Pet Wellness Plans: Manage Your Preventative Vet Bills

This content was reviewed by our licensed insurance agent, Michelle Schenker.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Here’s how it works.

big dog with dumbell weight in mouth and towel around back

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 CoveragePet Insurance Coverage
Annual examsAccidents
Spay/neuterIllnesses
Routine blood panelsEmergency care
Heartworm testingHereditary and congenital conditions
Fecal testingOrthopedic conditions
UrinalysesPrescription medications
Routine vaccinations (rabies, DHLP, Bordetella, parvo, Lyme, giardia)X-rays, MRIs, Cat Scans, Ultrasounds, etc.
Teeth cleaningsTherapy
Flea, tick, and heartworm treatmentsSurgery
MicrochipHospitalization

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.

 EssentialWellnessBestWellness
Price Per Month$14 – $21.75$26 – $32.58
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

Full Pets Best Review

Fetch Wellness Plans

Fetch offers three wellness plans: Essentials, Advantage, and Prime. They have a variety of coverage options and their Prime plan even features behavioral exams, health certificates, and activity monitors. The plans have per-item limits (like Pets Best), and you can only purchase them as an add-on to your Fetch pet insurance policy.

EssentialsAdvantagePrime
Annual Exam$30$50$50
Bordetella/FELV Vaccines$10$20$25
DHLPP/FVRCP Vaccines$10$20$25
Rabies Vaccine$10$20$25
Lyme/FIP Vaccines$10$20$25
Heartworm, Flea & Tick Prevention$30$50$60
Heartworm Tests$10$25$30
Dental Cleaning$75$100$125
Spaying or Neutering$100$100$125
Blood Test$10$25$30
Urinalysis$10$25$30
Fecal Test$10$25$30
MicrochippingNo x mark$20$30
Anal Gland ExpressionNo x mark$20$20
Behavioral ExamNo x markNo x mark$25
Health CertificateNo x markNo x mark$30
Activity MonitorNo x markNo x mark$50
Total Annual Benefits$315$520$735

Full Fetch Review

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.

Full Embrace Review

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.

BasicPlus
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.

Full Figo Review

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 & CatsIdeal For Dogs & CatsGreat For Puppies & Kittens
Price Per Month For Canines$16$24.33$44
Price Per Month For Felines$10$16$34
Wellness Exam$50$50$100
Fecal or Internal Parasite Test$35$35$79
Vaccines or Boosters3 up to $75 total3 up to $75 total6 up to $150 total
1 Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test $40$40$40
1 Blood Test$65$65$65
Spay/Neuter$120
Microchip$40
Flea/Tick or Heartworm Meds$65$65
Routine Dental Cleaning$150

Full Lemonade Review

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 CarePrime Preventative Care
Price Per Month$9.95$24.95
Dental Cleaning$100$150
Wellness Exam$50$50
Deworming$20$25
Health Certificate$25
Fleas/Heartworm Prevention$25
DHLPP Vaccine/Titer$20$25
Rabies or Lyme Vaccine/Titer$20$25
Bordetella Vaccine/Titer$25
Fecal Test$20$25
Heartworm Test$20$25
Blood Test$25
Urinalysis$25
Total Annual Benefits$250$450

Full ASPCA Review

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.

GoldPlatinum
Price Per Month$9.95$24.95
Dental Cleaning or Spay/Neuter$100 (Dental Only)$150
Wellness Exam$50$50
Deworming$20$25
Health Certificate$25
Flea/Heartworm Prevention$25
DHLPP Vaccine/Titer or Feline FVRCP Vaccine/Titer$20$25
Rabies or Lyme Vaccine/Titer or Feline FIP Vaccine/Titer$20$25
Bordetella Vaccine/Titer$25
Fecal Test$20$25
Heartworm Test or Feline FELV Test$20$25
Blood Test$25
Urinalysis$25
Total Annual Benefits$250$450

Full Spot Review

Nationwide Wellness Coverage Plans

Nationwide offers two wellness plans: $450 or $800 annual max. Wellness plans are not available in all states, and premiums are determined based on the pet species, plan type, and state of residence.

Physical Exam$80$80
Vaccination or Titer$80$80
Heartworm or FeLV/FIV Test$35$35
Fecal Test$30$30
Deworming$25$25
Microchip$50$50
Health certificate$50$50
Flea control or heartworm prevention$100$100
One additional test: blood test, X-ray, or EKG$100
Spay/Neuter/Dental$250
Total Annual Benefits$450$800

Full Nationwide Review

24Petprotect Wellness Coverage

24Petprotect logo

Get A Quote

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 CarePrime Preventive Care
Price Per Month$9.95$24.95
Dental cleaning$100N/A
Dental cleaning or neuter$150
Wellness exam$50$50
Health certificate$25
Flea/heartworm prevention$25
DHLPP vaccine/titer$20$25
Rabies or Lyme vaccine/titer$20$25
Bordetella vaccine/titer$25
Fecal test$20$25
Heartworm test$20$25
Blood test$25
Urinalysis$25
Total Annual Benefits$250$450

Full 24Petprotect Review

AKC Wellness Coverage

AKC Pet Insurance Logo

Get A Quote

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.

 DefenderDefenderPlus
Price Per Month$16$27
Spay/Neuter – Teeth Cleaning$150
Rabies$15$15
Flea/Tick/Heartworm Prevention$80$95
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
Elective/Preventive Gastropexy$200
Total Annual Benefits$305$735

Full AKC Pet Insurance Review

Wagmo Wellness Plans

wagmo logo 250

Get A Quote

Wagmo 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.

 ValueClassicDeluxe
Price Per Month$20$36$59
Office Visits1 exam1 exam2 exams
Vaccines2 vaccines3 vaccines4 vaccines
Routine Bloodwork1 test1 test1 test
Fecal Test1 test1 test1 test
Urinalysis1 test1 test
Flea/Tick/Heartworm$100$200
Grooming$100$200
Dental Care$100

Full Wagmo Review

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 Pet Hospital logo

Visit Website

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.

Tagged With:

Disclaimer: Information regarding insurance company offerings, pricing, availability, and other contract details are subject to change by the insurance company at any time and are not under the control of this website. Information published on this website is intended for reference use only. Please review your policy carefully before signing up for a new insurance contract or any other contract as your unique circumstances will differ from those of others who may be used for example purposes in this article.

The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety advice or professional care. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.

Subscribe
Notify of
65 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments