Both wellness plans and pet insurance can work to make your pet's healthcare more affordable—but they function in different ways. Today our Denver vets talk about the different functions of wellness plans versus insurance and how to decide which is right for you.
Protecting Your Pet's Future
Wellness plans and pet insurance policies both offer great 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 when you need to plan for the payment for your pet's veterinary care.
What is a wellness plan?
Wellness plans bundle the cost of routine and preventive care, and unlike pet insurance, you're only paying for services you're actually using throughout the year.
Wellness plans allow you to adopt a more proactive approach to veterinary care by paying a small monthly amount rather than a lump sum each visit. These plans help your vet spot early signs of any conditions or diseases your pet may have before they become more serious, and more expensive to treat.
What does a wellness plan cover?
Generally, wellness plans cover routine vet care including routine 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?
Pet insurance is used should your pet has an emergency that has a high up-front cost to treat.
Emergency treatment, whether for an injury or illness like cancer or diabetes, can be very expensive. Pet insurance will 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 pet 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.
