Why Does It Cost So Much To Go To The Vet?

Heidi's mom, Kim, here to let you all know another reason veterinary care costs so much.

(This is part two - part one is titled "Time to Take Control".)

The first reason that we discussed was the employment of trained technical staff, in the form of licensed veterinary technicians.  It is their job to support the veterinarians, with their training, for the care of your pets.


The second reason that we will discuss is the cost of research and development of drugs.  Any drug or pharmaceutical used by a medical doctor or veterinarian must be developed, proven to be effective, and do the job it is meant to do without causing harm.  


R&D, as it is called in the industry, costs billions of dollars a year.  One prescription medication can cost millions to hundreds of millions of dollars to research and develop and bring to market.  What about when all of that is done and the drug is proven to be ineffective or harmful?  All of that money is wasted!  The drug/research companies must recoup that money somehow, so count that cost into the price of the drugs that make it to market.


Veterinary drugs are generally bought by the pet owner directly from the veterinarian.  Human patients buy their prescriptions from pharmacies.  Pharmacies are able to buy most of their drugs in large, bulk quantities because that is all they do.  When you go to the pharmacy, you are buying a drug that was bought with a bulk discount and you likely have insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid to help you pay for it.  
Veterinarians have a much smaller population to sell their prescription drugs to, so they can not partake of the great discounts that pharmacies are able to offer.  Most pet owners do not have insurance for their pets, so the prescription they buy from the pharmacy is full price; there is no copay or coinsurance to reduce your out of pocket cost.  


When I go to the pharmacy I receive a slip that shows all of the information on the label, such as the drug name, prescribing doctor, etc.  One other thing that is included on this is what the cost of the drug would be for me to pay, what the insurance pays, and what is left for me to actually pay (the copay).  For most of my drugs it is $6 for generics, $24 for some brand name drugs, and $48 for more expensive brand name drugs.  One of the drugs that I buy costs me $48 a month.  If I did not have insurance the same drug would cost me almost $300 a month.  If I had to pay that every month, I would be homeless.  So, it seems reasonable that the special antibiotic or anti-inflammatory that your pet needs might cost more than your copay at the pharmacy.  


But it's just a (insert animal of choice here)!  Why does it cost so much.?!?!
Because of the R&D - so it's safe for your loved pet.