Media release
RSPCA Pet Insurance has introduced Direct2Vet, a new payment solution available at no cost to veterinary clinics, designed to streamline claims processing and reduce financial barriers at the point of care.
Direct2Vet: A simpler way to claim
By removing the need for clients to pay the full vet bill upfront and instead allowing them to pay only the gap, Direct2Vet helps pet owners better manage costs while giving veterinary clinics a simple way to submit claims directly at the point of care.
Direct2Vet enables eligible claims to be processed and paid directly to participating veterinary clinics. At the time of treatment, the clinic submits the invoice through a secure portal, the customer confirms via SMS, and the benefit is paid directly to the clinic – so the customer only needs to cover the remaining balance between the invoice amount and their level of cover.
RSPCA Pet Insurance CEO Brad Smith says the feature is part of a broader approach to make cover more accessible and practical amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. “We know clinics are navigating increasingly complex conversations around cost and care. Direct2Vet is designed to be simple, fast, and easy to sign up for, helping reduce friction at the point of payment by lowering out-of-pocket costs for clients.”
The financial pressure on pet owners and clinics
New RSPCA-commissioned research highlights the scale of the issue, with delayed veterinary care affecting Australians across all income levels.
RSPCA Victoria Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Melissa Meehan, says these financial pressures are deeply felt within veterinary teams. “We often need to present different levels of care, from baseline through to optimal treatment. Optimal care delivers the best outcome, but it is costly and these conversations are emotionally challenging for both veterinary teams and pet owners.”
Insurance working in real time
Insurance working in real time
“With World Veterinary Day celebrated every April, we feel it’s important to highlight that initiatives like this help make things a little easier for veterinary teams. When insurance works in real time, it helps shift conversations away from financial barriers and back to clinical outcomes.”
Brad Smith – CEO, RSPCA Pet Insurance
Smith continues by stressing that integrating insurance more effectively into the care pathway benefits both veterinarians and patients.
What Direct2Vet means for clinics
For clinics, this translates into:
No cost to participate
Simplified, real-time claims processing during standard service hours
Reduced administrative burden
Improved client confidence in treatment decisions
About RSPCA Pet Insurance
RSPCA Pet Insurance is a purpose-driven strategic partnership between RSPCA Australia and Pacific International Insurance, designed to protect and improve the wellbeing of pets while also helping contribute funding to RSPCA animal welfare initiatives nationwide. With over 150 years of RSPCA expertise in animal care, advocacy, and veterinary knowledge, our customisable product offers transparent, flexible coverage that can be tailored to pet owners’ needs and budgets, with premiums helping support RSPCA initiatives such as rescue, rehabilitation, rehoming, education, and law enforcement efforts for animals in need. Guided by a vision of a world where pets can live well and be well, RSPCA Pet Insurance combines empathy, expertise, and innovation to help make pet insurance accessible and impactful. For more information, visit rspcapetinsurance.org.au
Media contacts:
Leandri Smith | Evolab | leandri@evolab.com.au | 0433 900 356
Azelle Evans | Evolab | azelle@evolab.com.au | 0451 710 095
References:
- The RSPCA polling was conducted by McCrindle Research and was in the field from 11 to 23 March 2026. A nationally representative 1,014 Australians were surveyed.
