{"id":6063,"date":"2019-08-03T14:55:43","date_gmt":"2019-08-03T21:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=6063"},"modified":"2022-03-02T21:39:01","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T21:39:01","slug":"revised-avma-policy-urges-pet-insurance-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/revised-avma-policy-urges-pet-insurance-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Revised AVMA policy urges pet insurance education"},"content":{"rendered":"

The American Veterinary Medical Association is encouraging practitioners and their teams to proactively educate clients about the existence of pet health insurance as a way to help defray the cost of medical care.<\/p>\n

The House of Delegates approved a policy change<\/a> Aug. 2 that elevates pet health insurance from merely being endorsed by the AVMA to being recognized as a financial resource deserving of client education. The resolution passed with 76% of the vote and no discussion for or against.<\/p>\n

The finance reference committee recommended the resolution\u2019s approval during a meeting a day earlier. A couple of committee members questioned whether the word \u201cproactively\u201d in the phrase \u201cproactively educate\u201d went a step too far.<\/p>\n

Wendy Hauser, DVM, representing the American Animal Hospital Association in the House of Delegates, told the committee that \u201cproactive is an important word to have in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cProactive can be having a question on your new-client form: \u2018What pet insurance<\/a> do you have?\u2019\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s proactive. It opens the door to a conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Surveys conducted by the North American Pet Health Insurance Association and Mississippi State University found that clients \u201cwanted veterinarians to talk to them about pet insurance,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Hauser, assistant vice president of veterinary relations for the Crum and Forster Pet Insurance Group, pointed out that veterinarians are not in the business of selling pet insurance. In fact, regulations limit a health care team\u2019s involvement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a heavily regulated product,\u201d she said. \u201cYou guys cannot talk \u2014 because you\u2019re not licensed \u2014 about policies. You cannot make recommendations about what type of coverage [clients] should be getting.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally, it\u2019s just endorsing the idea that pet insurance is a useful tool.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other action, the House of Delegates:<\/p>\n