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Many pet parents don’t realize that pet insurance differs from human health insurance in that most pet insurance plans don’t cover routine wellness visits and other preventative services. Instead, pet insurance is designed to help you manage your budget for unplanned emergencies or illnesses that could break the bank.
Pet Wellness Plans vs Pet Insurance: What’s The Difference?
Pet insurance plans typically cover accident and illness services but not routine wellness visits and other services. On the flip side, a wellness plan covers annual check-ups with your vet as well as some standard tests (routine blood work, fecal, urinalysis, etc.), routine vaccines, dental cleanings, and more. Since the coverage offered by a wellness plan is often preventative care in nature, these terms are often used interchangably: wellness and preventative plans.
Here’s a general list of what pet wellness plans vs pet insurance offers. (Please know that wellness and pet insurance plans vary in what they cover based on the company and coverage you select. Therefore, some policies may not cover what’s listed below — read the policy carefully before signing up.)
| Wellness Plan Coverage | Pet Insurance Coverage |
|---|---|
| Annual exams | Accidents |
| Spay/neuter | Illnesses |
| Routine blood panels | Emergency care |
| Heartworm testing | Hereditary and congenital conditions |
| Fecal testing | Orthopedic conditions |
| Urinalyses | Prescription medications |
| Routine vaccinations (rabies, DHLP, Bordetella, parvo, Lyme, giardia) | X-rays, MRIs, Cat Scans, Ultrasounds, etc. |
| Teeth cleanings | Therapy |
| Flea, tick, and heartworm treatments | Surgery |
| Microchip | Hospitalization |
How Do Wellness Plans Work?
In most cases, you must sign up for pet insurance, and the insurance company’s dog wellness plan is offered as an optional add-on. However, not all insurance companies offer this add-on, so your pet insurance and wellness coverage options may be more limited.
Pet Insurance Companies That Offer Wellness Add-Ons
Our reviews are in order of rankings reflected in our pet insurance reviews, followed by other companies alphabetically.
Pets Best Routine Care Coverage
Pets Best has two choices for typical add-on wellness or routine care plans: EssentialWellness and BestWellness. These wellness plans are add-ons to the health insurance product and cover many different services and treatments. You can only add the wellness plan within 30 days of enrolling in one of its pet insurance plans or at its annual renewal.
The plans are based on a per-item basis (i.e., an annual exam is covered for $50, heartworm prevention is $30, etc.). So if your vet charges more than the allotted amount, you will only be eligible to receive reimbursement up to Pets Best’s per-item limit for that service.
| EssentialWellness | BestWellness | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $16 ($14 in Washington) | $26 ($30 in Washington) |
| Spay/Neuter – Teeth Cleaning | $0 | $150 |
| Rabies | $15 | $15 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $50 | $65 |
| Heartworm Prevention | $30 | $30 |
| Vaccination/Titer | $30 | $40 |
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $50 |
| Heartworm Test of FELV Screen | $25 | $30 |
| Blood, Fecal, Parasite Exam | $50 | $70 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Urinalysis or ERD | $15 | $25 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $305 | $535 |
Figo Wellness Plans
Figo offers two wellness plans: Basic and Plus. Their plans don’t cover as much as competitors, but they’re fairly affordable. There’s a per-item limit (similar to Pets Best), and these can only be purchased in conjunction with a Figo pet insurance policy.
| Basic | Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $9.50 | $16.50 |
| Wellness Exams | $20 | $40 |
| Vaccines* | $30 | $50 |
| Tests** | $20 | $45 |
| Spay/Neuter or Teeth Cleaning | $40 | $75 |
| Microchip/Health Certificate | $15 | $30 |
| Deworming | $10 | $10 |
| Annual Wellness Coverage | $135 | $250 |
*Vaccines include titers, rabies, and other vaccines approved for general use by AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) or equivalent industry regulating entity. This category also includes flea, tick, and heartworm preventatives.
**Tests include heartworm test, FELV screen, blood, fecal, and parasite exam, urinalysis, or ERD.
Embrace Pet Insurance Wellness Rewards
Embrace offers one of the most flexible wellness plans that you can add on to any pet health insurance policy. You pay a monthly fee on top of your insurance —
- $18.75 per month covers up to $250 annual wellness expenses
- $35.42 per month for a $450 annual cap
- $52.09 per month for $650 annual expenses
Coverage begins the day you sign up, and there is no deductible. It covers many treatments and services, including wellness exams, vaccinations, flea, tick & heartworm meds, spay/neuter surgery, fecal & routine blood tests, microchipping, grooming, medicated shampoos, nail trimming, anal gland expression, pet activity monitors, cremation or burial, training classes, routine chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, teeth cleaning, prescription diet food, and more.
