Wellness plans and pet insurance both have the same goal of making pet care more affordable, but they are wildly different in how they accomplish this goal. Here, our Riverside vets explain more about wellness plans and pet insurance to help pet owners make informed decisions about their 4-legged-friend's healthcare.
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 are a proactive strategy for covering pet care costs. Wellness plans are in essence service bundles, where you pay a discounted rate for a full suite of pet care features detailed in the package. They allow you to get complete protection at a discounted rate from paying for each service individually, in exchange for agreeing to pay for all of the included services upfront. Some wellness plans require full payment in advance, others, like ours at Riverside Animal Hospital, offer low monthly payment options instead.
What does a wellness plan cover?
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. Every wellness plan is going to be slightly different, we encourage you to speak with your vet about the benefits of any wellness plans offered by their office.
What is pet insurance?
Pet insurance is a reactive strategy for covering pet care costs.
Should your pet require emergency veterinary care, pet insurance helps you to take care of the cost of treatment. With pet insurance, you make a monthly payment to the insurance company in exchange for peace of mind that, should your pet need an expensive medication or surgery, the cost will be wholly or in part covered by your insurance provider. With Pet insurance, you are not paying for specific treatments or wellness, but for protection in the event of unexpected costs.
What does pet insurance cover?
Pet insurance policies differ but as a general rule of thumb, they 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. At Riverside Animal Hospital we encourage all our clients to consider our wellness plans, as preventative care is the best way to manage your pet's health--and associated expenses.