Personal Loans For Veterinary Bills with Good & Bad Credit

What specific surgeries and procedures can be financed with vet loans?

Does pet insurance cover the cost of vet bills?

Pet insurance is a hot topic, and with good reason. As with most insurances, there are different types of coverages for your pet. The plan and coverage you have for your pet can determine if your vet bill is covered or not. Some plans may only cover treatments if your pet gets sick. And, they may only cover a percent of the vet bills. Pay attention to these details upfront as they can help you pick an appropriate plan. Pivoting back to plans, some other plans may be specific to routine care. This might include dental exams, vaccinations, and routine vet visits. 

Whether the plan covers routine care or instances where the pet is sick, there will likely be an annual deductible of some sort. This is another component you usually get to choose upfront, so pay attention when signing up for pet insurance. Some charges may not apply to the deductible, though, for example vet exams or visits fees may not apply toward the deductible. To maximize the value of your plan, it’s important to understand what it covers, and what you can do to take advantage of coverage. This might mean submitting each invoice, to help you reach your deductible faster. It may also mean combining care or visits to help you reach a deductible sooner. 

Pet insurance can be valuable if you might struggle to afford routine care, or if you might need it under emergency circumstances. Usually, you pay monthly for the insurance, and the cost may increase as the animal gets older. Some pet insurances may have more favorable policies so ask around and get professional advice to find the pet insurance plan that will help you take the best care of your pet. 

Do veterinarians offer payment plans?

Some vets offer payment plans, but usually by partnering with lenders or creditors. In some cases you will need to qualify each time you use a payment plan, and in some other cases, the payment plan may be in the form of a credit card. Some vets partner with creditors to offer credit cards or a line of credit exclusive to paying for vet bills. Each time a vet bill is charged through the veterinary office, you may receive a certain amount of time to repay, and in some cases a promotional 0% period. Choosing a veterinary practice that you visit regularly can help you know what to expect when it comes to paying your bill. Find a trusted practice and consult them about available payment plans and financing options that you can use on a one-time or regular basis. Rest assured that if you find a vet of choice but they do not offer payment plans, you can use a personal loan instead. You may be thinking, why wouldn’t I just use my credit card? Personal loans have fixed monthly payments, and fixed rates, which can make them more cost effective and budget friendly. As usual, though, it’s important to explore your options. 

What credit score is needed to get a veterinary loan?

Requirements can vary by lender, as well as the arrangement. In some cases, veterinary practices may offer payment plans with very short repayment periods, avoiding the need to check a credit score. While this is more rare, it could be an option in some cases. For example, if your pet needs an expensive surgery that is a few weeks out, you may be able to make payments in the weeks leading up to the procedure. As far as loans go, offers will be more likely to be returned for borrowers with fair, good, average, or excellent credit. Most lenders on the Acorn Finance platform have a credit score cutoff of 600 or above.

Pros and cons of loans for vet bills

You may find yourself in an unthinkable position needing a loan for a vet bill. While deep down what matters most is taking care of your pet, you may also be realistic about finances. As you consider the idea of a vet bill loan compared to other options, you might be starting to draw some pros and cons. 

While pros and cons can vary depending on your specific situation, here are some general pros and cons you might want to take into consideration. 

Pros:

• Fixed monthly payments
• Keep savings intact 
• Prioritize your pets health
• Promotional financing offers may be available for qualified borrowers
• Quick funding
• Convenience 

Cons: 

• Financial stress
• Interest and fees (if applicable)
• More vet bills can follow
• Challenges qualifying

What happens if you can’t afford a vet bill?

Your pet deserves care, regardless of your finances, but at the end of the day, you are responsible for the bill. While you may have acted selflessly to help your pet, you may find yourself in a stressful spot afterward. So, how do you pay for a vet bill you can’t really afford? Our lending partners, offer veterinary financing for good and bad credit. Take advantage of flexibility and fixed payments. 

While this is one option, there are other options, too. Let’s explore.

