Pet Insurance & Wellness Plans Built Into Your Practice Software

Soon, pet owners can access clinic-controlled insurance and wellness plans directly through Shepherd.

No new logins. No complicated enrollment process. No extra steps for your team.

Coverage appears right where clients are already engaged—during checkout and in the pet portal—so they can enroll when they’re actively thinking about their pet’s health.

This isn’t about adding another tool to your stack. It’s about removing the friction that keeps pet owners from getting coverage in the first place.

The real problem: the gap between intent and action

Most pet owners want financial protection.

They know insurance helps with emergencies. They know wellness plans make routine care affordable. They understand that unexpected costs happen.

But the traditional enrollment process creates friction:

• Researching providers on their own time
• Comparing plans across multiple websites
• Filling out applications after they’ve left your practice
• Making decisions when they’re not thinking about their pet’s health

So they never get around to it.

And when the $3,000 emergency hits, or when they’re skipping the dental cleaning because it’s “not urgent,” the financial barrier shows up exactly when it matters most.

How built-in coverage works

The VICoverage marketplace (powered by Vertical Insure) lives inside Shepherd.

It appears in two places:

On invoices: When you process payments, clients can automatically review plans, compare coverage, or enroll—without leaving the payment flow.

You control whether the marketplace appears on each invoice. It’s enabled by default, but you can opt out on individual invoices or disable it entirely in your account settings.

In the pet portal: Clients can explore coverage while managing appointments, reviewing records, or making payments.

There are no workflow changes for your team. Clients enroll on their own, and once enrolled, policy administration, claims, and customer support are all handled directly by the provider - not your practice.

What this means for your practice

Clients Say Yes More Often

When financial barriers shrink, clinical decisions get easier.

Pet owners with insurance approve recommended treatments without the “let me think about it” pause. They schedule preventive care on time instead of delaying. They follow through with rechecks instead of skipping them.

Wellness plans make routine care predictable and affordable, so cost concerns don’t drive families to shop around or delay necessary visits.

You Become a Comprehensive Care Partner

Making coverage more accessible positions your practice as more than a medical provider.

You’re helping families prepare for emergencies and budget for ongoing wellness. This kind of support builds loyalty that lasts.

Zero Disruption to Your Day

Pet insurance and wellness options appear automatically during checkout and in the pet portal.

No training required. No new systems to learn. No ongoing management.

Your team continues using Shepherd exactly as they do now. When clients have questions pre-coverage, ViCoverage’s support team handles everything. Should clients have plan questions after enrollment, the carrier they chose will support all inquiries.

What pet owners get

The marketplace offers both insurance and wellness plans for cats and dogs of all ages and breeds.

Insurance Plans:

• Comprehensive accident and illness coverage
• Protection against unexpected veterinary costs
• Affordable monthly premiums and low deductibles

Wellness Plans:

• Proactive care for routine visits and preventive treatments
• Predictable monthly payments for ongoing health maintenance
• Coverage for vaccines, exams, dental care, and more

Pet owners can review plan details, compare options, and enroll in minutes—right from the tools they’re already using.

Why this partnership works

ViCoverage specializes in making insurance and wellness solutions more accessible.

That means they offer coverage at the moment pet owners are most engaged—when they’re reviewing an invoice or managing their pet’s records.

That timing matters. When pet owners are actively thinking about care, the value of both emergency protection and wellness planning is most obvious.

Getting started

The marketplace will be live in Shepherd soon.

Here’s what you need to know:

It’s automatically enabled. If you prefer not to offer it, you can disable it anytime in your account settings (Client Communication > Pet Portal > Insurance & Wellness Marketplace).

Your clients will see it in two places. The coverage options appear on invoices (if you choose to include them) and in the pet portal.

There’s nothing for your team to learn. The integration works seamlessly within your existing Shepherd workflow.

VICoverage & providers handle everything else. All insurance and wellness plan administration, claims, and most client support are handled directly by the provider. Clients should contact ViCoverage with any coverage questions.

The bottom line

When pet owners have financial protection in place, they say yes to recommended treatments more often.

They schedule preventive care consistently. They don’t delay necessary procedures because of cost concerns.

Your practice builds deeper, longer-lasting relationships with clients who see you as a true partner in their pet’s health.

Questions?

Visit our help center or reach out to our support team.