Here on Protect My Paws, we’ve assembled many articles elaborating on the many benefits of having a pet insurance policy. However, we also learned that pet insurance doesn’t cover any routine veterinary visits. What does that really mean?
Sometimes, some veterinary procedures like flea prevention or simple vitamin prescriptions can be very beneficial to a pet’s wellbeing, but they don’t come included in a pet insurance plan. That’s because they are mainly optional and are considered non-essential.
However, many health professionals recommend that pet owners provide thorough routine care for their pets in order to ensure a long, safe, and healthy future for them. Additionally, pet parents who have a wellness plan visit vet clinics 20% more than those without one.
Let us be upfront and state that providing preventive care for your pets will cost you a monthly fee, but we figured that it could potentially save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
For that purpose, in this article, we’ll tackle the topic of pet wellness, why it is good to acquire, and where to find an option that works the best for you and your puppy or kitten.
Pet Insurance vs. Pet Wellness
While both pet insurance coverage and pet wellness plans take care of the many medical expenses regarding your pet’s health, they also make taking care of your pet more affordable.
However, there are some key differences between traditional pet insurance packages and pet wellness plans.
Pet Insurance helps mitigate the costs of most illnesses, prescriptions, hereditary conditions, and veterinary treatments for accidents and emergencies. To use the benefits of a pet insurance plan, you sign up for a monthly premium and usually participate with copayments and an annual or per-incident deductible. Then you’re reimbursed with the agreed percentage of your vet bill.
Pet Wellness (often referred to as preventive or routine pet care) offers coverage for various routine treatments that keep your pet’s wellbeing in check. That can include exam visits, blood work, dental cleanings, vaccines, etc. Unlike pet insurance, you only pay your monthly fee and aren’t required to pay any deductibles or copay. The amount you’re reimbursed with is agreed upon by a benefit schedule – a system that tells you how much money goes into each routine treatment on an annual level.
It’s important to note that while you can get standalone pet wellness coverage from some companies that have a specific purpose to deal with routine pet care, pet insurance companies offer preventive care packages only as an add-on to your main pet insurance policy.
You can learn all about pet insurance in our complete overview of the best pet insurance companies.
What Does a Pet Wellness Plan Cover
When you want to ensure your little furry fellow is free from disease, you take the same measures that you would for yourself. You should brush their teeth regularly, groom them, and give them the proper shots to prevent viruses and bacteria from causing damage to their health in the future.
All of these and more come included in a pet wellness plan. Some providers would cover the full amount of the preventive care treatment, while others provide coverage up to a fixed amount.
And while you can always benefit from a pet wellness plan, it’s always best to sign up for one early on, while your pet is still a baby. Puppies and kittens require vaccines and flea/tick preventative treatments, unlike older dogs and cats that had presumably already undergone those treatments.
The veterinary care and treatments that pet insurance companies cover on a pet wellness plan often vary depending on the company and the package you opt for. Nevertheless, they all cover some well-known routine pet care procedures.
Below is a list of what you would typically get with a pet wellness plan:
Spaying or Neutering
Female cats and dogs need spaying and male cats and dogs need neutering which is necessary to prevent any future hormonal disbalance they may experience, hence preventing serious disorders from developing.
If your pet isn’t spayed/neutered yet, you can sign up for a pet wellness plan that covers the procedure and get reimbursed for its cost.
Dental Cleanings
Oral health is crucial for your pet’s happiness and wellbeing. Terrible teeth and gum problems emerge from plaque and tartar build-up in dogs’ and cats’ teeth that results in lots of pain, loss of teeth, many veterinary visits, and costly medical bills.
To avoid this, you can take your pet for a routine dental cleaning that’s covered by your wellness plan. This procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia, so make sure to learn if your wellness plan covers that too.
Wellness Exams
Scheduling a routine exam with your veterinarian can be very beneficial for your pet. Many underlying illnesses are invisible to the human eye as cats and dogs are known to mask disease symptoms quite cleverly.
A routine exam can include blood work (complete blood count test), heartworm test, urinalysis, and fecal test. The results of these tests will inform your vet if there are any irregularities with your pet’s blood, urine, and stool, or if there are any heartworms or parasites present in their system. From there on, they’ll know which therapy to prescribe for your pet.
Vaccinations
Rabies, titer, and DHLPP are well-known vaccines that puppies and kittens should receive to ensure they enjoy a safe, healthy future.
Having a wellness plan would greatly help with reimbursing their costs.
