Vet Visits Go Virtual in California Starting 2024: Benefits for Pet Owners

Cha-ching! A new bill (AB-1399) has arrived, fresh out of the California legislature. Starting in 2024, visiting vets virtually in the Golden State is legal. But what does that mean?

California pet owners get a third option. Until now, pet owners without established vet relationships have had to choose between dragging sick Biscuits to the clinic and hoping the animal gets better on their own.

Now, pet owners can hop on a quick call with a new vet to get their pet diagnosed.

The benefits to pet owners aren't immediately obvious, but they're there, and they're bigger than a pack of Tibetan Mastiffs. The perks include greater convenience, more access to vets, and affordable alternatives to traditional in-person care.

It's convenient

Establishing veterinarian-client-patient relationships (VCPR) from your living room seems convenient. This is doubly true when your pet has social issues. When Fido freaks out around other dogs, bringing him to the vet's office is a hassle.

Waiting times become less of an issue when everything's online. You can wait on the couch, chill with your cat, and get work done while the vet wraps up their latest patient.

Folks who live far from the nearest vet can skip travel times, too. Rural pet owners may benefit the most from the bill. They can shave down on travel time by getting pets seen online for minor medical issues.

Pet owners may get more access to vets

According to research by Mars Veterinary Health, the U.S. will face a shortage of up to 24,000 vets by 2030. Cue longer wait times and more expensive vet visits.

Part of the solution could be letting pet owners establish VCPR over video calls. Now that AB-1399 has taken effect on Jan. 1, 2024, vets can schedule online visits for new clients, giving vets more flexibility to see pets wherever they are.

Something to consider: Vets might be more willing to examine your pet's spontaneous limp at 9 p.m. if they can do so from the comfort of their homes. It could be cheaper than taking pets to a clinic, especially if your pet's condition can be diagnosed and treated 100% remotely.

An affordable alternative to in-person care

Not all vet visits are routine checkups or medical emergencies. Sometimes, Winnie's poop looks weird, or Ralph has a tummy ache, or Chelsea is sneezing her poor little snoot off.

In these cases, you might want to hop on the call with a vet quickly for some advice. If you have yet to establish a relationship with a vet in person (or can't reach them), you can now hop on a call with a licensed veterinarian through services like Dutch, a pet telehealth company.

It's cheap -- Dutch charges between $7.36 and $35 monthly for unlimited video calls and texting with vets. Pet owners can use similar services to get pets seen by vets when their usual providers aren't available. Even prescriptions can be assigned online, if necessary.

Pet insurer Lemonade says a basic vet visit runs from $45 to $55. That's more than a month's worth of a Dutch subscription. If you can get your pet diagnosed and prescribed 100% virtually, it could be cheaper than waiting in line at a traditional vet's office.

It could save California pet owners time and money

On the one hand, pet owners who go virtual could pay less for some non-emergency care plans, such as allergy diagnosis and prescriptions, which vets can often orchestrate 100% virtually.

On the other hand, you can already call up your regular vet for consultations. So long as you've visited them once before, you're good to get advice and prescriptions over the phone. Another service on top of that doesn't save you money, even if it gets your pet seen faster.

Suppose a telehealth service refers you to an in-person visit. In that case, you're paying extra for someone to tell you what you would have done anyway: visit your regular veterinarian.

Finally, there's pet insurance to consider. Some insurers cover telehealth. Others don't. For example, Lemonade pet insurance only covers virtual vet visits if pet owners purchase the Vet Visit Fee add-on. Pet owners will want to check if their insurance covers virtual vet visits.

Virtual vet visits could save California pet owners time and money for non-emergency services. It may take time for vets and pet telehealth companies to adapt to new legal rules; don't expect to see many new options just yet. But it's worth keeping an eye out as 2024 unfolds.