Wellness plans and pet insurance are two distinct options to help make your pet’s healthcare more manageable. There are benefits to both options and it's important for pet owners to understand the differences. Here, our McAllen vets explain the differences between wellness plans and pet insurance.
Protecting Your Pet's Future
Wellness plans and pet insurance policies both offer benefits, but they are very different. It’s important to understand what types of services your pet is and isn't covered for whether you opt for a wellness plan or pet insurance. By understanding these options you won't be left out of pocket when you visit your vet or need to plan the payment for your pet's veterinary care.
What is a wellness plan?
Wellness plans make it simple for you to cover the cost of routine veterinary care and, unlike pet insurance, you only pay for the treatments and services you actually use throughout the year.
Wellness plans allow you to adopt a more proactive approach to veterinary care by paying a small monthly amount rather than a large sum at each visit. These plans help your vet spot early signs of any conditions or diseases your pet may have before they become more serious, and more expensive to treat.
What does a wellness plan cover?
Generally, wellness plans cover routine vet care including wellness exams, parasite preventives, annual blood testing, and vaccines. Improving and maintaining the standard of your pet’s overall health during their lifetime is easier because these plans spread out the cost of routine vet care.
What is pet insurance?
Should your pet require emergency veterinary care or an operation, pet insurance helps you pay for the treatment.
The fact is, emergency treatment or treating an illness like cancer or diabetes can become overwhelmingly expensive. If you have pet insurance it means you will have financial help to pay the bills for any conditions and accidents that are covered by your pet insurance policy.
What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance policies differ but they generally cover treatment for illnesses or emergency treatment required after accidents. Some policies may also include prescription medications and the treatment of hereditary and congenital conditions as well as orthopedic conditions.
How do I choose which option to buy?
Making sure you know exactly how wellness plans and pet insurance can benefit you and your pet can help you decide which is right for you. Some pet owners choose either a wellness plan or pet insurance, while others subscribe to both to ensure their pet has complete coverage.
If you aren't sure which coverage is right for you, ask your vet. They can help you decide based on your pet's particular needs and concerns.