Microchipping
Microchipping is performed by a veterinarian by inserting a tiny microchip underneath your cat’s or dog’s skin. It’s quite useful when lost or stray pets are found by rescuers. They can scan their microchip or take it to a vet clinic to scan it, so you could be contacted to pick up your missing fur buddy.
Flea/Tick Prevention
Spring and summer are pets’ favorite seasons. They love running in the warm weather and play and roll in the fresh grass. Unfortunately, that’s where ticks and fleas thrive and can easily infest your pet, to feed off of its blood.
They are not the biggest threat to a pet’s wellbeing, but can seriously harm them as they can cause blood poisoning or the spread of harmful bacteria. Luckily, there is available medication that you can give to your pet so you can prevent fleas and ticks from living on their fur and skin. Your wellness plan can cover the costs of these medications.
Health Certificate
A pet health certificate is an official document that’s often called a CVI – Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. It’s used to indicate that your pet has been thoroughly examined by a professional and that it’s disease-free.
The certificate usually contains the vaccines your pet has received as well. Possessing this certificate is a must when you want to travel and bring your pet with you. Some cities require this certificate to register your pet.
Average Costs for Routine Care Treatments
Preventative procedures seem like something that’s a no-brainer for novice pet parents. Everyone has an idea that there aren’t many of those that are necessary and that they don’t cost much until they experience the matter firsthand.
Routine care treatments are a recurring expense that you should expect to pay annually if you wish to provide a long and healthy life for your pet. We researched how much pet parents pay on average, and came up with some overall figures.
Cats and dogs require about $600/year on preventative medications and around $900/year on routine veterinary expenses across the US. That’s about $1,500 on average per year.
Here, we’ll break down the minimum and maximum average costs for the various preventative procedures. Bear in mind that these may vary depending on your pet’s breed, size, age, and location.
| Benefits | Minimum Average | Maximum Average |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Visits (2/year) | $50 | $130 |
| Spaying/Neutering | $70 | $580 |
| Dental Cleaning | $60 | $380 |
| Vaccinations (2-4/year) | $40 | $110 |
| Microchipping | $30 | $70 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $180 | $470 |
| Allergy Exam | $200 | $300 |
| Fecal Exam | $30 | $50 |
| Heartworm Exam | $50 | $60 |
| Parasite Medication | $40 | $150 |
| Total | $750 | $2,300 |
The Best Companies That Offer Pet Wellness Options
Below, you’ll find all the companies that offer pet wellness plans. Almost all are attached to a pet insurance policy, but we also discovered some that offer standalone pet wellness plans.
Pet Insurance Companies With Pet Wellness Add-Ons
Embrace
“Protect your pet in sickness and in health” is Embrace’s pet wellness motto. They offer three different reimbursement options on what they call “The Wellness Rewards” program.
You can decide on one of the following three plans that you can add to your pet insurance policy and pay a monthly fee for it:
- $250 annual allowance;
- $450 annual allowance;
- $650 annual allowance.
Whatever you choose, Embrace will reward you with $25 annually.
Embrace’s allowance can go toward an insane amount of procedures, some of which aren’t covered by other pet wellness providers. Here’s what you can use the allowance for:
- Wellness exam fees;
- Flea and tick preventatives;
- Vaccinations & titers;
- Heartworm preventatives;
- Spay/neuter surgery;
- Microchipping;
- Routine blood and fecal exams;
- Dietary supplements;
- Specialized shampoos;
- Grooming;
- Toenail trimming;
- Wearable pet activity monitors;
- Routine anal gland expression;
- Burial or cremation;
- Dental cleanings;
- Gastropexy;
- Training;
- Acupuncture, massage therapy, and reiki;
- Routine chiropractic care;
- X-rays;
- Hip dysplasia exams.
The best thing about the Embrace Wellness Rewards program is that you can start using its benefits from the day of enrollment. Additionally, you can use your allowance to pay for any of the above-mentioned preventative treatments in full.
Nationwide
Nationwide is one of the very few pet insurers on this list for a number of things. On one hand, they offer standalone pet wellness plans that you can purchase without acquiring pet insurance coverage, and on the other, they’re the only provider offering pet preventive care for birds.
