Pet Insurance

Does Pet Insurance Cover Annual and Routine Vet Visits

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Woman veterinarian holding a puppy checking ears (Caption: Does Pet Insurance Cover Annual and Routine Vet Visits)

Often, we dread taking our dogs to the vet for an annual checkup. We believe it’ll only cost about $30, but we forget about all the other items included in this vet visit.

Is there a way to get help covering this expense? Does any pet insurance cover routine visits? Let’s dig in to discover ways to be reimbursed for your dog’s annual visit.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Annual Visits?

Depending on the pet insurance policy you purchase, it may include routine vet visits in coverage. Basic accident and illness pet insurance policies exclude annual visits. However, if you buy an optional wellness plan as an add-on to your primary accident and illness policy, then a portion of your dog’s wellness visit may be eligible for coverage.

What Is A Wellness Plan?

Wellness plans cover a portion of routine vet treatments, such as annual exams, spaying/neutering procedures, heartworm testing, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, microchipping, and more. The items and amounts covered vary based on the pet insurance company and policy you purchased. Accident and illness pet insurance policies don’t cover these preventative expenses on their own.

Which Pet Insurance Companies Offer Wellness Plans?

German Shepherd Dog with barbell in mouth (Caption: Pet Wellness Plans)

Numerous companies offer pet wellness plans, but each company handles them differently. Some companies require you to purchase an accident and illness pet insurance policy and then add a wellness policy to the plan. Others allow you to enroll your pet in wellness coverage without buying an insurance policy first. To find a company to help assist in the expense of routine visits, read about pet wellness plans.

Pet Insurance Can Save You Money

Annual vet visits can cost $85 or more, depending on where you live and your vet’s fees. Along with this routine visit, you may have vaccines, nail trimming, anal gland expression, fecal parasite tests, and other wellness-related items addressed. This can turn into a much larger vet expense, totaling $200 or more. A wellness plan can help cover a large portion of this bill.

Additionally, many health concerns can be diagnosed and treated sooner than if you hadn’t taken your dog for her annual checkup. This means better health for your dog and fewer medical expenses and stresses for you in the long run.

Direct Your Focus To Your Dog’s Health, Not Your Wallet

Insuring your pet makes impossible decisions a little bit easier. Instead of worrying about how you’ll pay for your dog’s vital medical treatment, you can focus entirely on their healing and recovery—no need to decide between your bank account and your pet’s health.

On average, pet insurance plans cost $50 per month for dogs ($30 for cats). Budgeting for this monthly expense could save you thousands in unexpected vet bills. We review the best pet insurance and rank them based on coverage, customer service, price, and more, so you can choose the best policy for your furry pal.

Kimberly Alt

Kimberly is a writer and content strategist for Canine Journal, specializing in pet insurance consulting. She has written and edited professionally since 2010. In 2014, Kimberly began researching dogs and discovered her passion for pet insurance. She strongly advocates for insuring pets and knows insurance is a complex subject for most. Kimberly has read hundreds of pet insurance policies (including the fine print), ran more than 3,000 pet insurance quotes, engages in frequent discussions with pet insurer representatives, and conducts mystery shopping to gain an unbiased perspective and explain how companies differ and their strengths. Her passion is teaching others about the pet insurance industry and helping them make informed decisions for their pet insurance needs. Kimberly has a B.A. in Multimedia Journalism from Simpson College. She is a Dog Writers Association of America member, and her work has appeared in many brands, including The New York Times’ Wirecutter, Reader’s Digest, Forbes, People, Woman’s World, and Huffington Post. Kimberly is the parent of a rescue Coonhound mix, Sally.

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