EarthWise Vet Emergency Fund Terms & Conditions:
- There is a 14-day mandatory waiting period after the time of sign-up before the funds can be accessed.
- EarthWise Vet is available to a maximum of 6 domestic pets, registered by each owner.
- Funds are available only if full or monthly continuous payments of the EarthWise Vet Emergency Club are made for the duration of the subscription period.
- If a Life-threatening emergency occurs before the end of your yearly subscription, then funds covering the rest of the subscription fee will be deducted from the total emergency vet invoice at the time of payment to the emergency vet clinic.
- All Life-threatening emergencies must be assessed and referred by one of our qualified Veterinarians through our app or website.
- After the assessment, pet owners have 4 hours to seek medical emergency care as recommended by our veterinarian team.
- Funds will not be released and available to clinics after the 4 hours have expired from the time of the emergency call or text.
- The EarthWise Vet Emergency club fund only pays for the initial emergency care. All other follow-up care, specialist exams or referrals, or any care outside of the immediate life-threatening emergency is at the expense of the pet owner. Clients cannot access any funds if the pet has been admitted prior to contacting one of our veterinarians.
- It is the pet owner's responsibility to contact one of our veterinarians prior to visiting an emergency/vet clinic to get an assessment and referral for their pet. A mandatory video call or uploading a video of your pet in live time, for proper assessment, is required before our veterinarian can deem your pet as an emergency.
- Waiting for medical care can result in an unnecessary emergency for your pet and we do not support medical negligence therefore the funds will not be approved.
- Our Senior Vet and EarthWise Vet Administration reserve the right to review all cases that are activated and can deny the funds if the guidelines and protocols are not met.
- Funds are paid directly to the Emergency Clinic by the EarthWise Vet Administration once the final invoice from the clinic is received and verified.
- Funds up to a value of $1,500 can be approved for a life-threatening emergency.
- You may be required to provide proof of ownership of your pet.
- It is the discretion of our qualified veterinarian to recommend the activation of the EarthWise Vet Emergency club funds. It is the pet owner's responsibility to ensure that all guidelines are followed to be approved by the EarthWise Vet admin team for payout at the time of the emergency.
- Texting is not sufficient to decide if it is a life-threatening emergency.
- EarthWise Vet funds are not transferable to other parties and their pets.
- Funds are restricted to a one-time pay-out regardless of the amount but up to $1,500.
- Funds are not paid out if the monthly payments are disrupted.
- Funds are not transferable to the Pet Owner.
- Funds are only paid to a registered vet clinic or emergency vet clinic at the time of the emergency.
- We require a copy of the emergency vet bill emailed to [email protected].
- The emergency fund is only for cats and dogs.
- You will not qualify for the EarthWise Vet funds if our veterinarian has previously recommended a visit to your vet clinic and you failed to comply.
- EarthWise Vet does not pay emergency funds when the pet emergency is due to persistent owner negligence or abuse of any kind.
- EarthWise Vet does not cover emergencies associated with breeding or pregnancy issues such as weaning, neonates, and nursing.
- EarthWise Vet does not cover puppies or kittens under 8 weeks of age.
- EarthWise Vet does not pay for emergencies associated with unvaccinated pets.
- EarthWise Vet does not pay out for cremation, urns, or other memorabilia if your pet needs end-of-life vet services.
- EarthWise Vet does not payout for additional costs such as prescription food, Medication not related to the approved emergency, equipment needed for after-care support, and anything that the EarthWise Vet administration team feels is not directly related to the immediate approved emergency.
- EarthWise Vet does not payout for emergencies related to injury or illness caused by the aggressive actions of another animal caused by deliberate endangerment of the member's pet, including, but not limited to organized fighting.
Can I use my insurance alternative emergency fund without consulting an in-network club vet? NO
- To access your emergency fund, you must be referred by one of our EarthWise Vet veterinarians first.
- Emergency funds will not be approved if you have already received alternative vet assistance prior to our veterinarian assessing and deeming your pet has an emergency.
- You will need to access an EarthWise Vet club veterinarian first by video call or chat.
- Your pet must be seen by our veterinarian for a proper assessment.
- You must upload a live video of your pet in the chat section or show your pet during your video call.
- You may be asked to upload more than one video to complete an assessment.
- Video assessments are mandatory for you to qualify for the emergency funds.
Can I use my club emergency fund in conjunction with a pet insurance policy?
- Emergency Funds can only be used to cover up to $1,500 in immediate emergency care costs.
- The emergency fund can only be used once per year and cannot be split among multiple emergencies.
- Since the EarthWise Vet club membership is an alternative to pet insurance, we do not have any restrictions regarding a pet owner acquiring additional pet insurance with another provider, however, the emergency fund cannot be used to cover the cost of a deductible or copay of a separate insurance policy.
- NOTE: Many traditional pet insurance providers do have restrictions regarding combining policies and alternatives, so it's important that you check with your insurance provider and are knowledgeable of any existing restrictions.
Can I use my emergency fund for more than one emergency? NO
- The emergency fund can only be used once per year per membership.
- Funds are restricted to a one-time payout regardless of the amount, up to $1,500.
- If your emergency vet bill is less than $1,500, the remaining amount will be forfeited once you choose to use the emergency fund for that emergency bill.
- Your $1,500 emergency fund will renew on an annual basis.
Activation of an emergency
- Once our EarthWise Vet club veterinarian has deemed your pet's situation as an emergency, you have 4 hours to seek vet care.
