Will a Pet Wellness Plan Cover All of My Pet's Health Care Needs?

A pet wellness plan typically focuses on just one category of care, whether it be preventative or prescriptions, though some companies also offer coverage for emergencies and illnesses. Depending on your pet’s health, it may make the most sense to sign up for multiple wellness plans and your vet can advise you on which ones to choose for optimal savings. Still, you will likely have to pay for a portion of your pet’s health care needs throughout the year.

How Much Do Pet Wellness Plans Cost?

Some pet wellness plans have a flat monthly fee for all members while others have a range of prices based on the type of pet you own, their age, and your location. On average, pet wellness plans cost around $27 per month, though they start as low as $10. While most plans won’t cover 100 percent of a single bill (except for Pawp ), you’re still getting part of the cost paid for that typical pet insurance wouldn’t cover.

What Is the Best Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is different from a wellness plan because it doesn’t usually cover preventative care and often excludes pre-existing conditions. According to Investopedia, the best pet insurance is from Nationwide because it offers comprehensive benefit options—such as coverage on exams, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, and more—for a wide range of animals. Other highly rated pet insurance providers include Figo and MetLife. But before you pick a pet insurance plan, talk to your veterinarian to make sure the coverage makes sense for your furry companion.

Best Pet Wellness Plans of 2023

Keeping up with your pet’s health care is one of the most important parts of owning an animal, but it can be expensive. In fact, a single routine canine vet visit costs, on average, $145, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Still, you want the very best for your beloved furry friend, and a pet wellness plan can help keep your nonhuman family member in tip-top shape—and save you money at the same time.

So, what is a pet wellness plan and how is it different from pet insurance? Unlike most pet insurance policies, pet wellness plans tend to cover preventive health care, such as routine veterinary visits, blood work, vaccinations, and more. Pet insurance comes in handy for unplanned expenses, like emergency surgery and illnesses.

Before you sign up for anything, speak to your veterinarian about the right options for your pet based on their breed, age, and health history. To help kick off that conversation, here's a look at some of the best pet wellness plans on the market.

Pet wellness plans and pet insurance typically offer different benefits, so it’s necessary for you to consider the pros and cons of each.

"Ideally, having both allows for the best possible care for both expected needs (wellness) and unanticipated ones (insurance)," says George Melillo, VMD, the chief veterinary officer and co-founder of Heart + Paw, a pet care company that provides veterinary, grooming, and daycare services.

Wellness plans usually focus on preventive care while pet insurance covers treatment related to illnesses and accidents. “Wellness plans allow for [a] client to spread the costs of vaccines, parasite control, annual exams, and diagnostics out as a recurring anticipated expense,” explains Melillo.

Since every animal is different, Melillo recommends that you consult your veterinarian to determine the best course of action.

Coverage for Preventative Care: Banfield Pet Hospital
Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions: Pet Assure
Emergency Vet Bill Fund: Pawp
Discounts on Medication: PetPlus
Cost-Sharing Platform: Eusoh

Key Specs

Average Premium: $50.62 per month

Multi-Pet Discount? Yes

24/7 Vet Helpline? Yes

If you live near one of Banfield’s 1,000+ locations, its Optimum Wellness Plans are the best option for preventative service coverage. Plans cost, on average, about $51 per month, and each one comes with unlimited in-office visits, two virtual appointments per year, and 24/7 access to a vet for immediate health care advice. Plus, the packages cover vaccinations, fecal exams, routine diagnostics (such as blood work), and more.

If your pet needs something done outside of the services listed, Banfield members still get a discount. One downside is that your pet can only receive care from a Banfield hospital, so if you don’t live within driving distance of one (there isn't a location in every state), these plans won’t be of any use.

What We Like

Comprehensive preventative coverage
Unlimited virtual chats with a vet
Many plans to choose from
Customizable add-ons to fit your needs

What We Don’t Like

Only works at Banfield locations

Banfield’s pricing varies based on your dog or cat’s age and breed as well as your geolocation. Prices below are for a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog in Columbus, Ohio.

