PET OWNERS
Payment options
Fitzpatrick Referrals has a comprehensive price structure to ensure as much clarity and fairness as possible for our clients. Our pricing model reflects the high standards of care provided by our experienced team of specialists and wider veterinary care team. We prioritise open communication with families, providing as detailed as possible estimates for various procedures and treatments.
At the point of consultation, depending on your pet’s unique circumstances, your clinician will discuss with you the costs of treatment and what is included, such as diagnostic tests, surgical interventions, and post-operative care. This allows clients to make informed decisions about their animal friend’s healthcare as much as possible.
This commitment to being as clear as we can be about fees aligns with our dedication to providing exceptional and compassionate veterinary services, ensuring that families have a clear understanding of the costs associated with treatment.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cost estimates
All queries relating to the costs of the patient’s treatment should be discussed with the clinician at the initial consultation. The estimate (including VAT) for treatment will be on the consent form that you will be asked to sign.
Please appreciate that any estimates given to you by the clinician are not precise quotes. The cost of treatment can vary depending on your patient’s specific needs and this may only come to light during the investigations/treatment. Our clinicians work with the patient’s best interest at heart and no two patients are ever the same. We will keep you regularly appraised of your account so that you are fully informed of any change to the original estimate.
Insurance
Non-insured patients
Non-insured patients
If you do not have insurance, you are required to pay a 50% down payment of the estimated costs at the time of your initial consultation; the balance is then due on collection. Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, except American Express.
We also offer a third-party payment plan service, subject to meeting their credit checks, to help you spread your payments. See our financial assistance section below.
Non-insured patients
If you do not have insurance, you are required to pay a 50% down payment of the estimated costs at the time of your initial consultation; the balance is then due on collection. Most major credit and debit cards are accepted, except American Express.
We also offer a third-party payment plan service, subject to meeting their credit checks, to help you spread your payments. See our financial assistance section below.
Insured patients
Insured patients
If you have adequate insurance cover, we can offer a direct claim service. At Fitzpatrick Referrals we do not charge for this service. In this instance we will claim directly from your insurance provider.
Please note that direct claims must be arranged in advance with us (not your insurance provider), prior to your appointment.
To take advantage of this, please complete the following steps:
- Call your primary care vet (who referred you to us) and ensure that the full clinical history has been emailed through to us.
- Call your insurance provider and give them permission to speak to us.
- Please then contact the practice to confirm your insurance company name, policy number and policyholder details. The finance team will then contact your insurers to obtain your policy information. This will enable them to make a decision on whether the costs can be claimed directly. In some circumstances a pre-authorisation is necessary. In these cases, the finance team will contact you to discuss this further.
- On completion of assessment, the finance team will contact you with a financial consent form detailing your cover and any payment and/or documentation required on admission.
Note: a direct claim will not be possible if your insurance company will not cover the treatment, or if upon receipt of the clinical history we have concerns that your insurance provider will not cover the condition.
Insured patients
If you have adequate insurance cover, we can offer a direct claim service. At Fitzpatrick Referrals we do not charge for this service. In this instance we will claim directly from your insurance provider.
Please note that direct claims must be arranged in advance with us (not your insurance provider), prior to your appointment.
To take advantage of this, please complete the following steps:
- Call your primary care vet (who referred you to us) and ensure that the full clinical history has been emailed through to us.
- Call your insurance provider and give them permission to speak to us.
- Please then contact the practice to confirm your insurance company name, policy number and policyholder details. The finance team will then contact your insurers to obtain your policy information. This will enable them to make a decision on whether the costs can be claimed directly. In some circumstances a pre-authorisation is necessary. In these cases, the finance team will contact you to discuss this further.
- On completion of assessment, the finance team will contact you with a financial consent form detailing your cover and any payment and/or documentation required on admission.
Note: a direct claim will not be possible if your insurance company will not cover the treatment, or if upon receipt of the clinical history we have concerns that your insurance provider will not cover the condition.
Emergencies
Emergencies
In the event that your animal friend needs to be seen outside of office hours, you would be required to make a down payment of 50% of the estimated costs on arrival.