There are two pet wellness plans that cater to cats and dogs. In this table you can review the amounts for both plans for each benefit that comes included:
| Benefits | Wellness Basic | Wellness Plus |
|---|---|---|
| 2 wellness exams | $50 ($25 max per exam) | $60 ($30 max per exam) |
| Microchipping | $40 | $40 |
| Behavior exam + treatment | $30 | $30 |
| Flea/tick control + heartworm prevention | $50 | $75 |
| Vaccinations or titer | $50 | $75 |
| Nail trimming | $20 | $20 |
| Heartworm or FeLV/FIV exam | $30 | $35 |
| Deworming | $25 | $25 |
| Fecal exam | $15 | $25 |
| Health certificate | $40 | $40 |
| One of the following: Blood test; X-rays; EKG. | $50 | $75 |
| Maximum annual benefit | $400 | $500 |
| Pricing | $12-18/month | $17-22/month |
Additionally, Nationwide offers a wellness plan tailored for birds for $99/year. Here’s what the Avian Supplemental & Routine Care Coverage will reimburse you for:
| Benefits | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Physical Exam/Office Call | $25 |
| Parasite Test/Fecal Exam | $10 |
| Parasite Treatment | $20 |
| Beak Trim | $7 |
| Nail Trim | $7 |
| Wing Trim | $7 |
| CBC | $20 |
| Culture | $45 |
| Panel or Titer | $40 |
| Maximum annual benefit | $181 |
Read the full Nationwide Pet Insurance review.
Pets Best
Even though Pets Best have some of the most comprehensive pet wellness plans on the market, they make it a bit tricky to sign up for one. To clarify, you can enroll on one of their two routine care plans on the day you purchase your pet insurance policy, within 30 days after you purchase it, or on your annual renewal date.
What’s more, you can start using the benefits of your Pets Best routine care plan the day after your enrollment.
The benefits that come with a Pets Best wellness plan and their annual allowances are shown in the table below.
| Benefits | EssentialWellness | BestWellness |
|---|---|---|
| Spaying/Neutering and Dental Cleaning | $0 | $150 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $50 | $65 |
| Rabies | $15 | $15 |
| Heartworm Prevention | $30 | $30 |
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $50 |
| Vaccination/Titer | $30 | $40 |
| Heartworm Test or FELV Screen | $25 | $30 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Blood, Fecal, Parasite exam | $50 | $70 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
| Urinalysis or ERD | $15 | $25 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $305 | $535 |
| Pricing | $16/month* | $26/month* |
*Pricing for the state of Washington is $14/month for the EssentialWellness plan and $30/month for the BestWellness plan.
ASPCA
With ASPCA, once you select your preferred pet insurance method, you can sign up for a pet wellness plan and use its benefits immediately.
They boast two routine care plans priced at $9.95/month for the Basic Preventive Care plan and $24.95/month for the Prime Preventive Care plan.
Take a look at how much goes toward each benefit covered by these packages:
| Benefits | Basic Preventive Care | Prime Preventive Care |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Exams | $50 | $50 |
| Dental Cleanings | $100 | $150 |
| Blood Exam | $0 | $25 |
| Fecal Exam | $20 | $25 |
| Urinalysis | $0 | $25 |
| Heartworm Test | $20 | $25 |
| Fleas/Heartworm Prevention | $0 | $25 |
| Rabies or Lyme Vaccine/Titer | $20 | $25 |
| DHLPP Vaccine/Titer | $20 | $25 |
| Bordetella Vaccine/Titer | $0 | $25 |
| Deworming | $20 | $25 |
| Health Certificate | $0 | $25 |
| Maximum Annual Benefits | $250 | $450 |
| Pricing | $9.95/month | $24.95/month |
PetFirst
PetFirst is proud to offer routine care coverage for their existing policyholders. It’s one of the rare pet insurance providers that offers a large number of options regarding pet wellness.
Having a variety to choose from can be great to meet the needs that are specific to your cat or dog.
Let’s take a look at what these plans offer and how much they “weigh” in providing reimbursement for routine care treatments.
| Benefits | Routine Care $125 | Routine Care $250 | Routine Care $400 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness Exam | $15 | $25 | $35 |
| Vaccinations | $25 | $50 | $75 |
| Prevention: Heartworm test, Microchip ID, Flea/Tick meds | $50 | $60 | $100 |
| Behavior Training | $35 | $50 | $75 |
| Maintenance: Spay/Neuter; Teeth Cleaning; Blood Panel; Urinalysis; EKG | $0 | $50 | $100 |
| Routine Screens: FeLV/FIV, Fecal Tests | $0 | $15 | $15 |
| Benefits | Routine Care $365 | Routine Care $575 |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $75 |
| Vaccinations: Vaccinations; Flea/Tick, Heartworm Meds | $75 | $100 |
| Spay/Neuter or Teeth Cleaning | $100 | $150 |
| Tests: Heartworm/Fecal/FeLV tests; Blood Panel; Urinalysis | $65 | $100 |
| Microchip/Health Certificate/Behavioral Exam & Treatment | $60 | $120 |
| Deworming | $15 | $30 |
Pet Wellness Alternatives
In this section, we’ll review some companies that don’t offer traditional pet insurance options. They rather have their own approach to providing pets with the proper healthcare they deserve.
