Wellness plans and pet insurance can both make your pet's healthcare more affordable, but they offer distinctly different services so it's important to understand the differences between them. Today, our Enterprise vets explain more about wellness plans and pet insurance.
Protecting Your Pet's Future
Wellness plans and pet insurance offer different benefits that will help you with your pet's healthcare. 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 routine veterinary care more predictable and affordable. With a wellness plan, you pay a small monthly fee that covers your pets routine healthcare throughout the year, as opposed to paying in a lump sum when you go to your appointment.
Wellness plans ensure your pet is receiving the regular care they need to spot any health issues early and begin treatment before they become more serious, and more expensive to treat.
Wellness plans do not cover unexpected accidents or emergency visits for your pet, although a small discount is sometimes included on these services with the purchase of a wellness plan.
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, pet insurance helps you to take care of the cost of treatment.
Emergency treatment or the long-term treatment of a serious illness like cancer or diabetes can become very 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.