Lemonade Preventative Care Plans
Lemonade offers three preventative plans that can be purchased as add-ons to your Lemonade pet insurance policy. These plans can help you get up to 80% of your preventative costs covered with no deductible. There’s a per-item limit for the plans.
| Great For Dogs & Cats | Ideal For Dogs & Cats | Great For Puppies & Kittens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month For Canines | $16 | $24.33 | $44 |
| Price Per Month For Felines | $10 | $16 | $34 |
| Wellness Exam | 1 up to $50 | 1 up to $50 | 2 up to $100 total |
| Fecal or Internal Parasite Test | 1 up to $35 | 1 up to $35 | 2 up to $79 total |
| Vaccines or Boosters | 3 up to $75 total | 3 up to $75 total | 6 up to $150 total |
| 1 Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test |  up to $40 | up to $40 | up to $40 |
| 1 Blood Test | up to $65 | up to $65 | up to $65 |
| Spay/Neuter |  | | up to $120 |
| Microchip | | | up to $40 |
| Flea/Tick or Heartworm Meds | | up to $65 total | up to $65 total |
| Routine Dental Cleaning | | up to $150 | |
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
Like other companies in this space, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance offers two optional preventative plans: Basic and Prime. The same product is also offered under the Hartville brand name.
There is no waiting period or deductible for these plans.
| Basic Preventative Care | Prime Preventative Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $9.95 | $24.95 |
| Dental cleaning | $100 | $150 |
| Wellness exam | $50 | $50 |
| Deworming | $20 | $25 |
| Health Certificate | $0 | $25 |
| Fleas/heartworm prevention | $0 | $25 |
| DHLPP vaccine/titer | $20 | $25 |
| Rabies or Lyme vaccine/titer | $20 | $25 |
| Bordetella vaccine/titer | $0 | $25 |
| Fecal test | $20 | $25 |
| Heartworm test | $20 | $25 |
| Blood test | $0 | $25 |
| Urinalysis | $0 | $25 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $250 | $450 |
Spot Preventative Care Add-Ons
Spot offers two preventative care plans that can be added to your Spot pet insurance policy. There’s a per-item limit for each plan.
| Platinum | Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $24.95 | $9.95 |
| Dental Cleaning or Spay/Neuter | $150 | $100 (Dental Only) |
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $50 |
| Deworming | $25 | $20 |
| Health Certificate | $25 | N/A |
| Flea/Heartworm Prevention | $25 | N/A |
| DHLPP Vaccine/Titer or Feline FVRCP Vaccine/Titer | $25 | $20 |
| Rabies or Lyme Vaccine/Titer or Feline FIP Vaccine/Titer | $25 | $20 |
| Bordetella Vaccine/Titer | $25 | N/A |
| Fecal Test | $25 | $20 |
| Heartworm Test or Feline FELV Test | $25 | $20 |
| Blood Test | $25 | N/A |
| Urinalysis | $25 | N/A |
| Total Annual Benefits | $450 | $250 |
Nationwide Wellness Coverage Plans
Nationwide offers two wellness plans: Wellness Plus and Wellness Basic. Wellness plans are not available in all states, and premiums are determined based on the pet species, plan type, and state of residence.
Nationwide lets you enroll in wellness coverage without first purchasing a pet insurance plan.
| Wellness Plus | Wellness Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per month | $17-$22 | $12-$18 |
| Maximum annual benefit | $500 | $400 |
| Physical exam: 2 per policy term | $60 ($30 max per exam) | $50 ($25 max per exam) |
| Behavioral exam and/or treatment | $30 | $30 |
| Vaccination or titer | $75 | $50 |
| Heartworm or FeLV/FIV test | $35 | $30 |
| Fecal test | $25 | $15 |
| Deworming | $25 | $25 |
| Nail trim | $20 | $20 |
| Microchip | $40 | $40 |
| Health certificate | $40 | $40 |
| Flea control or heartworm prevention | $75 | $50 |
| One additional test: health screen (blood test), radiograph (X-rays) or electrocardiogram (EKG) | $75 (one test per policy term) | $50 (one test per policy term) |
24Petprotect Wellness Coverage
24Petprotect offers two wellness plans: Basic Preventive Care and Prime Preventive Care.
