Best Pet Wellness Plans for Routine Care (May 2024)
Top 7 Wellness Plans from Insurance Providers
We at the Marketwatch Guides team evaluated wellness plans offered by top pet insurance providers and veterinary hospitals. Here are our plan picks:
Compare Top Pet Insurance Wellness Plans
According to our analysis of how much it costs to own a pet, the average base price for wellness care is $448 annually. Use the table below to compare our top picks based on available wellness coverage, cost and expected savings.
*We estimated annual costs based on average pricing to insure dogs and cats. Your price will vary depending on your pet, location and chosen plan.
What Does a Pet Insurance Wellness Plan Cover?
Instead of focusing on accidents and illnesses as with traditional pet insurance, wellness plans provide reimbursement for routine preventive care services up to a specified maximum. Most providers cover a fixed amount per service each year, which means you will not receive reimbursement for services you do not use, but a few providers allow for more flexibility. Common services covered by wellness plans include vaccinations, wellness visits, parasite control, diagnostic screening tests and dental cleanings.
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—Angela Beal
DVM, FFCP
“Preventive and wellness care form the foundation of good, lifelong pet health. Instead of treating diseases after they develop, wellness care focuses on preventing health conditions, such as dental disease, parasites and infectious diseases, that can shorten your pet’s lifespan. Not all diseases are preventable, so wellness diagnostics such as screening tests can help veterinarians detect diseases in the early stages when treatment is more likely to yield a positive outcome. Purchasing a wellness plan can help pet owners budget for these critical services and ensure their pet receives regular wellness care.”
Basic Wellness Coverage:
The difference between a basic wellness plan and an upgraded or comprehensive plan depends on the specific provider. Generally speaking, basic wellness plans cover the following limited services:
- Wellness visits
- Vaccines
- Fecal test
- Heartworm or FIV or FeLV test
- Deworming
Comprehensive Wellness Plans:
Comprehensive and upgraded wellness plans may provide higher reimbursements than basic coverage, including services such as:
- Microchipping
- Health certificates
- Spay or neuter surgery
- Dental cleanings
- Flea, tick and heartworm prevention
- Wellness blood and urine profiles
- Grooming
- Supplements
- Alternative wellness care
The Best Wellness Plans Reviewed
What is a Pet Wellness Plan?
A pet wellness plan covers routine veterinary visits and other routine health care such as annual vet checkups, lab work, blood work, vaccines, dental care, physical exams and more. These routine treatments and checkups are essential to maintaining your pet’s health. A pet wellness plan often only covers preventive care and does not include accident and illness coverage.
In short, pet wellness plans cover the routine services that help ensure your pet has a long and healthy life. Many of these services are part of the regular care that Dr. Katie Krebs, an assistant professor in clinical primary care at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital, describes as critical aspects of preventative care.
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Assistant Professor in Clinical Primary Care at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital
“Taking your dog or cat to a veterinarian at least once a year for an annual physical exam and wellness check can help pets live longer and help catch and treat diseases earlier. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is one of the most important components of helping it live longer, as obesity in dogs and cats has been linked to a shorter lifespan. Other preventative care measures that can help pets stay healthy include brushing teeth regularly, keeping your pet on flea, tick and heartworm preventatives year-round, and staying up-to-date on vaccinations.”
In most cases, wellness plans are add-ons for pet insurance and not available as stand-alone coverage. Wellness plans usually include a monthly fee, or premium, in exchange for reimbursement for preventative vet visits up to a specific annual allowance. However, some providers may use a similar copay method to pet insurance.
Dog Wellness Plans
Puppy wellness plans typically cover exams, microchipping, spaying/neutering, vaccines such as DHLPP and various other preventative care treatments. According to Dr. Angela Beal, DVM, the annual cost of routine care for a puppy could reach as high as $1,890. Dog wellness plans help cover these costs, alleviating the need for out-of-pocket payments.
Cat Wellness Plans
Cat wellness plans cover similar preventative care measures as dog wellness plans, with the difference that companies typically include coverage for cat-specific vaccines. These may encompass vaccines for the feline panleukopenia virus, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline leukemia virus (FeLV).
