Americans love their pets. According to the 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey and the Humane Society of the United States, approximately 63% of US households own pets.
That translates to about 75 million dogs, and over 88 million cats, that live in our homes today. And, if you are like most people, your pets have become members of your family.
However, due to the tough economic times, we can’t always afford to get our pets the veterinary care they deserve.
When financial difficulties do arrive, the first to go is often the family pet. Pet rescue groups and animal shelters are overflowing with homeless pets, and the number is continuing to grow more rapidly than ever before.
For the first time in years, veterinary practices are experiencing a decline in revenues similar to what many other industries are going through based on the economic down-turn. There is some hope for both veterinarians and pet-owners, however.
New on the scene in Orange County is a company that offers a pet healthcare membership program. The company, called United Pet Care (UPC), is founded on a unique business model focused on bringing new clients to veterinarians, and providing pet-owners with a significant savings on their veterinary bills, making the cost of veterinary care more affordable. It is a win-win for both pet-owners and veterinarians!
The United Pet Care program is NOT pet insurance. In fact, it differs significantly from pet insurance. The membership costs are less than $12/month/pet – and there are no exclusions of any kind (age, pre-existing conditions, and hereditary disorders). Also, unlike insurance, there are no claim forms to fill out, thereby eliminating the waiting and wondering whether the claim will be covered and if so, to what extent.
Additionally, there are no costly deductibles to pay, saving the pet-owner even more money. The best part is, when you go to check out after your veterinary appointment, they simply apply the savings to your invoice at the time of service. You receive your guaranteed discount right away! Typical savings range from 20-50%. Additionally, UPC’s monthly membership fee is even lower for those who have rescued pets, and for senior citizens.
United Pet Care is available to individual pet-owners as well as through various employers that are headquartered in Southern California. Employers make the program available as a voluntary benefit to their employees. Not only does this assist the employees in saving on pet-healthcare, it shows them that their employers care about their financial well-being. For more information on the company, visit their website at www.unitedpetcare.com, or call (949)916-7374.
