Pet wellness plans vs. pet insurance: What’s the difference?
Pet insurance reimburses you for unexpected costs from a pet’s illness or accident and can help make sudden vet bills more manageable. While every pet insurance plan is unique, most of them pay for major accidents and illnesses, emergency care, and treatment for specialized care, like diabetes and cancer. Pet insurance typically doesn’t cover preventative care and may come with annual limits or an annual deductible.
Unlike pet insurance, pet wellness plans focus on preventative care. A pet wellness plan is designed to help you budget for your pet’s routine health services, such as vaccinations, screenings, and dewormings. But it won’t cover emergency expenses from any unexpected accidents or injuries.
You’ll need to submit an invoice with the provider’s information, your pet’s name, the complete list of items you were billed for, and your proof of payment to get reimbursed from a pet wellness plan.
Wellness plans are often add-ons to traditional pet insurance from insurance companies. You might also find them at veterinary hospitals, which will typically require you to seek care from their facilities or network.
The cost of pet insurance and wellness plans will depend on the coverage type you choose, the insurance company or veterinary hospital, and the size, age, and breed of your pet. You’ll likely pay anywhere from $30 to $100 per month for pet insurance and $100 or more per year for a pet wellness plan. In general, a pet wellness plan is more affordable when it’s an add-on to a pet insurance policy.