Pet Wellness Plans: 8 Top Ones to Consider

Published on 04/02/2021

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Regular preventative care is an important aspect of pet parenting. But pet medical expenses are rising. In 2018, the AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook cited the average cost of a routine canine care visit at around $145.

Pet wellness and insurance plans are designed to offset some of these rising costs and encourage veterinary care. One July 2020 study found that those with a pet wellness plan visited their veterinarians 20 percent more than those who did not have a wellness plan.

For average pet parents, navigating these products can be dizzying and complicated. Here we break down the differences between pet wellness plans and pet health insurance and explore some of the best pet wellness plans you should consider to protect your furry family member.

What Are Pet Wellness Plans?

Pet wellness plans are preventative care plans that help cover the costs of routine veterinary visits and healthcare.

Covered procedures/treatments may include:

Routine blood work
Wellness exams
Select vaccinations
Spay/neuter
Parasite prevention
Microchipping
And more

The majority of pet wellness plans operate on a reimbursement model, where consumers pay for services when they’re received and then invoice their provider for money back.

While pet wellness plans help pet parents better manage their pet’s health, they generally don’t cover unexpected events. Most wellness plans also have a maximum annual benefit.

How Do Pet Wellness Plans Differ From Pet Insurance?

All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the author. However, Great Pet Care may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.

While pet wellness plans are designed to encourage preventative care, pet health insurance helps cover unanticipated events, like:

Accidents
Illnesses
Hereditary/Congenital conditions
Emergency care
Prescription medications

Consumers pay a higher monthly premium and may have to meet a higher deductible before their benefits kick in.

Are Pet Wellness Plans Worth It?

Pet wellness plans can be used on their own as a preventative care strategy, or in combination with pet insurance. While purchasing a pet wellness plan is an individual choice, they can be worth it.

Pet wellness plans promote a proactive approach to managing a pet’s health, which can reduce the accumulating costs of untreated conditions later. Regularly getting pets vaccinated or doing blood work can help veterinarians spot potential problems before they become emergencies. Wellness plans also help spread out the cost of routine exams and procedures over time.

Pet parents can maximize the value of a pet wellness plan by accompanying their plan with a savings strategy to help with unexpected large bills. They can extract further value by making sure they’re using all benefits available in each policy term.

Best Pet Wellness Plans

Pet parents may find pet wellness plans offered by private companies, insurance brands, or animal hospitals. Before committing to any plan, pet parents should do their research and make sure they understand all the terms and conditions.

To help get you started, we’ve rounded up some of the best pet wellness plans we’ve seen.

OUR FAVORITES

Lemonade Pet Insurance for Cats and Dogs

Lemonade has been providing renter’s and homeowners insurance since 2016, but the well-known company really made a splash with pet parents once they began offering pet insurance plans in 2020. Lemonade is one of the only pet insurance companies to offer expedient and accurate AI-powered claims processing and reimbursement.

With plans starting as low as $10 per month, Lemonade makes it easy to build your pet’s plan from the ground up. Their optional add-ons help with costs not covered by their base accident and illness pet policy.

Lemonade’s base pet health insurance policy helps you pay for diagnostics and treatments related to accidents and illness. However, you can add their Preventative or Preventative+ package along with physical therapy and vet visit fees add-ons to get more reimbursement and keep your pet healthy.

Lemonade’s pet insurance starts at $10 each month, but the final costs depends on:

Your pet’s age and breed
Any policy add-ons selected
Your choice of deductible
Your choice of co-insurance
The price of veterinary care in your area

The basic Lemonade pet insurance policy helps cover expenses related to unexpected illnesses or accidents, including:

Diagnostics: Blood tests, x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and laboratory work
Procedures: Outpatient, specialty and emergency care, hospitalization, and surgery
Medication: Injections or prescription medications

Reimbursement rates average between 70 percent and 90 percent, and Lemonade’s deductible amount ranges between $100 and $500, which is typical for the pet insurance industry. At least ⅓ of Lemonade’s pet insurance claims are paid through an AI algorithm within three seconds

Buy Lemonade Pet Insurance for Cats and Dogs

Highlights

Covers diagnostics, procedures, and medications for accidents and illness
Choose from three monthly deductible options: $100, $250, or $500
Build your own policy with select add-ons depending on your level of desired coverage: Veterinary visit fees, physical therapy, dental illness, and end-of-life remembrance
Preventative care packages are available for non-emergency medical care
Offers a Puppy/Kitten Preventative Package to help with things like spaying, neutering, and microchipping
Offers a Preventative+ Package for things like routine dental cleanings, flea and tick medication, and heartworm medication

Things to Consider

The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium
Annual coverage limits range between $5,000 and $100,000
Pricing varies by breed because some breeds have specific health risks
Pre-existing conditions are not covered
Not all states offer pet health insurance, so check with Lemonade if your state is one of them

Pet’s Best Routine Care Packages

Pet’s Best is routinely heralded as a top pet insurance provider. To complement its insurance, the brand features two tiers of pet wellness plans, “EssentialWellness” ($16 per month) and “BestWellness” ($26 per month). These pet wellness plans cannot be purchased separately from the brand’s core insurance.

