Veterans with service canines can now get free pet health insurance for their dogs through a Veterans Affairs Department program. The insurance will cover virtually all medical costs for the dogs.
The Military Times reports the VA has contracted with pet health insurance company Trupanion to cover the veterans' cost for preventative care, emergency care, and medications.
To qualify, the dogs must be certified by the VA as service dogs. Dogs owned by the VA that provide assistance to veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are also eligible for the program.
A spokeswoman for Trupanion told DVM60 magazine (a publication for veterinarians) that the process is streamlined so that the pet insurance company pays the veterinarian directly:
“All veterinarians have to do is send us the bill.
“Whether it’s a regular veterinary practice or an emergency hospital in the middle of the night—they can call us at any time.
“They then just need to e-mail or fax the bill to us and we can pay them directly through Vet Direct Pay, a system that allows them to receive direct payment."
