use your CareCredit credit card for pet care throughout the year for routine veterinary services as well as emergencies and surgeries.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian near you that accepts CareCredit.

CareCredit is there for you and your pet every step of the way; continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to pet care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Dawn Papandrea is a journalist with more than two decades of experience covering personal finance and consumer issues. She has written for leading financial publications and organizations, including U.S. News & World Report, Investopedia, Bankrate and others.