Payment & Finance at Kowhai Vet

Payment & Finance

We know how much your pet’s health and happiness mean to you. Unlike human healthcare, there’s no public system for animals—so pet owners cover the cost of veterinary care. We aim to be transparent about treatment costs and will discuss estimates before we proceed. If affordability is a concern, please talk to us before treatment begins.

Payment Options

  • Cash
  • EFTPOS
  • Credit Card (excluding AMEX)
As a small business, we’re unable to offer in-house credit. See finance options below to help spread the cost of care.

Finance & Payment Plans

VetCare Finance

  • Loans from $500–$15,000
  • Quick application (~5 minutes); pre-approval within 12 hours
  • No deposit; up to 24 months to repay
  • Funds paid directly to our clinic
Apply here

Afterpay

  • Split costs into smaller, interest-free payments
  • Simple sign-up and instant decision
Sign up for Afterpay

Pet Insurance & Direct Claims

Pet insurance can provide peace of mind by covering unexpected costs. We can submit claims directly to your insurer when:

  • You sign a claim form authorising us to act on your behalf
  • You agree to pay any balance not covered by insurance (e.g., co-pays or declined amounts)

Southern Cross Easy-Claim

We accept Southern Cross Pet Insurance Easy-Claim, allowing us to claim directly in-clinic so you only pay what isn’t covered.

Southern Cross Easy-Claim →


GapOnly

We’re excited to offer GapOnly®, a payment service that works with selected pet insurance brands. This means you can access your pet insurance benefit on-the spot for eligible claims, making your visit simpler and less stressful.

How to claim using GapOnly®:
1.If you have a GapOnly® ready policy, let our team know you’d like to submit
a GapOnly® claim for your pet’s treatment.
2.We’ll lodge the claim on your behalf, and it’s usually assessed in just 5-10
minutes.
3.Once the claim is approved, you simply pay the gap (the difference
between the vet’s invoice and your eligible claim benefit) and you’re done!

 

Transparency & Estimates

We’ll discuss expected costs and provide estimates before proceeding wherever possible.


Pre-payment Policy

We don’t accept advance “rainy day” deposits to our bank account. Instead, we recommend pet insurance, Afterpay, PetFunders, or VetCare Finance.

Note: Finance approvals are subject to provider criteria and responsible lending checks. Terms and fees may apply—please review the provider’s terms.