client "Health plan" schemes

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:16:42 GMT

How strange - was just on Facebook an hour ago talking to Sandra about this idea!!! You gotta love vetnurse.co.uk

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Nicola Smith — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:07:46 GMT

Yes these things are important but for many of our clienst an accident or serious illness may be euth on cost grounds so our bosses view is no point in being free of fleas if you have a broken leg that cant be fixed. Most of our clients do vaccinate and worm which they budget for, some will just come and pay a few pounds which we put in credit on their account for when vaccs or wormers due. We have looked at neighbouring prcatices doing healthplan schemes and if you work out the costs the clinets are paying more money than the things would cost bought from us. We get a good take up on insurance and would rather it be that way so we know we can treat them when needed. I think its personal opinion and very dependanton your area and clients.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Vicky RVN — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 17:42:49 GMT

Our clients tend to do both. Because they're saving money by doing it, so if money is tight then it helps them.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Kim Buckley — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 16:53:33 GMT

[quote user="NickyVN"]

We looked at them but decided against. Most of our clients wouldnt subscrbe to that and pet insurance and we felt the insurnace was the thing we would rather they had.

[/quote]

But surely vaccinations and worm/flea tx are important too. At least with health plan schemes they aren't paying something they aren't going to use and the cost is spread out making it easier for people who are hard up.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Nicola Smith — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:38:00 GMT

We looked at them but decided against. Most of our clients wouldnt subscrbe to that and pet insurance and we felt the insurnace was the thing we would rather they had.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Juliet Drummond DAVN (med) RVN D32/33 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:47:16 GMT

most of the preventative healthcare schemes are run by external companies. they collect the direct debits etc, they do charge though- £1.20-1.50 per animal per month.

the practice generally wont make a lot out of it, and you need to work out net-net prices to see any financial benefit, howevr, it does bond clients to you, and promotes preventative healthcare even in difficult financial times.

check out this website

http://www.practiceplanvets.co.uk/

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

GremlinNurse — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:08:13 GMT

We run a loyalty scheme for preventative care(boosters and flea/worm treatment) plus 10% off all services includingh anything done on day of signing up plus 20% off certain lifetime meds.

The clients who are signed up seem to really appreciate being able to pop in for worm/flea/boosters and not have to pay as their DD has already covered the cost.

We are just about to launch one for puppies and kittens to include initial vax, m/chip,neutering, worm and flea treatment plus the same 10% off all other services.

I think they're a great idea to help spread the cost, sometimes feel a bit like a sales person trying to promote them though!

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

shelly jefferies — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:39:49 GMT

We used to run these in my old practice, am desperately trying to get current practice interested in them. I found it really helped bond clients to the practice and was especially good for people with money issues. ours used to cover:

yearly parasite control.

yearly vaccinations.

6 monthly health checks.

reduced neutering, dental procedures and money off blood testing (inhouse)

think these are well worthwhile doing are bit of nightmare to set up initially with forms, and amending computer systems etc bet once got hang of it well worthwhile.

Think this would work especially well in the area i am in at the moment as lots of owners feel they cannot afford regular worming, flea treatment etc but if over a year would seem like a bonus!!!

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Vicky RVN — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:09:57 GMT

We have puppy/kitten packages including vacc, chip, first dose of flea and worm tx, 10% off neutering.

We also have Pet Health Club which is monthly DD for vacc, flea and worm tx. Free nurse clinics and discount on neutering/dentals and food.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:59:47 GMT

The health care plan was dependent on weight so dogs was <10, 10-20, 20-40, 40+... cats was <4 then >4... and rabbits was just a flat fee.

hope this helps!

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Helen Lee — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:54:05 GMT

That all sounds great. How does your practice work the accidental insurance cover, that sounds like it could run at a loss unless you get a good uptake on the scheme. For your health care plan do you have a flat rate fee for all speices / breeds etc... or do you try & calculate the relevant flea / worm treatment for that size dog??

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Kim Buckley — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:38:33 GMT

A practice I locummed at had a scheme like that and I think it is a brilliant idea. They offered free flea/worm tx, free vaccinations and 10% off of everything else. They also got a free vet check every 6 months and unlimited nurse clinics (these were free anyway but made the client aware of them). The other thing they got which I thought was really good was a greatly reduced scale and polish every year.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:32:22 GMT

That sounds like a good idea to be able to offer something for adult/senior pets. The healthy pet club that I mentioned which was a monthly DD with 10% off every bill and had a good take up, it included annual vacc, flea/worm tx (specific products decided by practice), 10% off all bills and 20% of certain lifelong drugs such as fortekor, felimazole etc... might be worth looking along those lines? obviously the way you work it out depends on your practice and the management to decide this.

I think a lot of practices are looking at things like this so I hope you get something set up

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Jolene — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:19:47 GMT

Our Practice has a health plan that all clients are eligable for (well Dogs, cats and Rabbit owners anyway) It is a direct debit scheme which gives them 15% off the day they join, free flea and worm treatments, free vaccinations (although only a discount off KC vaccs) 2 x 6 monthly health checks and 10% off everything else (consults, drugs, food, surgery or toys) They also have the option of taking out for £1.75 accidental insurance cover for their pet which alot of people take us up on as comprehensive insurance is so expensive especially when the pet gets older.

If you want anymore information, feel free to get back in touch.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Helen Lee — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:06:51 GMT

We do currently run one for puppies & kittens which basically allows the client to spread the cost of all things needed during first year such as neutering, flea, worm, idchip etc...

i am looking to improve on this & have a scheme for adult / senior patients which the clients would find benificial. I have heard some practices maybe offer discounts on certain products. I am not sure what the client would want to gain from such a scheme so looking for any ideas what other practices run & have a good uptake for the scheme.

Re: client "Health plan" schemes

Sophie Bedford RVN CertVNECC — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:52:31 GMT

What do you mean by 'health plan' schemes? I've worked for a couple of corporate companies that do things like healthy pet clubs where you pay monthly DD and get 10% off all bills and free 6mth health checks.

Other companies run packages for puppies and kittens where they can pay a flat rate and get everything they need eg, microchip, vacc course, flea/worm tx and discount on neutering.

Is this the sort of thing you were thinking of?