1. Personal loan: On approved loans, our lending partners can fund personal loans in as little as 1-2 business days, although funding times can vary. While you may need a little heads up to come up with a personal loan to pay the bill, it’s an option you might want to explore. If you have the cash in savings or checking, but want to keep it there, consider getting approved for a personal loan and paying the bill with the cash you have. Once the personal loan is funded, you can replace the cash in your checking or savings account. You should note though that being pre-qualified and pre-approved for a personal loan are different. With a pre-approval the lender still needs to verify your information, and there may be contingencies. Before counting on receiving the money, you should receive a final approval from the lender. 
2. Ask a friend or family member: If you don’t have time or are struggling to qualify for a loan, you might want to turn to a friend or family member. After all, they probably love your pet, too. You could even offer your friend or family member an interest fee or something to sweeten the upside for them. While borrowing from a friend or family member may be quick, it can put strain on relationships. Think carefully about loaning or borrowing money with friends or family members. 
3. Talk to your vet: Your vet has dedicated their life to helping animals. Therefore, they will want to see your pet get the care they need. They may be able to help you understand payment options, grants, alternative treatment that are more cost-effective, and other solutions. It can be hard to talk about your finances, but doing so can help your pet get the care they need without putting you in a financial hard spot. 

Can you get a loan for veterinary care?

Loans or payment plans may be available for emergency or routine care for your pet. Most veterinary practices understand that vet bills can be a surprise, and care for a pet can’t always wait. Therefore, many practices offer payment plans or financing options to ensure you can get your pet the care they deserve. While you will need to qualify for the loan in most cases, most lenders understand that not everyone has perfect credit. If you have credit challenges you may need to branch out to find subprime lenders. 

Can you get a vet loan with bad credit?

Most loans come with a set of requirements that a borrower needs to meet to qualify. Requirements can vary by lender, but in most cases, credit score and history are taken into account. If you have bad credit, your pet should not be punished, but it can stand in your way of financing. Talk to your vet and explore alternatives if you need to. Try reaching out to a friend or family member or seeing if one will co-sign (if the lender allows co-signers). 

As far as loans are concerned, offers will be more likely to be returned for borrowers with fair, good, average, or excellent credit. Most lenders on the Acorn Finance platform have a credit score cutoff of 600 or above. You can check offers at Acorn Finance in minutes with no credit score impact. Remember, lenders can consider various requirements, including credit score, but not limited to credit score. So you may want to see what you can qualify for. 

Can you get a vet loan for an emergency?

Vet loans for emergencies are available for qualified borrowers. Keep reading to explore various ways to pay for emergency pet care, because we all know it comes at a price. Whether you are in the emergency room now, or preparing for a bad day, keeping these options in your back pocket is smart to avoid any more surprises. 

Best ways to pay for emergency pet care 

Rushing your pet to the emergency room, and then finding out your bill is more than you can afford can leave you in a tough spot. From the emotional aspect of just wanting the best for your pet to the reality of a budget, you might feel helpless. However, there are ways to pay for emergency care if you don’t have the cash on hand. 

1. Savings: If you have savings, you might need to dip into it to take care of your four-legged bestie. By using your savings, you can access funds quickly while avoiding fees associated with financing such as APR or origination fees. As a pet owner, it’s smart to keep an emergency savings fund just for your pet. 
2. Financing plans offered through veterinary practices: Some veterinary practices partner with lenders to offer payment plans and financing options for vet bills. These types of relationships can help veterinary practices receive payment, pets receive the care they need, and pet owners can make payments on vet bills. 
3. Credit cards: While you’ll want to be careful using credit cards, they can come in handy when you’re hit with a surprise vet bill. Credit cards are known for high APRs so pay the balance as quickly as possible. Some credit cards such as Care Credit are designed for uses like paying vet or medical bills. Veterinary practices that work with Care Credit may also be able to offer promotional periods, depending on how much you spend on Care Credit. For example, charges over $300 may receive a 6 month promotional period, while charges over $1,000 may receive a longer promotional period. 
4. Pet loans (personal loans): With a little bit of time to prepare, you can arrange a personal loan to cover a vet bill. At Acorn Finance, you can check personal loan offers with no credit score impact. On approved loans you can receive funding in as little as 1-2 business days, although funding times may vary. Personal loans offer fixed payments and flexibility so you can get your pet the care they need.