Dog Active Care: This basic plan is $40.95 per month and includes unlimited in-office visits, two comprehensive exams a year, vaccinations, deworming, two fecal exams, and access to Banfield’s 24/7 Vet Chat function. Plus, you get a 10 percent discount on other Banfield services and products.
Dog Active Care Plus: The second-tier plan is $54.95 per month and includes everything in the Dog Active Care plan, plus dental cleanings and urinalysis when needed. Your discount with this plan is 15 percent.
Dog Special Care: The most comprehensive plan is $68.95 per month and includes everything the other two plans offer, plus x-rays, electrocardiograms, and eye pressure testing, with a 20 percent discount on additional services.

Key Specs

Average Premium: $9.95 per month for cats; $11.95 per month for dogs

Multi-Pet Discount? Yes

24/7 Vet Helpline? Yes, for some plans

Most pet insurance policies won’t cover treatments or procedures associated with pre-existing conditions, making it more difficult for pet parents with animals that fall into that category to reduce the cost of their vet bills. This is where Pet Assure swoops in to save the day. There are no exclusions with this plan, so you will receive a discount on everything from parasite screenings and diabetes management to tumor removal and cancer care.

The savings are provided at the time of service, meaning no waiting around for a reimbursement. While you do have to pick from a list of in-network veterinarians, there are more than 5,600 of them, with options in all 50 states. Unfortunately, Pet Assure is only available as an employee benefit, so you won't be able to sign up if your employer is not a member of the program.

What We Like

All services are included
No waiting period for the plan to activate
Discount is applied to payment
Coverage extends beyond dogs and cats

What We Don’t Like

Only available as an employee benefit
Only accepted at participating vet offices

Pet Assure’s pricing varies based on your specific employer and the plan the company has opted into. Additionally, the discount you receive is specific to your employee benefits package. As a point of reference, we gathered pricing information for an employee at First Florida Credit Union.

Employees at the company can sign up for the “Total Pet Plan,” which costs $5.38 per paycheck for a single pet or $8.75 per paycheck for multiple pets. This plan provides a 25 percent discount on all veterinarian bills, without a yearly maximum, and includes 24/7 pet telehealth access.

Pawp pet

Key Specs

Average Premium: $24 per month

Multi-Pet Discount? No

24/7 Vet Helpline? Yes

The worst type of bills are the ones you never see coming. Pawp Emergency Fund is an annual policy that offers a one-time payment of up to $3,000 to help cover an unplanned vet expense. Your monthly membership fee of $24 grants you access to Pawp’s 24/7 video service in the event that you need to activate the fund, which can be used at any clinic in the country.

Pawp is ideal for pet parents who want to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, and unlike pet insurance, you have the potential for 100 percent reimbursement. Plus, pre-existing conditions aren’t excluded, so you won’t be left in the lurch if an ongoing health concern turns into an emergency.

What We Like

Potential for 100 percent reimbursement
Pre-existing conditions included in coverage
Works at any vet office
Reimbursement received within a few days
Up to six pets can be covered under one membership

What We Don’t Like

Video consultation is required before funds are activated
It can only be used once per year and you won’t receive credit for unused funds

Pawp charges a $24 per month fee no matter where you live or what type of pet you have. The plan provides up to $3,000 a year for a single medical emergency, which includes things like internal blockages, life-threatening injuries, and toxic ingestion.

Key Specs

Average Premium: $139.95 per year

Multi-Pet Discount? Yes

24/7 Vet Helpline? Yes

If your pet requires a monthly prescription for an ongoing medical condition or their routine health care, it can quickly get expensive. PetPlus is a membership-only service that offers discounts on products like flea and tick medication and specialty food. You’ll also find wholesale pricing on vitamins and supplements.

PetPlus may be the right fit if you’re looking to save money at the pharmacy but don’t feel like your pet needs a comprehensive wellness plan. The yearly fee of about $140 unlocks deals on pretty much any prescription your pet might need and includes free shipping. If you don’t save more than your membership cost over the course of 12 months, you’ll receive a credit for the difference.

What We Like

Discounts on hundreds of products
Free delivery
Guaranteed savings that surpass the membership fee
24/7 helpline run by licensed telehealth vets

What We Don’t Like

Membership fee only covers one pet

PetPlus costs $139.95 per year for one pet, and $100 per year for each additional pet. The discounts you receive vary based on the product, but the company states that pet parents save an average of $198 per year with the membership.