What’s the Difference Between Pet Insurance and Pet Wellness Plans?
Pet insurance can provide financial coverage for unexpected pet accidents and illnesses, reimbursing a set percentage of your pet’s total bill after a deductible is applied. In contrast, pet wellness plans can help cover costs associated with planned routine care. Typically, you can purchase wellness plans as standalone service bundles from veterinary hospitals or as add-ons to traditional insurance policies. In most cases, wellness plan service reimbursements are not subject to a deductible or copayment.
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DVM, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire Thompson School of Applied Science Agriculture, Nutrition and Food Systems
“Pet insurance is a great idea so you don’t have to make decisions about your pet’s care due to budget limitations. It doesn’t take long to rack up several thousand dollars in bills from a single emergency visit.”
The Venn diagram graphic below illustrates the differences between pet insurance and pet wellness plans.
Watch the video below to learn more in-depth differences between pet insurance plans and preventative care plans by Heart and Paw.
What’s Not Covered by Pet Insurance Wellness Plans?
Wellness plans do not cover emergency vet care, which includes treatments related to the following:
- Accidents
- Injuries
- Diseases
- Pre-existing conditions
- Pregnancies and breeding
- Other conditions are not considered preventative care
However, you can obtain coverage for accidents and illnesses, or just accidents, by purchasing a standard pet insurance policy.
How Much Do Pet Wellness Plans Cost?
The cost of pet wellness care will depend on the provider and the amount of coverage included. Pet owners cannot buy just a pet wellness plan; they must also buy an accident-and-illness or accident-only insurance plan.
The cost of a pet wellness plan add-on is typically under $20 per month, ranging from $10 to $19 for our top recommended companies, based on quotes we gathered. The cost of a basic pet insurance policy and a preventive care package ranges from around $41 to $67.
Most pet insurance companies offer the same pet wellness plan option for all breeds. The table below has a breakdown of pet wellness plan costs and the overall cost of pet insurance and preventative care.
Many pet insurance companies offer two tiers of wellness coverage: a basic tier that typically ranges from $10 to $22 per month and a more comprehensive package that averages $20 to $35 per month. Which plan option you choose will depend on your exact preventative care needs.
Wellness plans are only as valuable as the services you use each year. You can purchase the lowest plan tier that covers the services your pet routinely requires to try to save on costs. While overpaying for an upgraded plan with more benefits may seem like a good investment, you could lose money on services your pet does not need.
What You Save With a Wellness Plan
Wellness plans can provide savings for pet owners, but the exact amount varies considerably depending on the provider and plan structure. To achieve maximum savings from a wellness plan, you must use your pet’s entire benefit amount each year. Think of each service on your benefit list as pre-paid — if you fail to use those services, you’ve effectively lost money.
For example, if your wellness plan costs $120 annually and provides $250 in reimbursements each year, you could potentially save up to $130. But if that $250 includes $40 for a microchip your pet already has and $20 for a health certificate you do not use, your savings drops to only $70 for the year.
We asked Angela Beal, DVM, for the average cost of common wellness treatments based on her 20 years as a licensed veterinarian. Here’s what she said:
| Coverage Item | Average Cost* |
| Annual exam | $50–$80 |
| Vaccines | $20–$60 each (up to six required each year, depending on the pet) |
| Dental cleaning | $300–$500 |
| Spay or neuter | $200–$600 |
| Heartworm test | $35–$75 |
| Blood and urine tests | $80–$200 |
| Fecal test | $35–$75 |
*The average cost is based on our conversation with Dr. Beal and may vary depending on your location, veterinary technician and pet.
Do Pet Wellness Plans Have Waiting Periods?
Every pet insurance company has waiting periods before coverage begins, which also applies to wellness plans. Pet insurance that covers routine care also has an average waiting period of one to two weeks. Be sure to enroll in a pet insurance plan with an additional wellness plan before starting routine care to receive coverage.
Do Pet Wellness Plans Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?
No, pet wellness plans don’t cover preexisting or chronic conditions. Unfortunately, no pet insurer currently covers pre-existing conditions. Insurance companies see pets with these medical conditions as costly and high-risk investments, especially since they’re guaranteed to need veterinary care in the foreseeable future.
