![]() ![]() You must decide whether what you get is worth the price. No coverage of vaccinations and routine care-unless you pay an additional premium of $144 and For example, one veterinary insurance policy charged a $305 annual premium, but imposed lots of potentially costly limitations, including:Ī fixed reimbursement plan that might not cover the total cost of a procedure Ī $50 deductible for each accident or illness (rather than a per-year deductible) If you’re considering health insurance for cats or dogs, read the fine print. “They actually took the time to listen to me,” he says. ![]() Some veterinarians did shine here-a few clinics received a “superior” rating on 95 percent of the surveys-but a number of clinics pulled in superior marks from only 30 percent of their clients.Īs for Marquez, he finally found a vet worth keeping-Hobson Valley Animal Clinic in Woodridge. On average, clients gave veterinarians their lowest marks on this category of the survey. Many clients surveyed complained that veterinarians pushed costly treatments that benefited their pocketbooks over owners’ pets. Unfortunately, local vets didn’t score so well when it came to keeping medical costs down. You want a vet who informs you about lower-cost care alternatives, offers preventive advice, and doesn’t do more than necessary. Low prices are not the only way a vet can save you money. All of the 23 clinics here had prices that were either below average or close to it. For example, at Beverly Hills Animal Hospital in Chicago, you could expect to pay $65 for services that, on average, cost $100 at all of the area’s clinics surveyed. The chart this page also shows how the prices of the top 23 stacked up against the average prices for all the clinics evaluated. To clean the teeth of a 5-year-old, 65-pound dog: a range of $99 to $469, with a $241 average.To spay a 6½-month-old cat: a range of $119 to $292, with a $192 average.To neuter a 6-month-old, 30-pound dog, prices ranged from $115 to $690, with an average price of $243.Among the 220 clinics rated (see note on methodology below), Checkbook found huge disparities even with the most basic procedures: You can shop around and get a reasonable idea of price levels by simply making a few phone calls. Some vets are much better priced than others. When looking for a veterinary clinic-or deciding whether to ditch the current one-there are some serious questions to consider: Can you tour the facility? Is it easily accessible in an emergency? Does the vet give a thorough exam and take a thorough medical history? With any veterinarian, a strong feeling of competency and comfort is paramount in the exam room, but the reality check might be the price tag. ![]() The nonprofit magazine ( ) evaluated 220 veterinarians across the Chicago metropolitan area, compiled more than 6,300 customer surveys, and narrowed down the list to 23 of the best. That’s why Chicago Consumers’ Checkbook is here to help. It might take some investigating, but great (and affordable) vets are out there. Marquez’s story isn’t uncommon, which is why it is vital to shop around for a good, caring veterinarian: Your pet’s health, your hard-earned money-and your peace of mind-are all at stake. Marquez says the veterinarian failed to explain the diagnosis: “He simply wrote a prescription and sent us on our way.” The clinic’s assembly-line approach to treatment was an immediate red flag for Marquez, who never returned to that “dreadful place.” Checkbook has won the National Press Club’s prestigious First Place Award for Excellence in Consumer Journalism.“He looked at me like I had three heads when I asked for some preventive advice,” recalls Juan Marquez, a Downers Grove resident who took his Boston terrier, Tiki, to a clinic to treat a skin condition. Checkbook evaluates the quality and prices of local service companies and stores, such as auto repair shops, plumbers, dentists, banks, and insurance companies. Its evaluations at provides information to help consumers in five states select the best health plan through government healthcare exchanges.Ĭonsumers’ Checkbook magazine and are published in seven metro areas: the Boston, Chicago, Delaware Valley, Puget Sound, San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, Twin Cities, and Washington, DC, areas. It provides its evaluations of physicians and hospitals on its websites, , and. Checkbook created the first-ever website to report surgeon-specific outcomes in terms of deaths and complications for a wide range of high-risk surgeries. It has for 40 years been an innovator in providing consumers information to help them select high-quality services, including physicians and hospitals. Email: Checkbook is an independent, nonprofit consumer organization. ![]()
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