VCA Care Club
VCA Hospitals are a healthcare company providing medical services for pets in more than 1,000 locations across the US and Canada
Depending on the type of pet you own (young, middle-aged, or senior dog or cat), there are wellness plans for everyone at VCA.
For one flat monthly membership that starts at $50, you’ll get a number of benefits that are hard to get covered for even by a pet insurance company.
Here’s an overview of what you’ll get become a VCA Care Club member:
- Unlimited wellness exams, whether they are annual or semi-annual;
- Live chat with a professional veterinarian through their myVCA app 24/7;
- Recommended vaccines (Bordetella, parvo, rabies, influenza, distemper, Lyme, and leptospirosis);
- Lab work tests for checking signs of diabetes, general infections, kidney and liver disease, and parasites;
- Additional add-ons for spaying/neutering, dental cleanings, and X-rays;
- Annual savings of up to 25%, depending on how many services you use.
Banfield Pet Hospital
Operating on a similar level as VCA Hospitals, Banfield Pet Hospital is a routine pet care provider present in 970+ across the country and Puerto Rico.
With no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and no waiting periods, Banfield offers a 15% discount if you enroll an additional pet on your pet wellness policy.
To make things even better, Banfield operates on weekends and night hours, making sure they’re available whenever you might need their assistance.
Their Optimal Wellness Plans include two plans for puppies and kittens and three plans for cats and dogs. Let’s review them.
Puppies and Kittens:
| Early Care | Early Care Plus |
|---|---|
| Unlimited office visits | Unlimited office visits |
| Two virtual office visits | Two virtual office visits |
| 24/7 veterinary advice from Vet ChatTM | 24/7 veterinary advice from Vet ChatTM |
| Pet Wellness coaching session on nutrition | Pet Wellness coaching session on nutrition |
| Comprehensive exams for nose-to-tail wellness:Ear exam;Eye exam;Rectal exam;Oral exam;Neurological evaluation;Cardiovascular evaluation;Weight and nutrition advice;Coat and skin evaluation;Abdominal palpation;Urogenital evaluation;Musculoskeletal evaluation;Pulmonary/lung evaluation. | Comprehensive exams for nose-to-tail wellness:Ear exam;Eye exam;Rectal exam;Oral exam;Neurological evaluation;Cardiovascular evaluation;Weight and nutrition advice;Coat and skin evaluation;Abdominal palpation;Urogenital evaluation;Musculoskeletal evaluation;Pulmonary/lung evaluation. |
| Routinely-recommended vaccinations:Puppies:Distemper/Parvo;Bordetella;Leptospirosis;Lyme disease;Rabies.Kittens:Feline Leukemia;Feline Distemper;Rabies. | Routinely-recommended vaccinations:Puppies:Distemper/Parvo;Bordetella;Leptospirosis;Lyme disease;Rabies.Kittens:Feline Leukemia;Feline Distemper;Rabies. |
| Diagnostic testing to help catch early signs of parasites and disease:Puppies:Heartworm;Lyme disease;Ehrlichia;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites.Kittens:Leukemia test;Feline immunodeficiency virus;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites. | Diagnostic testing to help catch early signs of parasites and disease:Puppies:Heartworm;Lyme disease;Ehrlichia;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites.Kittens:Leukemia test;Feline immunodeficiency virus;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites. |
| Fecal exams to help detect parasites and other health issues | Fecal exams to help detect parasites and other health issues |
| Deworming meds to help eliminate roundworms, hookworms, and other organisms that love to lurk in pet’s intestines | Deworming meds to help eliminate roundworms, hookworms, and other organisms that love to lurk in pet’s intestines |
| WISDOM PANELTM Canine DNA test (dogs only) | WISDOM PANELTM Canine DNA test (dogs only) |
| 5% discount on most other services not included in your OWP package | 10% discount on most other services not included in your OWP package |
| Routine spay or neuter procedure including:Pre-surgery health assessment;Pre-anesthetic blood testing;Complete blood count;Internal organ screens;Electrolyte check;Blood pressure monitoring;General anesthesia;In-hospital pain medication during a procedure. |
Dogs and Cats:
| Active Care | Active Care Plus | Special Care |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited office visits | Unlimited office visits | Unlimited office visits |
| Two virtual office visits | Two virtual office visits | Two virtual office visits |
| 24/7 veterinary advice from Vet ChatTM | 24/7 veterinary advice from Vet ChatTM | 24/7 veterinary advice from Vet ChatTM |
| Pet Wellness coaching session on nutrition | Pet Wellness coaching session on nutrition | Pet Wellness coaching session on nutrition |