However, some companies will distinguish between curable and incurable conditions, opting to cover curable conditions with specific stipulations. In addition, some routine treatments covered in wellness plans may help cure these conditions.
Some pre-existing conditions are more common among certain species and breeds than others. Dr. Rodney Steven Bagley, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, a professor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine suggests doing some research on your pet to learn what conditions it is particularly at risk for.
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“All breeds can potentially have specific diseases, and equally, there are myriad diseases that are not breed-associate or dependent. You can check online databases or other sources about diseases your dog breed may have. Use keywords such as ‘disease’ and the breed of dog you have in your search. Importantly, just because you find information about a disease in the breed you have doesn’t mean your dog will actually get that disease”
How To Prepare For Pet Emergencies
Regular vet visits and emergencies are, unfortunately, just part of being a pet owner. Some experts, such as Dr. Jessica Bell, DVM, an assistant professor in community practice at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, stress that these aspects of pet ownership can become easier to manage if you prepare and make a plan.
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DVM, Assistant Professor in Community Practice at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Establish a good relationship with your primary care veterinarian. Having your pet on a wellness plan and following your veterinarian’s recommendations may help prevent future emergencies.
- Become familiar with veterinary emergency facilities and services near your home and areas you may travel with your pet.
- Educate yourself by discussing what constitutes an emergency and when you need to seek out urgent care with your primary care veterinarian. This information will vary based on your pet’s needs and your ability to assess your pet’s change in health and pain levels.
- You can work towards emergency financial preparedness by budgeting for a pet emergency fund. Pet health insurance can also help to alleviate some of the stress associated with unplanned medical emergencies.
Is a Pet Wellness Plan Worth It?
A pet wellness plan can be worth it, especially if you have a young puppy or kitten because oftentimes, you will get more use of your preventative pet insurance if you start your pet young. Though routine pet care costs less than surgeries or cancer treatments, you’ll ultimately spend more on preventive care throughout your pet’s lifetime if you don’t have a wellness plan.
According to health care financing company Care Credit, vet exams, core vaccinations, and procedures such as spaying or neutering and microchip implantations can total $2,800 in a puppy’s first year. The first-year cost for a cat is nearly $2,500.
If you paid $55 per month for a pet insurance plan with wellness care, you’d pay $660 over the course of a year for coverage rather than $2,800. That’s $2,140 in savings!
While wellness plans and pet insurance may not suit every pet and pet owner, experts such as Dr. Amy Nichelason, DVM, DABVP, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, still suggest looking into coverage options.
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DVM, DABVP, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
“Pet insurance can help when planning for unexpected medical emergencies and the associated financial burden. I always caution owners to look into each pet insurer to ensure it is meeting the needs they desire — each company will have different pros and cons. For instance, looking to see if a plan covers pre-existing, breed-related or genetic issues may be important depending on the type of pet you have. Additionally, do you want just accident coverage or wellness or illness protection?“
Without a wellness plan, pet owners should plan to spend $7,600 to $19,000 in veterinary care over their cat or dog’s lifetime. An add-on wellness plan can help to offset the cost of annual preventive healthcare for your dog or cat through a low monthly fee added to your pet insurance premium. While it will not cover all expenses, it will help spread the cost out over time.
Our Experts
DVM, Diplomate ACVIM, Professor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Medical emergencies are never welcome or occur at the most appropriate time. With different types of “emergencies” there are different needs. So how do you prepare for something so unpredictable and frightening? First, make sure you know who you will turn to for help because you will need help. This includes your veterinarian, veterinary hospital, and/or local emergency facilities. Find out before you need them who will be there, where you need to go, the best ways to get there, hours of operations, and what medical care they can provide.
