What are Pet Wellness Plans?
Wellness plans are a way for your vet to offer you cost savings on a selection of routine services that help keep your pet healthy throughout the year. These plans are typically renewed annually (unless canceled) so that pet coverage continues seamlessly from one year to the next without interruption.
Plans can vary greatly between hospitals so it's important to take a close look at what services your vet's Pet Wellness Plans include. Some veterinary hospitals offer plans that cover twice yearly checkups, fecal exams, a variety of core and lifestyle vaccines, 12 months of parasite protection, as well extras such as nail trims whereas other provide a more scaled-down selection of services that covers the preventive care basics that all pets need such as one annual exam with core vaccines and parasite protection.
Why should I consider enrolling my pet in a Wellness Plan?
The selection of services that your vet offers will generally dictate the price of coverage. But whether your vet's plans include lots of services or just the basics, all Pet Wellness Plans are designed to help save you money and offer a number of benefits.
Here are just a few of the ways that Pet Wellness Plans can benefit you and your four-legged friend:
1 - Wellness Plans Make Budgeting for Your Pet's Preventive Care Easier
Wellness Plans take the overall cost of your pet's annual preventive care and then break that amount into 12 easy-to-manage payments. Making the task of budgeting easier.
2 - You'll Get Savings on Other Products & Services From Your Veterinary Hospital
Pet Wellness Plans can save you money in two great ways. When bundling your pet's annual preventive services into a Pet Wellness Plan most vets then apply a discount to that annual cost to help save you money meaning that you are paying less for those services just by making monthly payments for your pet's plan.
But there is a second way that Pet Wellness Plans can help save you money. Many vets will also offer Wellness Plan holders a 10% discount on other services offered by their hospital. While some restrictions apply, this additional discount can add up to substantial cost savings.
3 - Wellness Plans Help to Ensure That Your Pet's Preventive Care Isn't Delayed
Our vets believe that prevention is the key to helping your pet live a long and healthy life. But many pet parents find themselves putting off their pet's heartworm and parasite prevention and vaccines due to concerns about cost. Wellness Plans make paying for your pet's preventive care more affordable, which means no more delays! That's great news for both you and your pet.
Year-round protection against common conditions and parasites will help to preserve your pet's long-term health and prevent the need to pay for costly treatments further down the road.
4 - Cat & Dog Wellness Plans Promote Great Healthcare Habits
The truth of the matter is that if you are paying for a service, you are far more likely to use it, and that's great news for your four-legged friend! Wellness Plans help to ensure that pet parents make time for essential preventive care for pets that might otherwise be neglected, such as annual checkups and fecal exams.
Routine wellness exams give your vet an opportunity to monitor your pet's overall health and check your pet for early signs of developing disease. These appointments also give you a chance to speak to your vet about any concerns you might have about your pet's health, behavior, nutrition...or anything really. Allowing your vet to provide you with informative advice on how to help your pet achieve optimal health.
Fecal exams give your vet a chance to check your pet's stool for signs of internal parasites that could be negatively impacting your pet's health without you knowing it. And, since some internal parasites can be passed to humans, your pet's fecal exam helps to protect your health too!
What's the difference between Wellness Plans and pet insurance?
Pet insurance can also help pet parents to pay for their animal's veterinary care but it's important to note that pet insurance and Wellness Plans are very different.
As described above, Pet Wellness Plans are designed to move annual preventive care more affordable for pet parents. And while many plans include an extra examination each year to be used if your pet is injured or unwell, Pet Wellness Plans are not designed to cover the cost of veterinary care related to accidents or serious illness. That's where pet insurance comes in.
Pet insurance helps to cover the cost of emergency veterinary care and treatment for long-term illnesses such as cancer or diabetes. Pet insurance gives pet owners financial help to pay for treatments for conditions and accidents that are covered by their specific policy.
How do I know if a Pet Wellness Plan is right for my dog or cat?
If your vet's office offers Wellness Plans it's a good idea to ask your vet whether your dog or cat could benefit from coverage. Your veterinarian knows your animal and can help you to weigh up the benefits of coverage to decide whether a Wellness Plan is a good idea.
Learn More About Our Pet Wellness Plans
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.