Pet Wellness Coverage

Pet Wellness Plans

When shopping and comparing pet wellness insurance coverage, you will find that some pet insurance providers offer accident and illness coverage, however, only some of them offer optional wellness plans.

As a pet parent, provide your pet with the best level of medical care possible to ensure a long and healthy life. One way to accomplish that is to sign up for pet insurance with wellness coverage.

Most Popular Wellness Plans

Here is a list of the best pet wellness plans in America.

Embrace’s Wellness Rewards plan offer the option for $250, $450 or $650 per year in wellness coverage.

You can add BestWellness routine care coverage to any regular plan.

Choose between Preventative Care Prime ($450 annual benefit) or Preventative Care Basic ($250 annual benefit).

Whole Pet with Wellness covers 90% of all routine care expenses.

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More About Wellness Plans

Before you can buy a wellness plan you must first choose a pet health insurance company that offers wellness coverage. These companies require that you purchase a standard accident and illness policy, which is an eligibility requirement for pet wellness coverage.

This requirement is set by all of the insurers who offer pet wellness insurance with the exception of one. Nationwide allows pet owners to buy their wellness plan even if they choose not to purchase a standard accident and illness policy.

One of the benefits of having a pet wellness plan, regardless of the insurer, is that there are no deductible or co-payments, so you can use them for covered expenses at any time.

Pet wellness plans are designed to ensure that pets has access to important preventative care and exams by covering expenses associated with pet health services.

These are the necessary expenses that are planned and predictable each year. Because accident and illness plans, which are necessary in order to get a wellness plan, are designed to help you manage the risk of large, unexpected vet bills, you are receiving maximum coverage for your pet’s care, whether expected or otherwise.

Here is an overview to help illustrate the benefits of having both accident and illness and wellness pet insurance plans.

Pet Wellness Plans vs. Pet Insurance

There are a handful of pet insurance providers who offer pet insurance and wellness plans (see list below). Here is a chart that shows what wellness plans cover vs. traditional pet insurance plans.

Does Your Pet Need a Wellness Plan?

Wellness plans are best for pet owners who regularly spend $400 to $500 per year on routine care for their dogs or cats. If you normally spend that much on your pet’s care, a wellness plan can help you save money as the cost of the plan will be less than your annual routine care expenses.

If you don’t spend that much on annual routine care a wellness plan is likely not a good fit. For example, if you just spend $100 per year for an annual visit and some shots, it’s better to pay for routine care out of pocket rather than make monthly payments on pet insurance that covers wellness visits.

If you just got a new puppy then a wellness plan is a great idea because it will cover the up-front veterinary expenses for spay and neuter, vaccinations and regular checkups during their first year.

Annual Routine Care Costs for Pets

Two veterinary students from PennVet, did an in-depth study of the costs involved in raising a dog. Their research compared the average cost of raising dogs in the first year and came up with the following figures:

• Small dog breeds – $2,674
• Medium dog breeds – $2,889
• Large dog breeds – $3,239
• Giant dog breeds – $3,536
• Average first year cost across all sizes – $3,085

And here are the annual, recurring expenses broken down by category:

• $432 per year on supplies
• $435 per year on food
• $389 per year on preventative medications
• $650 per year on veterinary costs*

These figures suggest that annual veterinary care costs roughly $1,039 per year on average for preventative medications and veterinary costs including lab work.

To further breakdown the cost of wellness and routine care, here is a list of common annual expenses for dogs. The costs vary from low to high based on your dog’s breed, age, size and where you live (cost of living).

*Expense for one serious illness per year was included in the figures.

Related Content

• Accident-Only Coverage
• Dental Insurance for Pets
• Best Pet Insurance
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Is Pet Insurance Worth It?
• Pet Health Insurance 101