Chapter 7, How to keep CareCredit card?

[OhioFiler]

Since you have a high possibility of not having a credit card open, you should consider dropping the pet insurance. If you cannot pay up front anyway, reimbursement is a moot point.

Consider rolling your pet insurance payment into a budget item every month and DO NOT TOUCH IT. I wouldn't even touch it for routine visits. I would get quotes at your local animal shelter since they tend to be less expensive and the money goes towards a good cause.

IMO, you should find a vet that accepts payment plans for emergency treatments. Make sure you keep your dog at the correct weight or risk having him get diabetes.

Equating dogs to children is not scary. It is a perfectly fine thing to do. Just realize pets are not included in the Physician's Oath.

Sorry but as a dog lover who fosters animals regularly and has a house full of them I can not begin to consider moral relativism between a dog and a child.

There is no way to value a dog equal to a child. In the history of mankind this has never happened in any culture.

[lovebirds]

Sorry but as a dog lover who fosters animals regularly and has a house full of them I can not begin to consider moral relativism between a dog and a child.

There is no way to value a dog equal to a child. In the history of mankind this has never happened in any culture.

Some people would rather have a simple adopted dog in their life than to overpopulate the world with more children. This idea is not unheard of.

And there is a way to value a dog equal to a child. OP is doing it right now.

[OhioFiler]

Some people would rather have a simple adopted dog in their life than to overpopulate the world with more children. This idea is not unheard of.

And there is a way to value a dog equal to a child. OP is doing it right now.

There is no proof the world is overpopulated with children.

OP may value her dog assuming it's worth what a child is but may well not have a child to actually make a direct comparison. I would think nearly 100% of people who have both children and pets would agree that the two are not equal.

[Chowder]

Awww, cmon. Old or single people, without children, substitute a pet for that relationship. Some just spend the money because they think it's the 'right thing' to do. I'm an animal lover, so I can understand the psychology.

I have kids too though so have a realistic limit on how far I'm willing to go to save an animal. Especially since I'm bankrupt!!

A good friend inherited some rabbits from a kid he was a caretaker of. These rabbits multiplied as they will. He spent a bundle spaying and neutering this warren. Then one of the Rabbits developed some life threatening ailment. He spent $6000.00 dollars on one of these vet cards at 25% interest. Of course the Rabbit still died.

Now he has a baby of his own and he'll be paying that rabbits medical bills off until his son is Kindergarten.

[MrSmithster]

maybe buy pet insurance? ask your vet which ins. company offers the best terms/plans. my vet showed me a plan that pays almost 100% for $45 a month or one that pays after the first $250 per visit that was only $19 a month.
some of my cards appeared to make it thru my filing, but at about 90 days after my 341 all my cards had closed except one, a PEPBOYS card with a $500 limit(zero balance for a few years). even a card my mom had me on as an authorized user was closed, also zero bal. i dont use cards any longer(yes, it hard, but gets easier with time and a budget), plus i cant stand supporting these loan shark cc terms any longer.

[Lovesgirl]

Hi MrSmithster! I do have a medical policy on him. It's about $400 a year and I can pay annually or by the month. But it only reimburses me after I have paid the vet or the emergency vet. So then I have the CareCredit card which I applied for at the vet. So when he goes to the vet, I put the charge on that card. Then send the bill in to the insurance company, a few weeks later I get a check back. Deposit it into my checking account and write that amount to CareCredit. The policy only does you good, if you have the money to begin with to pay the vet.

I really didn't want to get into a discussion with all of you about whether or not I should have a pet, could afford a pet, or whether a pet is more important that a child, or whether or not I should be allowed to have a credit card, or should want a credit card.

To others:
I just wanted advice on strategy on how to attempt to keep this CareCredit card that can ONLY be used at the vet so I can ensure that if something happens, I can pay for it, help my Boo Boo, and then pay that card off. So if anyone has advice on strategy for keeping the card, I'd like to hear it. But I really don't want to hear how I shouldn't have a pet if I can't afford it, children are more important, etc. Thanks

[OhioFiler]

Hi MrSmithster! I do have a medical policy on him. It's about $400 a year and I can pay annually or by the month. But it only reimburses me after I have paid the vet or the emergency vet. So then I have the CareCredit card which I applied for at the vet. So when he goes to the vet, I put the charge on that card. Then send the bill in to the insurance company, a few weeks later I get a check back. Deposit it into my checking account and write that amount to CareCredit. The policy only does you good, if you have the money to begin with to pay the vet.