Equally, find out who your non-veterinary helpers are – people that can travel with you if you need to hold your pet on the journey; people who can watch other pets and who will stay home. Also people you trust to help feed and water other pets and to let your other animals out to go to the bathroom. Second, anticipate the costs of emergency care and know where you will obtain the financial resources (How will you pay for emergency care? What, if any, insurance will you use? Who is your insurance carrier and how do you contact them, especially in non-traditional business hours). Third, prepare for long stays (hours) in waiting rooms – for your pet and yourself. This may include food, water (for both of you), computers, phones (including chargers for you), and prepare for the environment (warm, cold temperatures for both of you). Fourth, have your transport carriers, harnesses, leashes, etc. in a place where you know where these are and can find them quickly and easily. Make sure they are clean and ready to use at a moment’s notice. Finally, who will emotionally support you during this difficult time – who can you call and talk with; to discuss options or just listen.
For individual diseases and injuries, there may be specific first aid that you will need to render, such as trying to stop bleeding or trying to protect you animal from additional injury. Consult reliable sources on basic pet first aid and mentally practice how to provide. Make a list of important supplies to have on available such as bandages. While emergencies are always scary times, being prepared will certainly help with some of the inherent anxiety.
Dr. Bagley is Professor of Rehabilitative Medicine and Director of Professional Services at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He is the author of over 200 scientific articles, abstracts and book chapters related to neurology, neurosurgery, and internal medicine and has presented over 300 scientific presentations including national meetings and internationally. He has authored 2 books: “Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Neurology” and “Practical Small Animal MRI.”
DVM, MPH, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire Thompson School of Applied Science Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Systems
As a veterinarian Sarah has worked with cats, dogs, horses, cows, goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, rabbits, ferrets and other small animals. She coordinates and teaches in the UNH Veterinary Technology program, and has worked with pre-vet students on independent research projects. In addition to teaching, she practices medicine and surgery at the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Cocheco Valley in Dover, NH.
DVM, Assistant Professor Community Practice at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine
No one can be completely prepared for a pet emergency, however, there a few important steps.
- Have a good relationship with your primary care veterinarian. Having your pet on a good wellness plan and following your veterinarian’s recommendations can help prevent many emergencies.
- Be familiar with veterinary emergency facilities/services in your home area and in areas you may be travelling to with your pet.
- Educate yourself by discussing what is an emergency with your primary care veterinarian. When do you need to seek out emergency care? This information will vary with your pet’s needs and you as an owner, ability to assess your pet’s change in health and pain levels.
- Financial preparedness by budgeting for a pet emergency fund and/or pet health insurance can help to alleviate some of the stress associated with these unplanned medical emergencies.
- Some breeds of dogs and cats do carry more health risks, either congenital or acquired. However, there are many “normal” dogs and cats in these same breed varieties as well.
- Often as pet owners, we choose to love and care for our pets in spite of their medical risks. The good qualities like personality, size, and ability to fill the need we have, outweighs the medical pros and cons. When deciding on type of puppy or kitten, it best to research on your own and then make an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss any concerns you may have. Veterinarians see all types of patients and their owners. They may be able to offer some objective insight to what you are looking for. Also, if looking for a purebred puppy or kitten, researching the breeder and their management of their animals is very important.
- Establish a good relationship with a veterinarian and their clinic.
- When looking for a new pet, veterinarians are great resources for types/breeds of pets that would work well for the home.
- Follow preventative recommendations such as nutrition, vaccines, dental/oral care, and parasite preventatives.
- Regular exercise and activity to help prevent obesity and negative behaviors from developing.
- Early obedience training to encourage positive behaviors for lasting relationships for pets and their families.
Dr. Jessica Bell has been a member of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Community Practice team since August 2018. Currently acting as the Service Lead where she works with students in a general practice environment. Focusing 4th Year veterinary student learning on canine and feline wellness and preventative medicine and surgery. Dr. Bell also provides instruction in the 1st year student labs for small animal behavior and restraint needed for a clinical environment.
DVM, DABVP, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
Plan ahead. If your regular veterinarian doesn’t have afterhours or emergency offerings, make sure you know the local ER clinics near your house and have their phone number or address written down. I generally recommend knowing a few since many ER clinics are very busy right now so wait times can be long. Pet insurance can be helpful when planning for unexpected medical emergencies and the financial burden that may be associated with these. I always caution owners to look into each pet insurance to ensure it is meeting the needs they desire- each will have different pros and cons. For instance, looking to see if they cover pre-existing, breed-related or genetic issues may be important depending on the type of pet you have. Additionally, do you want just accident coverage or wellness or illness protection? It is also valuable to look at reimbursement schedules- in some cases reimbursement doesn’t occur for weeks after the expense which can be challenging for many owners. The other option is to have a savings account where you set aside a certain amount of money each month in case your pet has an emergency. This takes awhile to accrue but can be the most bang for your buck once it has amounted to a decent nest egg.