Both levels of coverage cover the usual procedures up to a specific dollar amount, including wellness exams, fecal exams, blood tests, microchipping and limited vaccination. There are annual maximum benefits, capped at $305 and $535, but neither plan has any deductible tied to it.

Highlights

Low monthly cost
Wide variety of coverages
Backed by valued pet insurance provider
Flexibility in choosing your own veterinarian

Things to Consider

Specific benefit limits may not cover 100% of the procedural costs, depending on your care provider
Wellness plans cannot be purchased separately from the core insurance product

Wagmo

Wagmo is a standalone wellness plan that offers pet parents three different pricing tiers: “Value,” “Classic,” and “Deluxe.” Each provide varying coverages and limits on annual reimbursable expenses:

Wagmo Value: $20/month, with up to $350 in annual reimbursements
Wagmo Classic: $36/month, with up to $650 in annual reimbursements
Wagmo Deluxe: $59/month, with up to $1100 in annual reimbursements

Wagmo’s coverages include:

Office Visits
Vaccines
Routine bloodwork
Fecal test
Urinalysis (“Classic” & “Deluxe” only)
Flea/Tick/Heartworm Medication (“Classic” & “Deluxe” only)
Grooming (“Classic” & Deluxe” only)
Dental care (“Deluxe” only)

Processing a claim with Wagmo is simple and straightforward. All consumers need to do is submit a receipt of their veterinary bill. After a claim is filed, Wagmo users can expect reimbursement in 24 hours.

Highlights:

Pricing tiers offer consumers choice
Offerings cover routine flea/tick/heartworm medications, and extend into additional services like grooming not generally covered in other wellness plans
Lower monthly cost makes Wagmo a palatable pairing with traditional insurance
Freedom to choose your own veterinarian
Speedy reimbursement

Things to Consider:

The annual value of Wagmo’s “Value” offering is only slightly beyond the annual investment
Specific treatments may have annual limits
Not available in every state

Fetch by the Dodo

Fetch by the Dodo, formerly known as Petplan, is a comprehensive pet insurance plan which covers illnesses and accidents. Fetch has one single policy to cover things such as:

Emergency veterinary examinations
Common injuries and illnesses
Diagnostic testing
Cancer treatment
Imaging and ultrasounds
Breed-specific conditions
Comprehensive dental

However, Fetch does not offer a wellness plan. This means your dog or cat will not be covered for cosmetic and elective procedures, vaccinations, teeth cleaning, spaying, or neutering services.

Fetch allows its policyholders to use any licensed veterinarian in the United States or Canada. They also cover services from specialists and emergency clinics.

Monthly premiums for dogs average around $35 per month, with a monthly feline policy averaging $25 per month. The price of your policy is based on your pet’s age, breed, and location. Younger pets tend to be less expensive than older ones.

The policyholder’s reimbursement rate can be 70%, 80%, or 90%. If you choose a lower reimbursement rate, your policy cost will be lower, too. When you sign up, your pet will require a checkup and then every year after that.

Fetch covers things that other pet insurance providers for which other providers may charge extra. For example, breed-specific issues such as Dachshunds and slipped discs. Fetch includes all of that as standard, with no add-ons or riders required when you sign up.

On average, claim processing is within 15 days of receiving all documents. FetchPet offers direct deposit reimbursement so policyholders can get paid faster than waiting for a check in the mail.

Highlights

Coverage of more illnesses and injuries than many other pet health insurance providers
Choose your own reimbursement percentage (70%, 80%, or 90%)
Choose if you are billed monthly, quarterly, or yearly
No hidden or installment fees
Your pet will never be dropped from the plan as they age
Available in all 50 states and Canada
Alternative and homeopathic therapies are included.
Online veterinary visits are included
Easy online claim submission and process

Things to Consider

Does not cover pre-existing conditions like most providers
Only offer one comprehensive plan so monthly premiums may be higher than other providers
Claims must be filed within 90 days
Your pet’s age, breed, and your location all factor into the premium amount

Get Your Quote From Fetch

Petco Vital Care

Petco launched its Vital Care program in 2020 to support pets’ overall health and wellness. There are two plans – one for dogs and one for cats. At $19.99 per month (with an annual commitment billed at $239.88), the plan features:

Unlimited routine veterinary exams at all Vetco Total Care locations (or $20 Pals Rewards for each routine exam at your veterinarian)
20 percent off every grooming session
20 percent off litter for cats
10 percent off nutrition
Repeat delivery savings
Discounts on Rover.com services
$15 Pals rewards every month

Vital Care is not pet insurance. It is a whole health plan designed to keep pets healthy year-round. A routine veterinary exam is a regular wellness check-up for your dog or cat. Any services provided by a Petco veterinarian outside of a routine vet exam are considered additional costs.