Both plans have limits on what 24Petprotect will cover per item. Plans start at $9.95 per month for Basic Preventive Care and $24.95 per month for Prime Preventive Care. There is no deductible or co-pay. Below are the details for 24Petprotect wellness plans.
| Basic Preventive Care | Prime Preventive Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $9.95 | $24.95 |
| Dental cleaning | $100 | N/A |
| Dental cleaning or neuter | N/A | $150 |
| Wellness exam | $50 | $50 |
| Health certificate | N/A | $25 |
| Flea/heartworm prevention | N/A | $25 |
| DHLPP vaccine/titer | $20 | $25 |
| Rabies or Lyme vaccine/titer | $20 | $25 |
| Bordetella vaccine/titer | N/A | $25 |
| Fecal test | $20 | $25 |
| Heartworm test | $20 | $25 |
| Blood test | N/A | $25 |
| Urinalysis | N/A | $25 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $250 | $450 |
AKC Wellness Coverage
AKC has two plans to choose from: Defender and DefenderPlus.
AKC reimburses a set dollar amount per year toward items. There are no waiting periods or deductibles.
| Defender | DefenderPlus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $17 | $29 |
| Rabies | $15 | $15 |
| Flea/Tick Prevention | $50 | $65 |
| Heartworm Prevention | $30 | $30 |
| Vaccination/Titer | $30 | $40 |
| Wellness Exam | $50 | $50 |
| Heartworm Test of FELV Screen | $25 | $30 |
| Blood, Fecal, Parasite Exam | $50 | $70 |
| Microchip | $20 | $40 |
| Urinalysis or ERD | $15 | $25 |
| Deworming | $20 | $20 |
| Spay/Neuter – Teeth Cleaning | $0 | $150 |
| Total Annual Benefits | $305 | $535 |
Wagmo Wellness Plans
Like Nationwide, Wagmo also offers a wellness plan as an add-on to its pet insurance policy, or it can be purchased independently. The downside is that while Wagmo’s wellness plan is available in all U.S. states, its pet insurance is only available in 40 states.
Wagmo’s wellness plans allows you a set number of exams, vaccines, or tests and it isn’t always based on the cost of the item.
| Value | Classic | Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $20 | $36 | $59 |
| Office Visits | 1 exam | 1 exam | 2 exams |
| Vaccines | 2 vaccines | 3 vaccines | 4 vaccines |
| Routine Bloodwork | 1 test | 1 test | 1 test |
| Fecal Test | 1 test | 1 test | 1 test |
| Urinalysis | | 1 test | 1 test |
| Flea/Tick/Heartworm | | $100 | $200 |
| Grooming | | $100 | $200 |
| Dental Care | | | $100 |
Wellness-Only Plan
There is only one major national company that offers wellness as a standalone product today: Banfield.
Banfield Pet Hospital Wellness Plan
Banfield stands apart from other veterinary wellness plans in that it doesn’t offer a pet insurance policy. One might expect this to make this option cheaper than the competition since it does not cover illnesses, accidents, or chronic conditions. But, as you can see below, that is not the case.
Further, with Banfield, you’re required to visit a Banfield Pet Hospital for services to be covered, leaving you little option regarding the vet you will see. Luckily, it is convenient in most areas since it is located inside local PetSmart stores, and there are nearly 1,000 across the country.
Banfield’s plans offer preventive care, including bi-annual wellness exams, vaccinations, dental cleaning, parasite control, nutrition, and behavioral services. It charges a one-time sign-up fee, with monthly payments starting around $25.95 for cats and $31.95 for dogs. Prices vary by age, species, location, and other factors, and it offers wellness plans for puppies, adult dogs, and other pets.
Full Banfield Wellness Plan Review
Should You Consider A Wellness Plan, Pet Health Insurance, Or Both?
Check out the following news coverage by a CBS affiliate in California that explores pet wellness plans and pet insurance.
Pet Wellness & Insurance Plans Can Help Your Finances
While a pet wellness plan can help you budget for your routine visits, a pet insurance plan can help you out during unexpected trips to the vet. Emergency vet visits can result in thousands of dollars in bills. If you’re interested in learning more about pet insurance, you should start by exploring whether pet insurance is worth it and know which pet insurance company may be the best for you based on your pet’s specific needs.
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