A new way to pay for veterinary visits? This federal bill could give pet owners more ways to pay for care 

A growing number of households across the United States are home to a pet. Of the roughly 87 million households, 43% have been unable to front the bill for their pets needs at one point in time. A federal bill introduced in early September hopes to help alleviate that pressure on pet owners by expanding what can be covered under someone’s Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). 

The PAW Act

The bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02) would allow up to $1,000 from someone’s HSA or FSA to be used for pet care. Titled the People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act, the bill would also allow people to spend as much as they would like from either of those accounts on service animals.  

According to data from CareCredit, the average cost of a routine veterinary check-up nationwide can range between $25-$186. That cost can be much higher for specialized treatment or an emergency visit. The PAW Act offers pet owners the benefit of spending “use it or lose it” money they’ve already set aside in their FSA or HSA help cover these costs. 

In a press release from Rep. Tenney’s office, both Rep. Tenney and Rep. Ross mention the importance pets and service animals play in the lives of their owners. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) along with other organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have endorsed the bill.  

Benefits and limits of the PAW Act

Although the bill has the potential to ease some of pet owners’ financial burdens, rising healthcare costs are still an issue in the veterinary world. “AAHA endorsed the People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act for a variety of reasons, the primary being that animals are an integral part of our families and our health and well-being,” explained AAHA CEO Garth Jordan.  “While passage of the PAW Act is a bridge to easing the burden of the cost of care of our companion animals, it won’t solve on its own the rising costs of veterinary care which put significant financial pressure on pet owners and systemically eliminate millions of pets from access to the care they require.”

However, the bill offers pet owners an invaluable resource when their pet’s health is at stake: time.  AAHA, too, is committed to helping pet owners make informed choices with upcoming guidelines to be published in October.  

“The PAW Act proactively buys time for every element of our veterinary ecosystem to grapple with the challenge of making care as affordable as possible long-term without placing the burden of finding a solution on the hardworking people on the ground in the clinics,” Jordan added.  “We trust many people and companies in veterinary health will take that responsibility to heart. AAHA is committing to this through our upcoming Community Care Guidelines, which explore how spectrum of care can be embraced while we redefine what gold standard care can mean.”  

Other organizations like AVMA also shared how the passage of this bill could ease the burden pet owners face with the cost of care.  

“Ensuring veterinary care and pet health insurance are eligible expenses under Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts means more affordable care for pets, greater access to care for service animals, and an enhanced ability to detect and prevent zoonotic diseases. We thank Reps. Tenney and Ross for their leadership on this issue and urge Congress to promptly pass the PAW Act,” said AVMA President, Dr. Sandra Faeh. 

You can read and download a PDF copy of the bill here.  

Photo credit: © Elisank79 via iStock / Getty Images Plus 

Disclaimer: The views expressed, and topics discussed, in any NEWStat column or article are intended to inform, educate, or entertain, and do not represent an official position by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.