Vital Care members receive Pals Reward benefits, including personalized care reminders, recommendations for each of your pets, rewards on purchases, support throughout your pet parenthood journey, and access to members-only perks and offers.

Dubbed “Petconomics,” Vital Care offers annual savings to make ongoing healthcare for dogs and cats easier and more affordable. Vital Care benefits can be used through the Petco app, online, or in-store.

Highlights:

Affordable price point at $19.99 per month per dog or cat
Multi-pet households receive a discount of $17.99 per month for each pet
Benefits are valued at between $320 and $404 per year
The $15 Pals reward each month is an added bonus
Includes a wellness plan and additional benefits as noted above
Close to 200,000 members and growing

Things to Consider:

Treats and chews are not included in the nutrition savings benefit.
Grooming services are for dogs only.
Membership requires a 12-month pre-pay commitment.
Be sure you live within driving distance of a Petco with a grooming salon or onsite veterinary partner before enrolling.

Enroll in Petco Vital Care

Pumpkin Preventative Essentials

Zoetis, an established world leader in the animal drug and vaccine space, launched its insurance subsidiary, Pumpkin, in 2020. One of their unique offerings is Preventative Essentials, which covers select preventative care and routine care expenses for your dog or cat.

Preventative Essentials is an optional benefit pet parents can add to their existing Pumpkin insurance plan. This plan costs around $20 per month for dogs and $12 per month for cats. Preventative Essentials is an add-on wellness benefits package that helps with the costs of services like vaccinations and annual checkups.

The price of a Preventative Essentials package is in addition to your Pumpkin insurance policy premiums. Upon approval, pet parents receive a welcome box with a dog toy.

The preventative care package for dogs includes a full refund for:

One annual wellness checkup
Two vaccines each year
One yearly blood test for heartworm disease, Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis
One yearly fecal exam to test for hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms

The preventative care package for cats and kittens includes a full refund for:

One annual wellness checkup
One vaccine per year
One yearly fecal exam to test for worms or parasites

If you own a puppy under six months of age, Pumpkin offers a Preventative Essentials plan that includes reimbursement for:

One wellness checkup
One fecal exam
Four puppy vaccines (even those received before joining Pumpkin)

Highlights:

Get fully refunded for predetermined wellness services as noted above.
Easy claim filing process
Reimbursement can be via direct deposit, eCheck, or check
Visit any veterinarian for these services
Some veterinary hospitals provide customized Preventative Essentials packages for their clients.

Things to Consider:

Preventive Essentials cannot be purchased on its own; it is an optional benefit pet parents add to any Pumpkin insurance plan.
Custom Preventative Essentials packages designed by select veterinary hospitals must be used for services received at that hospital.
Some conditions and limitations exist. See the sample agreement on Pumpkin’s website for more information.

Get your Pumpkin Essentials Quote

Nationwide Pet Wellness

Nationwide is one of the country’s leading insurance brands, who also offer pet health insurance and pet wellness plans. Pet wellness plans can be purchased on their own (you must call) or combined with pet health insurance.

Nationwide’s standalone pet wellness plan comes in two tiers, “Wellness Plus” ($17-$22 per month) and “Wellness Basic” ($12-$18 per month). Coverages include:

Physical exam (two exams per policy period)
Behavior exam and/or treatment
Vaccination or titer
Heartworm or FeLV/FIV test
Fecal test
Deworming
Nail trim
Microchip
Flea control or heartworm prevention
One additional test: health screen (blood test), radiograph, or electro-cardiogram (EKG)

Nationwide’s pet wellness plans provide annual maximum benefits of up to $400 or $500. Additionally, limits may apply on specific tests per policy term.

Highlights

Pet wellness backed by a major insurance brand
Low monthly cost, relative to annual plan benefit value
Ability to be purchased separate from larger insurance policy
Freedom to choose your own veterinarian

Things to Consider

Not easily customizable
Not available in every state
Claims process like traditional insurance
Certain annual benefits (e.g., microchip) add value, but are used only once generally over the lifetime of a pet

Banfield Pet Hospital Optimum Wellness Packages

Banfield is one of the nation’s largest veterinary networks, with over 900 hospitals. They offer a variety of wellness packages that encourage proactive care.

Policy costs can vary based on several factors including age, species, and location. But generally pricing starts at around $22 monthly for cats and $30 monthly for dogs. Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Packages typically include:

Bi-annual wellness exams
Vaccinations
Parasite control
Nutrition
Unlimited office visits

Highlights:

Discounts on Banfield services, even if outside of your specific wellness package
Provide pet parents proactive control over their pet’s health
Plans offer value when paired with visits to Banfield locations
Flexibility to choose additional insurance, if desired

Things to Consider:

Must be used at Banfield locations, meaning less flexibility to choose your own veterinarian
Banfield manages all claims independently and determines all eligibility requirements, plan terms, and coverages