- You may go to any registered vet clinic of your choice for services.
- Once our administration team is satisfied that you qualify for the funds, have your vet clinic call us at the time of discharge so we can review and finalize the bill.
- We cover all costs related to the immediate emergency up to the $1,500 threshold.
- NOTE: We do not cover deposits at the beginning of the visit but we will cover the deposit on your behalf when we finalize the vet bill and your vet can reimburse you the deposit.
What is the EarthWise Vet emergency fund?
- Our emergency fund is included in all EarthWise Vet club memberships (not included in EarthWise Vet Basic) and provides up to $1,500 towards your vet bill in case of a life-threatening vet emergency, requiring immediate care.
- Think of it as a pet insurance alternative without a high deductible or copay.
- These are some of the other benefits compared to traditional pet insurance options:
No pre-qualifying or credit checks
- No out-of-pocket payments
- No restrictions of breed, age, or location
- No restrictions based on pre-existing conditions
- Coverage for up to 6 cats or dogs with one easy monthly payment. You can sleep easy knowing your pet is covered and emergency care won't be a financial burden.
- The EarthWise Vet emergency fund is an alternative to pet insurance and does not cover routine care or preventative health.
- What makes the EarthWise Vet Emergency Fund different?
- EarthWise Vet is an affordable pet insurance alternative for pet parents looking for financial protection in case of an unexpected vet emergency.
- EarthWise Vet is different from pet insurance because we provide financial help for the most expensive sector of pet healthcare, emergency vet care.
- We pay your vet clinic directly, so there is no need for you or your vet clinic to file a claim or fill out paperwork.
- You can use the emergency fund at any vet clinic of your choice, so your pet gets the care they need as soon as possible.
- Our team of online veterinarians are here for you 24/7 to provide first aid advice, vet advice, and emergency triage.
EarthWise Vet Emergency Fund: How It Works
- To determine if an emergency exists, you are required to video call or provide a video recording of your pet at the time of speaking to one of our veterinary professionals.
- Ultimately, it is at the discretion of our veterinarians to determine if your pet needs immediate care and deems your pet as having an emergency.
- Each situation and pet are unique, and determining if there is an emergency depends heavily on breed, age, weight, and other characteristics.
- It will then be up to the EarthWise Vet Emergency Admin Team to approve the emergency fund use request. This means they need to ensure you have followed all the proper rules and regulations that allow you to qualify for the funds.
- You will not have access to the emergency fund if the pet has been admitted prior to contacting one of our veterinarians for a proper assessment.
- After the emergency is confirmed, our team member may instruct you to go to the closest emergency clinic or a vet clinic of your choice immediately.
- You must take your pet to the emergency clinic within 4 hours of referral to qualify for the funds. Please note, you can go to any vet clinic of your choice, it does not need to be an emergency clinic.
- When you arrive at the clinic, you should admit your pet for care. At certain clinics, you may be asked for a deposit upfront, which will be reimbursed by the end of your visit.
- After you receive the final invoice, you should ask the receptionist or vet technician to send a picture or PDF of the invoice to [email protected].
- After our review, we will provide payment up to $1,500 for your vet bill, including a deposit left upon arrival if applicable.
- Payment is made directly to the clinic. We do not reimburse anything to the pet parent, we only provide payment directly to the clinic.
- Once the invoice is paid, you are free to leave with your pet.
How will I know if my pet's issue qualifies for emergency fund coverage?
- The veterinarian must determine that your pet is having an emergency and will send you an emergency assessment chart through the chat or will inform you directly on the video call that they are deeming your pet has an emergency.
- The fund will not be activated for issues that can be resolved if the pet is seen within 24 hours, or that do not require immediate attention.
- Please read the full terms and conditions for further information on criteria surrounding emergencies
- Our veterinary professionals will determine whether your situation qualifies for the emergency fund based on the conditions stated below:
- LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY — Must seek emergency vet care immediately and leave for help now — COVERED
- CRITICAL — Highly recommended that the pet be seen within 24 hours — NOT COVERED
- URGENT — The pet owner can make the next available appointment with their vet (within 3 days) — NOT COVERED
- NON-URGENT — may need to see a vet at some point — NOT COVERED
- FLEXIBLE — We recommend that you make the next available appointment to see your vet (within 20 days) — NOT COVERED
- CONDITIONAL — Follow current instructions and if no improvement, the pet should be seen within 3 days — NOT COVERED
- PREVENTATIVE — Recommend that pet is seen within 48 hours to initiate preventative treatment — NOT COVERED
- EXCLUDED FROM COVERAGE:
- Any pre-scheduled appointments
- Vaccinations & deworming
- Non-life-threatening emergencies
- Routine check-ups
- X-rays and ultrasounds unrelated to the EarthWise Vet-approved emergency
- Prescriptions & medications unrelated to the EarthWise Vet-approved emergency
- Dental cleaning & routine procedures related to oral health
- Non-emergency surgeries
- Follow-up appointments for emergency care
- Secondary issues unrelated to the EarthWise Vet-approved emergency
- Pre-existing conditions unrelated to the EarthWise Vet-approved emergency
- Any other medical procedure unrelated to the EarthWise Vet-approved emergency
- Emergencies associated with breeding, pregnancy issues including neonates, weaning & nursing
- Emergencies for puppies and kittens younger than 8 weeks old
- Emergencies related to extended neglect or abuse of any pet