Amy Nichelason is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in the Primary Care department. She spent several years in private practice before becoming a Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine and Feline). Her clinical and teaching interests center around educational strategies that enhance preclinical and clinical veterinary education to create well-adapted and competent day-one ready general practitioners. Her research goals are to help create tools that enhance clinical decision making and to investigate effective veterinary curricular interventions that will matriculate capable life-long learners that are not only competent in the technical aspects but also in the professional and humanistic aspects of being a veterinarian.
Assistant Professor in Clinical Primary Care at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital
Taking your dog or cat to their primary veterinarian at least once a year for an annual physical exam and wellness check can help pets live longer and catch and treat diseases earlier. Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is one of the most important components of helping them live longer, as obesity in dogs and cats has been linked to a shorter lifespan. Other preventative care measures that can help pets stay healthy include brushing teeth regularly, keeping them on flea/tick/heartworm preventatives year-round, and keeping them up to date on vaccinations.
Dr. Katie Krebs is an Assistant Professor in Clinical Primary Care at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital. She graduated from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis in small animal medicine. She completed a small animal rotating internship at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada before completing a residency in canine/feline practice through the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) and MBA at Virginia Tech.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Wellness Plans
No, not all pet insurance companies offer wellness plans. However, it is a quite common offering that most companies allow.
Most pet insurers allow you to enroll in a wellness plan by applying online or over the phone. The best time to obtain wellness coverage is when you sign up for pet insurance or renew your policy.
Yes, many pet wellness plans cover neutering. However, the neuter/spay package is often included in a higher tier preventative care plan or one made specifically for kittens or puppies. Be sure to check the coverages of your wellness plan before purchasing.
No, treatments for accidents are not considered preventative care and are not covered under wellness plans. However, you can purchase accident-only pet insurance for this type of coverage.
A wellness package for dogs is an add-on for dog insurance that expands coverage to include preventative care treatments like blood and urine tests, vaccinations and exam fees.
Our System for Ranking Pet Wellness Plans
Many pet insurance providers offer comprehensive insurance options for pet owners, but few companies offer quality wellness plans that will guarantee savings. At MarketWatch Guides, we pride ourselves on providing the most accurate and up-to-date pet insurance cost information by manually gathering over 2,000 sample insurance premiums and comparing pet ownership costs. We used the following factors to help rank our top pet wellness plans:
- Cost of wellness add-on: We analyzed the average cost to add a wellness plan to base insurance coverage for each provider. Companies with lower wellness care add-on rates ranked higher than those offering expensive preventative care plans.
- Base plan monthly cost: Since cost is an important factor, pet insurance companies with cheaper monthly premiums ranked higher on our list. Our team analyzed four different types of pets across all 50 U.S. states to determine the average cost of each company. Cost figures are up-to-date as of November 2023.
- Two or more plan options: Providers that offer more than one wellness plan ranked higher than those with only one option. This allows pet owners who are only looking for pet wellness care coverage to select a plan more suited to their needs.
- Preventative care coverage: Providers with more comprehensive wellness care coverage, such as covering two versus one vet exam, three or more vaccines, and spay and neutering procedures, ranked higher than those with more limited coverage.
- Special perks: We ranked companies that offer more perks to pet owners, such as teeth cleaning and microchipping, higher than those with basic routine care coverage.
- Money-back guarantee: Given that the industry average money-back guarantee is 30 days, any company offering a longer guarantee earned a higher score in this category.
- Our rating: Our team reviewed over 35 pet insurance companies using our objective rating methodology. Pet insurance providers that earned higher overall scores ranked higher on this list.
For more information on how we review pet insurance companies, review our editorial guidelines.
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