| Comprehensive exams for nose-to-tail wellness:Ear exam;Eye exam;Rectal exam;Oral exam;Neurological evaluation;Cardiovascular evaluation;Weight and nutrition advice;Coat and skin evaluation;Abdominal palpation;Urogenital evaluation;Musculoskeletal evaluation;Pulmonary/lung evaluation. | Comprehensive exams for nose-to-tail wellness:Ear exam;Eye exam;Rectal exam;Oral exam;Neurological evaluation;Cardiovascular evaluation;Weight and nutrition advice;Coat and skin evaluation;Abdominal palpation;Urogenital evaluation;Musculoskeletal evaluation;Pulmonary/lung evaluation. | Comprehensive exams for nose-to-tail wellness:Ear exam;Eye exam;Rectal exam;Oral exam;Neurological evaluation;Cardiovascular evaluation;Weight and nutrition advice;Coat and skin evaluation;Abdominal palpation;Urogenital evaluation;Musculoskeletal evaluation;Pulmonary/lung evaluation. |
| Routinely-recommended vaccinations (based on your pet’s vaccination schedule):Dogs:Distemper/Parvo;Bordetella (2 per year);Leptospirosis;Lyme disease;Rabies.Kittens:Feline Leukemia;Feline Distemper;Rabies. | Routinely-recommended vaccinations (based on your pet’s vaccination schedule):Dogs:Distemper/Parvo;Bordetella (2 per year);Leptospirosis;Lyme disease;Rabies.Kittens:Feline Leukemia;Feline Distemper;Rabies. | Routinely-recommended vaccinations (based on your pet’s vaccination schedule):Dogs:Distemper/Parvo;Bordetella (2 per year);Leptospirosis;Lyme disease;Rabies.Kittens:Feline Leukemia;Feline Distemper;Rabies. |
| Diagnostic testing to help catch early signs of parasites and disease:Dogs:Bloodwork and internal organ screens;Heartworm;Lyme disease;Ehrlichia;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites*.Cats:Bloodwork and internal organ screens;Leukemia*;Heartworm*;Feline immunodeficiency virus*;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites*.*Provided in the first year of Active Care only | Diagnostic testing to help catch early signs of parasites and disease:Dogs:Bloodwork and internal organ screens;Heartworm;Lyme disease;Ehrlichia;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites*.Cats:Bloodwork and internal organ screens;Leukemia*;Heartworm*;Feline immunodeficiency virus*;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites*.*Provided in the first year of Active Care Plus only | Diagnostic testing to help catch early signs of parasites and disease:Dogs:Bloodwork and internal organ screens;Heartworm;Lyme disease;Ehrlichia;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites*.Cats:Bloodwork and internal organ screens;Leukemia*;Heartworm*;Feline immunodeficiency virus*;Ear swab and microscopic exam for mites*.*Provided in the first year of Special Care only |
| Fecal exams to help detect parasites and other health issues | Fecal exams to help detect parasites and other health issues | Fecal exams to help detect parasites and other health issues |
| Deworming meds to help eliminate roundworms, hookworms, and other organisms that love to lurk in pet’s intestines | Deworming meds to help eliminate roundworms, hookworms, and other organisms that love to lurk in pet’s intestines | Deworming meds to help eliminate roundworms, hookworms, and other organisms that love to lurk in pet’s intestines |
| 10% discount on most other services not included in your OWP package | 15% discount on most other services not included in your OWP package | 20% discount on most other services not included in your OWP package |
| Professional dental cleaning to help prevent painful gum disease, tooth loss, and potential heart and kidney disease. Includes:Cleaning and de-scaling above and below the gum line;Pre-surgery health assessment;Pre-anesthetic blood testing;Complete blood count;Internal organ screens;Electrolyte check;Blood pressure monitoring;General anesthesia;In-hospital pain medication during procedure. | Professional dental cleaning to help prevent painful gum disease, tooth loss, and potential heart and kidney disease. Includes:Cleaning and de-scaling above and below the gum line;Pre-surgery health assessment;Pre-anesthetic blood testing;Complete blood count;Internal organ screens;Electrolyte check;Blood pressure monitoring;General anesthesia;In-hospital pain medication during procedure. | |
| Urine test to help detect dehydration, infections, and disease | Two urine test to help detect dehydration, infections, and disease | |
| Preventive X-rays to evaluate the health of tissues, organs, and bones | ||
| Eye pressure test to check for glaucoma and other problems (dogs only) | ||
| Electrocardiograms to help verify electrical functioning in the heart (dogs only) | ||
| Additional diagnostic testing for heartworm and thyroid disease (cats only) |
Pet Assure
Pet Assure doesn’t offer pet insurance and pet wellness plans in the traditional way. Instead, they provide a discount model that you can use for any type of veterinary in-house service to treat your pet and take care of their routine necessities.
