The company launched its corporate benefits program in 1999, but has reported a 35 percent increase in participation over the last three years.

Some participants in the program, originally created by VPI as a way to reward veterinary hospital employees with a discount on insurance, include VIACOM, Ford Motor Company, Office Depot and Proctor and Gamble, according to VPI.

Companies with more than 500 employees can offer payroll deduction for monthly premium payments, and employers can enroll year-round.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) now is lobbying Congress to pass legislation to include veterinary healthcare plans in the Internal Revenue Service Code as a pre-tax benefit.