Key Specs

Average Premium: $35 per month for cats; $75 per month for dogs

Multi-Pet Discount? Yes

24/7 Vet Helpline? Yes

Eusoh is a cost-sharing platform that sees other members fund up to 80 percent of your pet's medical expenses. The monthly membership fee goes directly toward reimbursement for other member-submitted veterinarian bills. The money can be used for accidents, illnesses, medications, and wellness visits. However, pre-existing conditions are not covered.

To get reimbursed, a member submits an invoice for approval, and as long as it’s a covered expense (and the $250 deductible has been met), a majority of the bill will be paid for. There are no limits on the number of reimbursement requests you can submit in a year, though the maximum amount a member can receive over a 12-month span is $8,500.

What We Like

Up to 80 percent reimbursement
No location restrictions
Clear-cut cost-sharing structure
Preventative and emergency care are covered

What We Don’t Like

30-day waiting period after sign-up
Pre-existing conditions are not included

Eusoh costs $75 per month for dogs and $35 per month for cats regardless of their age. With this plan, eligible vet bills are reimbursed up to 80 percent.

Final Verdict

Wellness plans can be a great way to save money on vet bills. Not all plans are alike, so you should discuss the best option for your pet with your veterinarian before signing up. Some policies, like Banfield’s Optimum Wellness Plans, are geared toward preventative care costs, while others, such as Eusoh and Pawp, cover a bigger portion of unexpected medical emergencies than a traditional pet insurance policy might.

Company	Average Premium	Multi-Pet Discount?	24/7 Vet Helpline?	Enrollment Fee
Coverage for Preventative Care Banfield Pet Hospital	$50.62/month	Yes	Yes	$57.95
Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions Pet Assure	$9.95/month for cats; $11.95/month for dogs	Yes	Yes, for some plans	$0
Emergency Vet Bill Fund Pawp	$24/month	No	Yes	$0
Discounts on Medication PetPlus	$139.95/year	Yes	Yes	$0
Cost-Sharing Platform Eusoh	$35/month for cats; $75/month for dogs	Yes	Yes	$10–$20 (included in monthly total)

FAQ

Will a Pet Wellness Plan Cover All of My Pet's Health Care Needs?

A pet wellness plan typically focuses on just one category of care, whether it be preventative or prescriptions, though some companies also offer coverage for emergencies and illnesses. Depending on your pet’s health, it may make the most sense to sign up for multiple wellness plans and your vet can advise you on which ones to choose for optimal savings. Still, you will likely have to pay for a portion of your pet’s health care needs throughout the year.
How Much Do Pet Wellness Plans Cost?

Some pet wellness plans have a flat monthly fee for all members while others have a range of prices based on the type of pet you own, their age, and your location. On average, pet wellness plans cost around $27 per month, though they start as low as $10. While most plans won’t cover 100 percent of a single bill (except for Pawp), you’re still getting part of the cost paid for that typical pet insurance wouldn’t cover.
What Is the Best Pet Insurance?

Pet insurance is different from a wellness plan because it doesn’t usually cover preventative care and often excludes pre-existing conditions. According to Investopedia, the best pet insurance is from Nationwide because it offers comprehensive benefit options—such as coverage on exams, hereditary conditions, chronic conditions, and more—for a wide range of animals.
Other highly rated pet insurance providers include Figo and MetLife. But before you pick a pet insurance plan, talk to your veterinarian to make sure the coverage makes sense for your furry companion.

In order to make pet wellness recommendations, our research team collected more than 2,000 data points and consulted a subject matter expert to determine which factors are most important to customers who are in the market for cost-saving plans.

In addition to weighing criteria such as enrollment prices, monthly membership fees, and available discounts, we reviewed each company’s plan options and noted any exclusions, including network, procedure, and location restrictions.

We also took into consideration reimbursement limits, plan add-ons, and how easy it is to get in touch with a professional veterinarian, no matter the time of day. Some of the plans we researched are seen as alternatives to pet insurance while others serve as supplemental coverage. To avoid inaccurate reporting, a lot of the company information presented in this article was verified by a customer service representative.