Pet Assure you will accommodate you with 25% on anything regarding your pet’s health and you won’t have to pay any deductible or copayment besides your monthly fee. To be able to use their perks, you’d have to visit a vet clinic that offers the program.
What’s more, you can apply Pet Assure’s discount even on pre-existing conditions and any wellness procedure you wish to perform. There are no waiting periods attached and pets of any breed, age, size, and gender can enjoy the benefits.
Additionally, exotic pets are also eligible for the discount and if you’re not satisfied with their services, you can get your money back on a 45-day guarantee.
To get the Pet Assure discount for a single cat you’d need to pay a monthly fee of $9.95 and $11.95 per month for a single dog. They also have multi-pet options for 2-4 animals (16.95/month) and a $21.95/month option for your whole family of pets.
Is Having a Pet Wellness Plan Worth It?
To have pet Insurance makes great sense because of all the unexpected issues that can arise. But that’s never the case with pet wellness. You can totally plan your routine veterinary visits ahead and save money for them in advance. However, we’re all aware that in practice this is rarely achieved.
That’s why it’s actually very smart to sign up for pet wellness coverage, especially if you’re already spending about $800/year on preventative care for your cat or dog. Having a wellness plan will help you cut those costs, as its monthly fee is nowhere near that price.
If you’ve got an old pet and don’t plan to pay too much for its routine maintenance, then spending some amount out of pocket is considerable. But a new kitten or a puppy always deserves to get the top routine protection from day one.
Additionally, having wellness coverage can inspire you and motivate you to be more proactive about your pet’s wellbeing and stop any culprit in its early days before it escalates into something urgent.
Blending a pet wellness plan with a pet insurance policy is the ultimate combo for ensuring a fabulous future for your beloved four-legged friend.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, opting for a pet insurance policy or a pet wellness plan, or both, is exclusively yours to decide.
Some pet parents like to plan their money ahead and use them when they need to; others want that peace of mind that’s only possible when knowing your pet is always covered by a trusted company.
Educating yourself on what exactly you’re getting with a wellness plan is key to using its benefits to the maximum to guarantee that your pet’s needs are always taken care of.
And don’t forget to check out our multi-pet insurance article to learn how to save on pet insurance if you’re a proud parent of multiple pet children.
F.A.Q.
Is there a waiting period before using the benefits of a pet wellness plan?
Usually, pet insurance companies offer pet wellness coverage that immediately goes into effect after you enroll. Note that there might be some that do have an actual waiting period.
What is the best pet wellness plan?
Just like with pet insurance plans, there is no straight answer on which company offers the best pet wellness plan. It’s usually the one that’s affordable and covers an abundance of preventive treatments, but ultimately, it all depends on your budget and your pet’s individual needs.
Is there a pet wellness plan that covers birds and exotic animals like hamsters and rabbits?
While they are pretty hard to find, pet wellness plans for exotic animals do exist. Nationwide and Pet Assure are the only companies in the US that currently offer routine pet care for exotic animals.
Are pre-existing conditions covered with a pet wellness plan?
Pre-existing medical conditions aren’t related to pet wellness as they are covered under the “illnesses” section of a pet insurance policy. Pet wellness covers all the routine work that keeps your pet health in check.
What does pet wellness coverage usually exclude?
Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures such as nail trimming, tail docking, ear trimming, etc. aren’t covered with a pet wellness plan.