I really didn't want to get into a discussion with all of you about whether or not I should have a pet, could afford a pet, or whether a pet is more important that a child, or whether or not I should be allowed to have a credit card, or should want a credit card.

To others:
I just wanted advice on strategy on how to attempt to keep this CareCredit card that can ONLY be used at the vet so I can ensure that if something happens, I can pay for it, help my Boo Boo, and then pay that card off. So if anyone has advice on strategy for keeping the card, I'd like to hear it. But I really don't want to hear how I shouldn't have a pet if I can't afford it, children are more important, etc. Thanks

You can't pick and choose what others post on these forums. You can choose to ignore, dispute or accept any ideas posted.

Children are much more important than pets.

Planning to rely on credit cards of any nature after bankruptcy is a poor strategy. Even if the strategy is designed because you can't afford to pay cash to care for your pet.

[pookieny]

I would pay off the card before filing BK so you're not filing on them and then see in 6 months after discharge if you can reapply and they take you back if they close on your account when you file. If you file on them with a balance, they will be included and you will be SOL.

[pookieny]

Yeah, I know. In the the old days I worked in vet offices. Some did accept some didn't. One thing common with most of the vets though was their willingness to work with established clientele. Heck, some worked with some newcomers.

Honestly, do you actually think your Vet will turn you away if you come in as an emergency? Is so, I'd look for another vet ASAP.

Maybe your regular vet would do that but if you need an emergency vet after hours or weekends in my town, you will be told when you call or go in there not to come unless you're prepared to pay. When I questioned their lack of empathy policy I was told "we are not a charity, we're a business".

[LSUTiger32]

You try to help people but some people just don't want to hear the truth. You are seriously comparing CHILDREN to DOGS? Wow, I hope to god that you don't have any kids.

Anyway, as you have already been told twenty times there is a 99.99999% chance the card gets closed. Regardless of if you like or dislike my original advice of learning to live without a credit card.....the odds are YOU WILL BE LIVING WITHOUT IT!

I'll try to say it one more time because I really am trying to help. There is NO REASON that you can't come up with an emergency fund that will cover the upfront cost of just about anything that will ever be done in your pets life until you get re-imbursed by the insurance company. If the dog ever needs a quadruple bypass or whatever else you are freaking out about, I am sure the vet will work with you until you get re-imbursed by the insurance company as long as it is something that is covered.

I will go away now, because I am not sure what else can be said.

[Chowder]

Maybe your regular vet would do that but if you need an emergency vet after hours or weekends in my town, you will be told when you call or go in there not to come unless you're prepared to pay. When I questioned their lack of empathy policy I was told "we are not a charity, we're a business".

Then I guess a contingency plan needs to be put in place.

I'd have to go with most posters -and several websites- suggestion of setting aside for a pet expense savings account.

[hereforinfo]

You probably won't have a choice, the card will most likely be closed. All you can do is start saving an emergency fund and hope for the best. The odds of your dog having some life threatening huge medical expense right after you file are slim. You should have plenty of time to save a reasonable amount to cover vet expenses.

[Amy26]

While the species of a child to a dog is irrefutable .... I too agree that my pets are like my children. While I would never put a pet above a child, they are as dear to me as a child. I've raised both my cats from kittenhood and one is 12 and the other is 6. Before I got married if any guy I dated had ever said its the cats or me... I'd take the cats.

I too have issues with vet expenses. My 12 year old cat has problems with his ears. I've gone through surgeries and outrageous vet bills. A month or so before I filed, he was having problems and they told me he might have cancer. After a sonogram and lots of tests, he ended up being ok and *I cross my fingers* cancer free. However I managed to wrack up a 1,500 dollar vet bill. Which unfortunatley I had to include in my bankruptcy.

Over the last 12 years I never really had an issue figuring out how to pay for stuff for the cats and it never really occured to me to get pet insurance. I wish now that I had...but just telling someone "just get pet insurance" isn't really a viable option. I would not be able to insure my 12 year old cat right now because they usually require you to join them when they are kittens. Just like regular insurance there is a "preexisting condition" thing...

The card will most likely be closed but if you really want it you may be able to get one after discharge down the road.

Good luck!

[justcurious]

I love animals and have had pets all my life so I fully understand wanting to do anything you could for them.

I agree with a number of the posters here - expect your credit card account to be closed, don't think about getting another one, and set aside some money in a separate savings account to be used exclusively as an emergency vet fund.

[CindyLou]

I have VPI pet insurance for my peace of mind. though the money has to be paid up front and they reimburse you at 90% after a 50.00 ded.