Financing & Pet Insurance

CareCredit FAQs

The following are some of the most common questions our vets get about financing patients' care with the CareCredit credit card.

• What is CareCredit?

  CareCredit is a healthcare credit card. It can serve as a way to pay for a variety of medical expenses, including your pet's veterinary care with convenient monthly payments.*

  The CareCredit card is accepted at over 250,000 providers and retail locations across the country such as Veterinary Medical Associates.

  *Subject to credit approval.

• How do I apply for a CareCredit card?

  The fastest way to apply for a CareCredit card is to visit their website here. There, you can see if you pre-qualify for a CareCredit credit card and, if pre-qualified, you can preview your credit limit.

  After checking whether you pre-qualify, you can either apply online at the link above, by phone or in person at our Modesto clinic or another participating healthcare office.

  *Applicants must be at least 21 years of age to apply by phone (must be 18 or older to apply through other means). Applicants by phone must have written copy of the credit card agreement before proceeding, which can be printed from carecredit.com or can be obtained from our clinic.

• How do I use my CareCredit card?

  You can use your CareCredit card just like you use any other credit card.

  As long as you stay within your credit limit, you can use your card to pay for any veterinary expenses you may have at Veterinary Medical Associates or other participating healthcare providers without needing to apply each time.

• What procedures can I use my CareCredit card for?

  The CareCredit card can be used for veterinary medical procedures at providers in the CareCredit network, from surgeries and routine exams to dental care and more. 

  The following are some examples of the treatments and procedures that a CareCredit card can be used for:

  • Annual check-ups
  • Teeth cleaning
  • Parasites
  • Medication
  • Vaccinations
  • Microchipping
  • Pet food and nutrition

  • Rehab
  • Diagnostics
  • Spay and neutering
  • Chemotherapy
  • Surgical procedures
  • Emergency services

Scratchpay FAQs

The following are some of the FAQs asked by our clients about the financing options provided by Scratchpay.

• What is Scratchpay?

  Scratchpay is a simple financing solution, designed to provide simple and transparent payment plans for financing the costs associated with veterinary care in addition to other healthcare costs.

• How do I apply for Scratchpay?

  Applicants for Scratchpay financing must be U.S. Residents that are 18 years of age or older. Children under the age of 18 are not eligible to participate in the offerings on this website.

  You can apply for a Scratchpay payment plan from any internet-connected device at the link to the left and receive a decision instantly without any hard credit checks that may impact your credit score.

  There is no need to wait until you arrive at our Modesto office to apply.  We recommend, however, that you contact us in advance for an estimate of the cost of care before applying for Scratchpay.

  If you have any questions before your application, our veterinary team would be more than happy to address them at your appointment or by phone.

• Is Scratchpay accepted by all veterinary clinics?

  No. Scratchpay is exclusively accepted at partner clinics that have registered to provide their clients these services, such as Veterinary Medical Associates.

• What kind of medical bills can I use Scratchpay to pay?

  As long as your veterinarian is a Scratchpay partner like Veterinary Medical Associates, you can apply to use Scratchpay to create payment plans for as may expenses as you need.

  Applying will not affect your credit score and you will be informed about what plans are available for your pet's care within seconds of applying.

• Is there any other important information that I need to know?
  • All payment plans and loans are subject to approval and, with respect to the loan, the rate for which individual borrowers qualify may vary based on individual credit history and other factors.
  • 12 and 24 month Scratch Plans require a $15.00 down payment to obtain financing, which will be refunded if you do not use your plan.
  • Bi-weekly Plans require a 20% down payment of the total amount financed, with the remaining amount financed split equally among the four remaining payments due every two weeks. Loan amounts range from $35 to $1,000 and 0% APR. Late payments or payments of less than the full amount may result in late fees. For example, a $200 Bi-weekly Plan would require a 20% down payment of $40. Four equal payments of $40 would be due every two weeks thereafter.
  • Scratch Plans are available in 6, 12, 18, and 24 month terms, range in loan amounts from $150 to $10,000, and with annual percentage rates (APR) ranging from 0% to 36% with the lowest rates for borrowers with exceptional credit scores. Monthly payment amounts on a Scratch Plan will depend on the term length, amount financed, and APR. For example, a 12-month Scratch Plan for $10,000 with 5.99% APR would have 12 monthly payments of $860.62 for a total repayment amount of $10,327.44. Signing for a Scratch Plan means the borrower agrees to make all payments in full and on the scheduled due dates. A borrower may incur late fees for partial or late payments that may result in higher interest charges and repayment schedule. 12 and 24 month plans require a $15 down payment due immediately.
  • Scratch Pay plans in the U.S. are issued by WebBank, while in Canada, they are issued by ©Scratch Financial, Inc. ©Scratchpay (NMLS ID#: 1582666). Eligibility is required for these loan products.

Pet Insurance

While selecting an insurance carrier and plan is your decision, we’ve highlighted some companies we enjoy working with because they provide excellent service, just like Veterinary Medical Associates.

Nationwide

Nationwide offers a variety of plans and is a favorite among exotic pet parents as it is one of the few carriers that provide insurance for exotic companion animals.

Visit Nationwide's Website

Pumpkin

Pumpkin offers preventative and urgent care plans. They give 90% cash back on covered vet bills and their easy to use online claims process takes the headache out of filing a claim.

Visit Pumpkin's Website

Trupanion

Trupanion has no payout limits and provides extensive pet insurance coverage. Their quick and easy claim process allows for direct payment within minutes.

Visit Trupanion's Website