If you have adequate insurance, and the finance team can agree to claim your costs directly from your insurer when they have been able to assess it, we could look to refund part or all of your down payment based on your policy.
Emergencies
In the event that your animal friend needs to be seen outside of office hours, you would be required to make a down payment of 50% of the estimated costs on arrival.
If you have adequate insurance, and the finance team can agree to claim your costs directly from your insurer when they have been able to assess it, we could look to refund part or all of your down payment based on your policy.
Insured with an RSA affiliate company – additional excess
Clients insured on the RSA network – additional excess
Fitzpatrick Referrals asssures its clients who have a pet insurance policy underwritten by RSA insurance group that the £200 additional excess fee* will be reimbursed by Fitzpatrick Referrals, in a move to ensure clients are not penalised unfairly by RSA for having their animal treated at a referral hospital of their choice.
*Read Fitzpatrick Referrals’ policy for the RSA Referral Vet Network.
Clients insured on the RSA network – additional excess
Fitzpatrick Referrals asssures its clients who have a pet insurance policy underwritten by RSA insurance group that the £200 additional excess fee* will be reimbursed by Fitzpatrick Referrals, in a move to ensure clients are not penalised unfairly by RSA for having their animal treated at a referral hospital of their choice.
*Read Fitzpatrick Referrals’ policy for the RSA Referral Vet Network.
Terms and conditions
This document details our practice terms and conditions. Some aspects may not be relevant to you and we request that you get in touch with us for further clarification or explanation if required.
PAYMENT
Financial responsibility
Consent form
You are required to sign a consent form for the treatment of your dog or cat. This form contains a clause that specifies that you are responsible for any of our fees and costs of treatment. If you are insured and we have agreed to do a direct claim for you but there are costs that do not get settled by your insurance provider, you remain responsible for settling those costs directly with us; this includes any ‘owner excess’ that your insurance provider may deduct from their payment to us. In signing this consent form you agree to these terms and accept the liability.
Financial assistance
If you are not able to meet the costs of treatment in one payment, we may be able to help you spread your payments through the service of a third-party payment plan provider subject to you meeting their credit requirements. This service can be made available if requested in good time before treatment takes place.
Fundraising
We understand that it may be necessary to raise some or all of the funds for your treatment. In these cases, we require you to agree to our fundraising and media policy, which asks that no names related to Fitzpatrick Referrals be referenced in your campaign. You must also notify our finance team so we can email you the full details of our policy.
Any questions?
If you have any questions relating to payments please call us and ask to speak to a member of our finance department.
CASE STUDIES
Latest patient stories
Our stories give an insight into some of our patients and their journey while having treatment at Fitzpatrick Referrals.
PATIENT STORY
Gunner’s bilateral pelvic limb lameness
PATIENT STORY
Leeroy’s elbow trauma injury
PATIENT STORY
Monty’s bilateral antebrachial growth deformity
PATIENT STORY
Ellie’s intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE)
PATIENT STORY
Sunny’s rotating hinge total knee replacement
PATIENT STORY
Betsy’s amputation prosthesis
PATIENT STORY
Juno’s humeral condylar fracture
PATIENT STORY
Harrison’s forelimb lameness
PATIENT STORY
Jack’s middle / inner ear infection
PATIENT STORY
Kenji’s pelvic fracture
QUESTIONS
FAQs
Here is a list of the common questions we receive at Fitzpatrick Referrals – if your question is not answered here, please contact us with your query and we will be happy to help!
Is Fitzpatrick Referrals a member of RSA’s Referral Vet Network?
Fitzpatrick Referrals is not a member of the RSA Referral Vet Network scheme, which means your pet insurance company (if underwritten by RSA) may charge you a £200 excess to be referred to us. However, if you are charged the excess, we will help you to appeal the additional £200 excess or we will reimburse this excess to you on condition that you follow our protocol for direct and indirect claims.
If I am not insured can you tell me how much the treatment will cost, and can I set up a payment arrangement?
Our experienced staff may be able to give you a guide to the costs involved and the clinicians will be able to discuss this with you further at the time of your appointment. We are only able to give you this information following a referral by your vet.